Kaneland’s Clayton Hannula is up for the challenge, in more ways than one.
Hannula earned all-state honors at last year’s Class 2A state finals by taking third in both the shot put and discus, helping the Knights finish third.
“He’s a guy — when we go into a big-time meet — we can count on him for 20 points,” Kaneland coach Andy Drendel said of Hannula. “He steps into the ring, knows what to do and gets the job done.”
That was the case when the host Knights edged Batavia 76.5-74 to win last Saturday’s Peterson Prep Classic. Hannula swept the throws winning efforts of 176 feet, 7 inches in the discus and 56-3 in the shot put.
Hannula and the Knights will face a new challenge this spring as they have moved up to Class 3A. But Hannula feels well prepared for the jump.
“There was a lot of good competition last year (in 2A),” he said.
And there’s more in 3A this season. Michigan recruit John Meyer of Lockport became the first Illinois shot putter to pass the 70-foot plateau when he went 70-4.5 indoors. Then Meyer set the outdoor state record of 69-8 Friday in the Bob Cohoon Invitational at Downers Grove South.
Quincy junior Jordan Johnson is the regular-season leader in the discus at 196-3.
Both marks are hovering among the best in the nation
Hannula ranks fifth in Illinois in the shot at 58-5 and sixth in the discus at 176-7.
He is unfazed by his rivals’ big numbers.
“They don’t intimidate me,” Hannula said. “They motivate me to do a little bit better. I don’t think there’s anything … different (moving to 3A); it’s an opportunity for me.”
Red Ribbon competition: Waubonsie Valley’s Wes York is not expected to compete in his signature event, the 800 meters, when the Warriors host the Red Ribbon Classic on Saturday.
“Wesley York is a little banged up,” Waubonsie Valley coach Kevin Rafferty said of the senior, who was seventh in 3A last spring in the 800. “He will be running the 400 and the (1,600 relay).”
Neuqua Valley will be looking for its second title in two weeks after winning the Cohoon Invitational.
The Wildcats have an exceptional group of middle-distance and distance runners, but senior sprinter Myles Gascon is a name to watch after Neuqua Valley upended Minooka 120.5-96.5 in Downers Grove last Friday.
Wade sets pace for Saints: St. Charles East’s Charlie Wade should be in the mix in the sprints at the Red Ribbon meet after a big night in last Friday’s flighted Red Grange Invitational at Wheaton Warrenville South.
Wade won the top division of the 400 in 49.95 and took second in the 200 at 23.02.
The Saints also are competitive in the distances. Campbell Koch (4:27.52) was second in the 1,600 in the top division in Wheaton last week.
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for the Beacon-News.
