By Mike Clark
CHARLESTON — Parrish Hartley surprised himself this spring.
The sophomore became Kenwood’s first boys track and field state champ since 1986 last Saturday, winning the Class 3A long jump at 22-10.
He was one of two Public League champions, joining Payton’s 3,200 relay team in Class 2A. That’s the first state title in Grizzlies program history.
“When I came into the season, I didn’t think I was gonna get this far,” Hartley said. “And then we went to the Kankakee Invite and I jumped 23-8, and I was (ranked) No. 1 in the state. That’s when I knew it was possible, from that moment.”
Hartley had some work to do after Friday’s prelims, where he qualified fourth at 22-1.75.
“My mindset was just to come out here and do my best, and do my best for the team because we had a lot of down energy,” he said. “So I just wanted to come out here and perform.”
Remarkably, Hartley is in just his second year of long jumping. He’s one of five Kenwood medalists who could help form the core of next year’s team along with sophomores Armond Boulware (400 relay, 800 relay) and Logic West (tied for fourth, high jump, 6-4.75), and juniors Kendall Norris (400 relay, 800 relay) and Malachi Moreno (800 relay).
The Broncos were eighth in the 800 relay (1:29.17) and ninth in the 400 relay (43.09).
Kenwood graduates four more placers: Sidney Morris (400, 800 relays), high jumper Julius Washington (tied for seventh, high jump, 6-2.75), Elijah Easley (ninth, 110 hurdles, 15.22) and Jahad Henderson (400 relay).
“There is a lot of optimism, but next year we’re going to come back even harder,” Hartley said.
Take Flight For The City, Hartley Wins 3A Long Jump: https://t.co/OtFYMMsdBE #BTFState23 @BroncosTrack @KenwoodSports @CPLAthletics
— MileSplit Illinois (@MileSplitIL) May 28, 2023
Payton’s Evan Rainville wrapped up his high school career with a pair of medals in Class 2A. He teamed with Ryan Murray, Declan Slavin and Maximilian Kollmeyer to win the 3,200 relay in 7:53.59, and also took fifth in the 400 at 49.92. Rainville’s four career state medals — he was on the runner-up 3,200 relay team and took eighth in the 400 last year — are the most in program history.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I’m a bit disappointed in my 400 time. I wanted at least to get a PR in my last high-school race. (But) fifth place, I’m happy with that.”
He’s also pleased with the legacy this year’s Grizzlies left.
“Payton, we’re not necessarily going to get as many athletes as other schools,” Rainville said. “But what we do have — we have heart, we have teamwork.. We work together, we all want to see each other succeed.”
He expects a carry-over from the state title next season.”
It’s going to encourage more kids to sign up,” he said. “It’s going to encourage more kids to stay with it. I only started running sophomore year and I’m here now.”
Chicago Public League’s Walter Payton College Prep are 4x800 STATE CHAMPS with a school record of 7:53.49🥇@NadigNewspapers @WPCPAthletics @CPLAthletics @ChicagoBears @BearsPR @BearsLocal @suntimes_preps @mikeclarkpreps @PaytonFriends34 @paytonsun @pattomasulo @LouCanellis https://t.co/XnlLUmbMxH pic.twitter.com/p8y1Bc7DcZ
— Walter Payton Cross Country (@WPCPXC) May 29, 2023
In the 3,200 relay, Kollmeyer handed off to Rainville for the anchor leg and let his teammate do the rest.
“I did get caught by the Lincoln guy in the home stretch,” Kollmeyer said. “But it was all I had, (and I) put this guy (Rainville) in a good position.”
And Rainville got the Grizzlies to the top of the awards stand. It was the second straight year Payton and Lincoln were battling it out for the state title. The Railsplitters won in 2022.
“I was just thinking, ‘I’m not letting it happen again,” Rainville said. “‘I want the first place.'”
Two more Public Leaguers won medals in Class 2A. Northside’s Ameen Koya-Oyefuwa, who had PRs in both Friday’s prelims and Saturday’s finals, took sixth in the 110 hurdles at 15.18. Westinghouse’s Tyler Randall was eighth in the 300 hurdles at 44.36.In Class 1A, Dionta McDaniel became Harlan’s first medalist since 2014, finishing eighth in the 100 at 11.27.
