Staff Report

ROCKFORD – East and Auburn combined to win six events at Thursday night’s NIC-10 track meet at Guilford, the best showing for Rockford Public Schools since 2014.

Noah Friske of East takes the early lead in the 800 meters, but Auburn’s Jonah Garcia (behind Friske) ended up winning the event.

The Knights’ Syreal Holland was the top performer. Holland blazed his way to first place in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. It was his second straight NIC-10 100 meter title, but Thursday meant a little more.

“I’m really happy tonight because my family got to see me run,” Holland said of his mom, step-dad, brother and sister. “They’ve always been busy working.”

Holland won both races over Freeport’s Dontay Thompson by comfortable margins. He ran a :11.04 in the 100 to Thompson’s :11.40, and he clocked in at :22.38 in the 200 to Thompson’s :23.23.

Auburn junior Jonah Garcia, who was second in the 2018 800-meter run, this year pulled away to win the event over Braden Meyers of Hononegah.

The night’s most exciting event may have been the 1,600 meters. Noah Friske, the two-time defending conference cross country champion, held off a spirited charge by Andrew Wilson of Hononegah. Friske ran the race in 4:35.50 to Wilson’s 4:35.52.

Senior Jason Bauis dominated the discus with a throw of 150-3 to top teammate Demari Hart’s 141-3.

And in a good omen for future E-Rabs teams, East won the 400-meter relay behind two sophomores (Charles Berry and Deabolik Horton) and a junior (Kevin Williams) teaming up with senior Adrian Newell.