The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The West Central High School Boys Track Team was represented at the IHSA State Track Meet held Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois over the weekend.
Freshman Layton Housman attempted to duplicate the recent success of Theresa Brokaw in the 1600 meter run by qualifying for state at the Sherrard Sectionals in a time of 4 minutes and 47 seconds last week.
Housman and Coach Snowden headed to Charleston on Thursday afternoon with hopes that Layton could improve on his sectional time and possibly turn in a faster time in Friday's state prelims and perhaps even qualify for Saturday's finals in the event.
Unfortunately, midday heat, sun, and a grueling pace combined to be a bit too much for the West Central freshman on Friday.
Housman battled the conditions and the pace for the first two laps; turning in a 1:06 on his first lap, and a 2:13 at the 800 mark; but soon the pace and the heat became too much and Housman slowed up somewhere between lap three and four.
Overall, Layton turned in a 4:56.04 time, good enough for 33rd place out of 37 entrants in the event.
The experience was a learning experience for the freshman who has been running the 1600 since 5th grade, where he was also coached by Coach Snowden.
"Next year, the Heat Boys Track Team will have numerous returning letterman to build on this year's success!" said Coach Snowden.