Batavia Reclaims DuKane Conference Indoor Track and Field Title with Dominant Performance. Batavia High School once again proved its dominance in track and field, reclaiming the DuKane Conference indoor title with a strong all-around performance. The Bulldogs scored 127.5 points to secure their third conference championship in the last four seasons, showcasing both individual brilliance and depth across multiple events.
A Thrilling Finish in the 3,200 Meters
One of the most dramatic moments of the meet came in the 3,200-meter race, where Batavia’s Eddie Polaski fought tooth and nail for a thrilling victory. Heading into the final lap, the sophomore surged ahead, thinking his kick would be enough to seal the win. However, St. Charles East senior Greyson Ellensohn had other plans, sprinting past Polaski on the final curve.
“He just shot out from behind me,” Polaski said. “I don’t even know where he came from, he just sprinted out in front of me.”
But Polaski wasn’t done. Matching stride for stride with the Wichita State commit, he leaned at the finish line to edge out Ellensohn by a mere 0.06 seconds. His final time of 9:16.49 is now the sixth-fastest in Illinois this season.
“I didn’t even know who won when we crossed the line,” Polaski admitted. “I immediately checked the scoreboard. And as soon as I saw it, I was hyped.”
Seven Victories Power Batavia to Title
While Polaski provided the meet’s most dramatic finish, Batavia’s success was built on dominant performances across multiple events. The Bulldogs secured victories in seven events, demonstrating their versatility and depth.
Among the standout performances:
- Shot Put: Junior Gavin Pecor threw a massive 58 feet, 1 inch, marking the seventh-best throw in Illinois this year.
- 400 Meters: Senior Thomas Woodard clocked a 50.2-second run, ranking ninth in the state.
- Pole Vault: Senior Nathan McLoughlin of St. Charles North set a new DuKane Conference indoor record by clearing 15 feet, 6 inches.
Batavia coach Dennis Piron praised his team’s effort and resilience, especially given some injuries leading up to the event.
“We had a really good meet,” Piron said. “We spread the kids around to try and score more, and a couple of injuries hurt our lineups. But we had other guys step up. I was really pleased with everyone scoring points for us. It was a lot of fun.”
Strong Competition in the DuKane Conference
While Batavia took home the title, the competition was fierce across the board. Lake Park secured second place with 90 points, largely due to a dominant showing in the field events, including a 1-2 finish in the triple jump by PJ Anderson (44-0) and Demari Richmond (41-9).
St. Charles East rounded out the podium in third place with 75 points, helped by a thrilling win in the 4×400 relay (3:30.6) and a victory in the 800 meters by junior Michael Wilson (1:59.43).
Glenbard North and St. Charles North finished tied for fourth with 74 points each, with both programs securing multiple individual event wins:
- Glenbard North: Zechariah Morris dominated the sprints, winning both the 55-meter dash (6.47) and the long jump (21 feet, 10.5 inches).
- St. Charles North: Bryson Boscaljon won the 55 hurdles (8.07), while McLoughlin’s record-breaking pole vault secured another event win.
Looking Ahead to Outdoor Season
With the indoor season now behind them, the focus shifts to the outdoor track and field season. Batavia’s strong showing at the conference championship signals that they are a force to be reckoned with as they prepare for even bigger meets ahead.
Coach Piron is optimistic about how these performances will translate to the outdoor season.
“I would hope that performances like that will carry into outdoor season,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of kids that’ll build into the pieces that will fill out some of those events to help with double scoring.”
As the competition heats up and athletes continue to push their limits, Batavia will aim to carry this momentum forward and make an even bigger statement in the coming months.
