ROCHESTER, Ill. (WCIA) – The boys’ track and field team from Rochester emerged victorious at the sectional meet held at Troy-Triad, outpacing their rivals by a considerable margin.
With a score of 110.33 points, the Rockets secured the top spot, leaving the host team, the Knights, trailing in second place with 79.5 points.
Rochester’s triumph in the class 2A category was remarkable, especially since they didn’t clinch first place in any running event. In fact, only one Rocket athlete captured an individual sectional title.
Unlike schools that rely on a standout athlete to accumulate 30 or 40 points through multiple event victories, Rochester’s strategy focused on smaller contributions from the entire team, culminating in their impressive win.
This approach is something that fifth-year head coach Matt Blaise has been advocating for years. While many view track as a sport highlighting individual prowess, Blaise places a strong emphasis on collective team achievements.
“We can be a team sport,” Blaise said. “Where we are having those team accolades, team lessons and comradery.”
Few if any have bought into this messaging from Coach Blaise more than senior Tristan Stanton, who is state bound in the long jump, triple jump, 4×100 relay and 4×200 relay.
“I don’t think I’m too worried about individual marks,” Stanton said when asked about goals for his senior year trip to state in Charleston. “I just really want to put some points up for my team at state. I think we can finish top five or even better, and I want to see that happen… It’s definitely a team effort. We’re one of the smaller schools in 2A so we really have to have a team come together to win a sectional… We definitely have athletes, but we have to do it in a more holistic way.”
“Each year he has one-upped himself,” Blaise said of Stanton. “In my tenure here it’s hard to compare what he has done, and how he has improved, and what he has meant to our program.”
Stanton will continue his track career at Wisconsin-Oshkosh after wrapping up competition for the Rockets.
He and junior Khordell Gregory have pushed each other in long jump. Gregory won the event with a leap of 7.10 meters at sectionals, while Stanton took second at 6.89. Gregory will join Stanton in the 4×1 and 4×2.
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