CHARLESTON — It took a little arm-twisting to get wide receiver DeQuan Dudley on the Rich Central track team.
“My coach was pushing me,” Dudley said of offensive coordinator Quincy Woods, who’s also an assistant track coach. “He sees that I had a lot of potential. I know I had potential, too. I took it serious.”
Dudley, a senior in his first full season running track, advanced to the Class 2A state finals Saturday in three events from Friday’s preliminaries at Eastern Illinois’ O’Brien Stadium.
Dudley anchored Rich Central’s 400-meter relay (42.90 seconds) behind Gamar Hayles, Keewan Stokes and Kiandre Henderson that advanced from four prelim heats.
Dudley went on to qualify in the 100 dash in 10.84 and also earn a spot in the 200 final with a time of 22.45. Mount Carmel’s Marquise Peggs (22.71) and Hillcrest’s Tyree Allen (22.79) also advanced in the 200.
“I feel blessed I did it,” Dudley said. “I’ve been working hard for it, and I’m glad I could come down here and get it done.”
Before he goes to McKendree University to play football, Dudley realizes what he has to do Saturday to reach his goal of a state title.
“I’ve got to come out harder and finish stronger,” he said.
He’ll have some company, too. Rich Central, which won the Hillcrest Sectional, also qualified its 1,600 relay and Hayles made the finals in the 110 hurdles (14.47, third-best prelim time).
The 1,600 relay foursome was VanHarvey Vance, Brody Love, Henderson and Christian Williams (3:22.54).
“We were optimistic that we could have a chance to qualify five or six,” Rich Central coach Dave Stanko said. “We got five, through. I’m pretty happy.”
The Olympians did it in the relays without 2014 state finalist Franklin Hunt, who had to sit out because of a groin injury.
Also coming through in the relays was the Evergreen Park foursome of Sean Ryan, Kris Nichols, Josh Carter and Charles Taylor. They advanced to the finals in the 400 (42.82) and 800 (1:28.51) relays.
Hillcrest’s 800 foursome of Najee Syvester, Tayjione Nathan, Alderion Smith and Allen qualified in 1:27.88.
Field event leaders include Marian Catholic senior Matthew Martinson, third in the 2A high jump in 2014. He cleared 6 feet, 3 inches Friday with the rest of the qualifiers for the finals.
Hillcrest junior Luther Newburn, fourth in the 2A triple jump last year, will get a chance to move up. His 46-7.75 ranks second after the prelims. Newburn also advanced in the long jump (21-3.5).
Both of Mount Carmel’s entrants in the shot put made it out of the prelims — freshman Verdis Brown (50-2) and senior Andrejas Duerig (49-6.5).
In 1A, Chicago Christian qualified two relays for the finals. Luke Boss, Ben Friesen, Josh Van Dyk and Chad Ellens ran the 3,200 relay (8:09.78). The 1,600 group was Colby Roundtree, Friesen, Bradford Fitzpatrick and Boss (3:26.73).
Beecher had two individuals move on — Thomas Gibbons in the 800 (2:00.76) and Joseph Wcisel in the discus (151-5).
Tierney is a freelance writer.
