Lincoln Boys Track and Field team has a record-breaking day at State

Senior Garrett Slack is now a two-time State Champion
4x800m relay team also wins State Championship

[May 31, 2022] 

Track and Field events are all about aiming for and setting records and this past weekend some stellar LCHS athletes did just that in Charleston.

Saturday was a phenomenal day for the 2022 Railsplitters Track and Field team at the IHSA Class 2A Boys State Track and Field Championships at Eastern Illinois University.

The day started on Saturday with the 4x800m relay team of Drake Rutledge, Brenden Heitzig, Jude Toft and Garrett Slack winning first place with a time of 7:51.53. The second place team, Chicago Payton, ran the 4x800m relay with a time of 7:55.09. The relay team also set a new LCHS school record.

In Friday’s Prelims for the 4x800m relay team, Lincoln placed third with a time of 8:07.44. Ethan Bivin ran in place of Brenden Heitzig in the Prelims in order to give Heitzig a better opportunity to qualify for the 1600m. Luke Jones and Ben Crombie were also alternates for the relay team.
 

Garrett Slack then went on to run in his individual event, the 800m, and the ISU bound student athlete set a new IHSA State Record for Class 2A with a time of 1:51.42. He was very impressive while coming in first in the 800m and also setting a new LCHS school record. With dedication and hard work over the past two seasons, Slack has transformed himself into an elite track athlete and after this weekend he’s earned the recognition for being the best in the state. Gavin Genisio of Benton finished in second place with a time of 1:53.15.

In Friday’s Prelims, Slack also finished first with a time of 1:54.82.

Brenden Heitzig was the last Lincoln athlete of the day to compete in his event, the 1600m. Heitzig finished in third place with a PR of 4:20.06. His time in the 1600m was good enough to break a LCHS record held by Slack. Wilson Georges of Bartonville Limestone won the 1600m with a time of 4:08.58. Drew Rogers of Herscher finished in second place with a time of 4:19.01.

Heitzig, a junior, finished fourth in Friday’s Prelims with a time of 4:23.06.

Overall in the team standings, LCHS finished in 9th place out of 67 schools competing.

Railsplitters track coach Matt Silkowski was very proud of the team’s success at State.

“It was an amazing day for the LCHS boys track program and even better for the participants,” said Silkowski. “In the 4x800m relay Drake (Rutledge) ran a great first leg for us like he has for the last two seasons. Brenden (Heitzig) ran an awesome leg, handing off to Jude (Toft) with the lead. Jude ran a smart leg and gave the baton to Garrett (Slack) with a chance to win it. The fourth leg from Chicago Payton ran tough and tried to hang with Garrett but Garrett showed why he is the best 800m runner in the state and pulled away in the final 150m or so.”

“In the open 800m, Garrett again ran an awesome race,” continued Silkowski. “Garrett’s number one goal was to win the race. The record wasn’t something he was necessarily aiming to break but he had the chance to win and break the record and he was able to do just that.

Brenden ran a really smart 1600m race. He did a great job just running his race. He put himself in position to make a move late in the race and capitalized on the opportunity. He had a great day himself and I am extremely happy for him.”

Silkowski also noted that Ethan Bivin ran the 4x800m on Friday to allow Brenden to just run the 1600m.

“Bivin was a part of the relay team earlier in the season prior to his injury,” said Silkowski. “It was the plan for Brenden to run it Saturday. Ethan did his job to get us into Saturday. I am happy that he (Bivin) got the opportunity to run. He fought hard to come back from the injury.”

Coach Silkowski is also assisted by coaches Johnie Meisner and Blake Jones, who also have played an instrumental part in the success of the program.

Congratulations to these amazing athletes!!

[Teena Lowery]