Milledgeville’s Workman limps away after final race

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CHARLESTON - Jake Workman was hoping he had 200 meters left in his right leg.

The Milledgeville senior was off by about 150 meters.

Workman ran in the fourth heat of the 100 Thursday during the Class 1A state track and field preliminaries at Eastern Illinois University.

About halfway down the track, he had to stop pushing and coast the rest of the way. He finished eighth in his heat at 11.66 seconds.

“I was hoping I could make it all the way through, but I just couldn’t,” Workman said. “I only ran last week because I felt OK. I’ve been down here the last three years, but I just couldn’t make it to the big show.”

Workman missed much of the last month of the season with a nagging hamstring injury, which recently was diagnosed as a severe strain. His doctor recommended that he not compete the rest of this season.

“I just had to give it a try,” Workman said.

Double time: While Oregon is alive in several events, only two other area schools have athletes competing in more than one.

Polo started the day right with its relay team of Steve Frano, Tanner Renner, Drew Cheatham and Adam Poole advancing in the 3,200 in 8 minutes, 18.10 seconds.

Later, Kyle Ditzler persevered through a wet runway to advance in the long jump (20-7 3/4).

“No matter what the conditions, whether it is cold or wet, I still try and do my best,” Ditzler said.

Amboy-LaMoille also is alive in two events. Matt Monroe advanced in the discus (149-7) and Jake Lytle in the 400 (50.60).

Double ouch: Dylan DeJonge gingerly walked out of the sandpit after his final run in the triple jump.

The Erie-Prophetstown junior had hit a jump of 44-6 1/2 to put him second going into finals.

That didn’t stop his heavily taped shins from hurting.

“It’s just the same old problems with my knees and my shin splints,” DeJonge said. “I’ll rest them tomorrow, and hopefully, come back and do better on Saturday.”

Three Rivers conference rival Adam Sanden of Bureau Valley didn’t show any pain, but his toe was hurting.

Sanden had been treated for a toe infection Tuesday evening.

“It didn’t bother me when I was out jumping, but this morning I could hardly walk on the thing because it was so sore,” Sanden said.

Sanden also qualified for the finals with a jump of 43-5.