Andriy Mykulyanych decided to let his results on the track speak for themselves.
After transferring from Niles West to Buffalo Grove in the fall, the standout sprinter decided not to tell his new track coach about what he had accomplished at his former school.
“Andriy found me in the first week of school and told me, ‘Coach, I want to run track,’ ” Timothy Podulka recalled. “He also told me he runs the 100 and 200. He’s a very unassuming kid, so I decided to look his name up. It definitely came up. That’s when I knew he could be the real deal.”
Indeed, Mykulyanych qualified for the Class 3A state meet in the 100- and 200-meter dash last spring as a Niles West junior. He still was a relative unknown at Buffalo Grove when the track season began.
“When he came out (for track), I remember somebody saying that we have a state qualifier kid coming out, but I was like, ‘Where’s he’s at?,'” Podulka recalled. “Someone said, ‘Over there.’ I remember saying, ‘But which one is he?’
“I was told to just watch him run. He’s been blazing ever since for us.”
Mykulyanych said he preferred to remain humble because he was unsure what to expect at Buffalo Grove.
“I was quiet because it was a new school and it’s hard, so I didn’t want to come off like a jerk or cocky, and I kind of kept to myself,” he said.
Heading into the final month of the track season, Mykulyanych is drawing plenty of attention for his efforts in multiple events. At the Mid-Suburban East meet on April 17, Mykulyanych helped the Bison place third. He won the 100 (11.47 seconds), ran a leg in the Bison’s winning 4×100 relay (44.73), placed second in the 200 (23.27) and helped Buffalo Grove place second in the 4×200 (1:33.99).
Mykulyanych had another strong performance on Friday at the Rolling Meadows Mustang Classic, where he placed second in the 100 (11.66).
Mykulyanych said he’s enjoying track at his new school. He missed his sophomore track season at Niles West after injuring his knee during the football season.
He said he’s gaining interest from college track programs, but his immediate goal is to improve upon his previous performance at state.
“We have a really good team this year and can do a lot, and maybe bring a lot of guys to state,” Mykulyanych said. “I’m looking to be one of the main components on the team to do well in conference and other meets. I’m trying to go all-state in the 100 or 200. I’ll see about college after that.”
Meet notes
Buffalo Grove junior Jon Peici finished second in the 400 on Friday at the Mustang Classic. His time of 51.34 seconds put him just behind Naperville North’s Will DeBolt (51.33).
Podulka said Friday was the first time Peici has faced strong competition in the 400 this season.
Peici, who is also a member of the Buffalo Grove varsity soccer team, said his main goal is to advance to state in the 400.
“My teammates and coaches have been really helping me progress every week,” he said. “I’m hoping to go to state and place at state.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
