NORTH STARS SHINE AT HOME, BUT LANCERS HOIST THE CROWN

GMedia Reporting | May 15, 2026

ST. CHARLES, IL – Lake Park rode a wave of field-event dominance to capture the team title at the 2026 DuKane Conference Boys Track & Field Championships on Friday night. Despite the Lancers’ team triumph, host St. Charles North electrified the home crowd by capturing a massive six individual conference titles.

St. Charles North senior Brendan Byrne swept the hurdles, taking the 110m hurdles in 15.16 seconds and the 300m hurdles in 40.83 seconds. Junior teammate Samuel Hill mirrored the dominance in the distance events, securing a grueling double with victories in the 3200m (9:44.20) and the 1600m (4:21.92). North’s Lucas Tenbrock added throw gold in the discus (53.35m), while the North Stars also claimed the 4x800m relay (8:01.05) in a race marred by a controversial Batavia false-start disqualification.

Lake Park Leads

Lake Park built its championship foundation high in the air and heavy in the ring, fueled by individual titles from Anthony Orestano in the pole vault (4.49m), Niko Menos in the high jump (1.93m), Joseph Michelini in the shot put (17.66m), and Omar Kuta in the 400m (49.25).

Other notable performances included Geneva junior Bennett Konkey claiming the title of the conference’s fastest man with a blistering 10.53-second win in the 100m. Wheaton Warrenville South showcased elite relay speed, clocking a state-ranking 41.87 seconds to win the 4x100m before doubling back to take the 4x200m (1:28.89). Batavia’s Darin Ashiru ruled the pits with a horizontal jump sweep, winning the long jump (6.88m) and triple jump (13.71m), while St. Charles East’s Michael Wilson won a thriller in the 800m (1:57.13).