After running long distances and sprints, Lockport's Nolan Lamoureux rolls to state title in 800. ‘A big jumble.'
A stress fracture in grade school has been a blessing in disguise for Lockport's Nolan Lamoureux.
The Lewis-bound senior track star enjoyed cross country and distance running as a youngster, but as he approached the high school stage of his life, that aspect started to take a toll on him.
Lamoureux suffered that stress fracture in seventh grade, but that's not all.
'COVID hit right after,' he said. 'It was just a big jumble.'
When all was said and done, Lamoureux ended up loving the sprints. He spent three years concentrating on those events for the Porters, finishing third in the state as a junior in the 400.
Veteran Lockport coach Tom Razo sat down with Lamoureux before this spring, and they came up with the idea of Lamoureux running races in the middle distances, in particular the 800.
That plan worked out pretty well. So well, in fact, that Lamoureux went out and won the Class 3A state championship in that event at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Field in Charleston.
'He came into our school as a sprinter and I knew him as a distance runner,' Razo said of Lamoureux. 'He made his mark as a freshman sprinter, but I thought he would be at a whole different level if he moves up.
'It took us a while to talk him into it. His junior year, he dabbled in it. This year, after the indoor season was over, he said 'OK, I think the best shot for me winning a title is moving up.'''
Lamoureux won the state title in a time of 1:51.92, edging out Yorkville's Owen Horeni at 1:52.22.
Then, in the 1,600 relay, Lamoureux joined Fope Omisore, Xavier Adeniyi and Michael Nicholson to finish second for the Porters with a 3:18.01, losing out to Evanston's 3:17.73.
Still, Lamoureux became Lockport's first state champion since John Meyer won the shot put in 2018 and the first runner for the Porters to take gold since 2008 when Kyle Engnell won the 1,600.
Homewood-Flossmoor's 400 relay of Joaquin Jordan, Charles Dees, Myles Ellis and Zion Morrison won the Class 3A state title with a 41.00.
In Class 2A, Southland Prep's Amauree Williams became the first boys track athlete in program history to win a state championship, prevailing in the 300 hurdles with a 37.77.
Lamoureux's win, however, wasn't easy. It was a come-from-behind victory.
'No one challenged him all year long,' Razo said of Lamoureux. 'He controlled all of the races he was in. The young man from Yorkville took off at 400 meters, gapped him and gapped him good.
'I was kind of worried there for a second. I'm thinking 'OK, you've got to respond to this.' Prior to the race, we talked about going out at a certain pace, which he did. During the last 200 meters, I wanted him to kick like a mad fiend and he did. With 50 meters left, he took control.'
Razo may have been a little worried, but Lamoureux was unfazed.
'Throughout the race, I knew that he was a fast mile guy,' Lamoureux said of Horeni. 'But I knew I had a stronger kick. I let him get out a little bit ahead of me, but it's all about tactical racing.
'I was staying not too far behind, and I was at a good point where I was still in the race. I knew that as long as I kicked, I would still have the race.'
In grade school, Lamoureux started running because when he played basketball he was faster than everyone else. Track, though, is something that he has grown to love.
'It's a sport where I can challenge myself,' he said. 'And it keeps me motivated.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries' Kayla Thornton followed her own path, to the surprise and delight of her parents
As an expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries weren't expected to have a star. But Kayla Thornton may be emerging as one. The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, Thornton led Golden State on Thursday to an 88-77 victory over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever with 16 points and six rebounds in just 20 minutes of play. Thornton, the team's leading scorer (14.8), credits her success in part to the system head coach Natalie Nakase has built. The former New York Liberty champion, who has nearly 10 years of WNBA experience, feels 'the freest I've ever been.' 'Coach (Nakase), she has a system for us that gives us the ultimate confidence to do what we have to do to showcase our game,' Thornton said. 'She allows us to be free. I think this is the most freest I've ever been since I've been in the league. And I just thank her for the opportunity because you don't get that a lot.' Thornton's parents, Lewis and Merteen Thornton, who were proudly wearing Valkyries jerseys with Thornton's No. 5 at Thursday's game, echoed that sentiment. The recently retired couple travels from their home in El Paso, Texas, to watch their daughter's home games at Chase Center. 'I think with the Valkyries, she's playing like she played at UTEP. No worries, no overthinking. If she sees the ball, she's shooting or assisting because she's happy,' said Merteen. 'When you can feel free, you can really accomplish a lot. And I think that's where my daughter is right now. She feels free. She feels good. The team is wonderful.' Thornton said that part of that freeness is pushing her boundaries — getting out of her comfort zone and adapting to greater offensive opportunities than she had with the Liberty. With New York, Thornton was a defensive dynamo off the bench. With the Valkyries, she recorded the team's first basket and first double-double. In addition to her career-best scoring, she leads the team in rebounds (7.1) and steals (1.8). 'I was happy everywhere. I love New York, but here is just a little different,' Thornton said. 'The people that I have around me, just understanding my role (is) a little different. So I'm embracing that and I'm happy because I love challenges. I love new opportunities, so for me to be able to do that is great.' Lewis Thornton said his daughter was never one to shy away from a challenge. As Thornton grew — she's 6-foot-1 — she and her dad knew she had an innate athletic prowess. But he didn't expect her talent to take her to the basketball court. 'There was always something unique about her,' Lewis said. 'She started off in track and field, and she was doing great there, but then (one day) she had an itch. 'I want to play basketball,' and I said, 'No darling, no, no no, you are a track star.'' On the track, Thornton was well-rounded, running the 400-meter hurdles, 400-meter dash and 'all the relays' while also competing in the long jump and triple jump. But after she started watching the WNBA, she began to imagine what it would be like to play in the league — to pursue basketball at the highest level. After some convincing, Thornton began playing basketball in addition to track and field. 'But God knows what to do, right? And she did both. So that proved her point. And (her success) made me like, 'Look, sit down, have a seat,'' Lewis laughed. 'That's my daughter, and she knew what she was doing.' The adoration the Thortons have for their daughter is palpable, but it's clear that the feeling is mutual. 'My parents mean everything. They're both retired now, so it's just a blessing that God has blessed me to be in the position that I am, that wherever I go, I could bring them with me.' Thornton said. 'They've been working hard to get me to where I'm at now, and now I'm working to allow them to enjoy the fruits of the labors that they have provided for me.'
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Stacy Lewis criticizes setup at KPMG Women's PGA, saying it makes good players look silly
FRISCO, Texas – No LPGA player has been involved more in the making of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship than Stacy Lewis. In fact, when this championship first came together a decade ago, former KPMG chair John Veihmeyer said the firm's involvement wouldn't have happened if they hadn't first formed a relationship with Lewis. So, when the two-time major champion and former No. 1 offers critical comments about this week's championship, rest assured she's put a lot of thought behind it. Round 1 of the KPMG Women's PGA at Fields Ranch East took more than six hours for those who finished late in the day, including Peacock featured group Lexi Thompson, Yealimi Noh and Yuka Saso. There were 25-minute waits on par 3s, with several groups backed up on Nos. 8 and 13. The slow-play issue, Lewis says, is a setup issue, and it was more of the same in the second round. 'Today it was just hole locations again, on sides of hills,' said Lewis, who won't play the weekend. 'Then you throw the wind in there, there was no way to stop it on No. 8 again today. We should be playing the front of that tee, probably 120 yards … can't hold the green.' The women played the eighth hole from 157 yards on Friday and less than 20 percent of the field hit it in regulation. After Lydia Ko hit a beauty into the green on No. 8 late Friday that didn't stop, NBC analyst Morgan Pressel said it was a hole setup that didn't reward good shots. "Not my favorite thing to see," she added. Golf Channel analyst and PGA Tour winner Brandel Chamblee has long thought that LPGA setups are far too long, making note of it several times on recent Live From shows at U.S. Women's Opens. Famed reachable par 5s that often elicit much drama in the men's game – such as the 18th at Pebble Beach – are often three-shot holes for the women. The 75.58 scoring average on Thursday was the fifth toughest day at a major championship on the LPGA in the last 10 seasons. Friday's average is now the highest scoring average at the majors in a decade. As a player, Lewis doesn't really care if 12 under wins a major. What she cares about is whether or not the golf course is playing the way it was designed to be played. So often, she feels that officials move the tees back to get to a certain total yardage. "Almost play it backwards,' said Lewis of how it should be done. 'You see a green, OK what club should we get them in on this hole, and let's go find a tee box that gets us there.' She'd also like to see the bunker in the middle of the fairway on the 18th be removed. The hole, which makes for an awkward tee shot for players who can't hit driver off the tee without running through the fairway but also can't carry the bunker at 237 yards with a 3-wood, has yielded more doubles than birdies the first two rounds. Officials had to switch the ninth and 18th holes for the event to make room for hospitality. The 2023 Senior PGA ended on a reachable par 5. The two nines will be switched altogether for the 2027 PGA Championship to accommodate hospitality down the stretch. One of the unique aspects of the Gil Hanse design, which opened in 2023, is that there are no traditional tee boxes. Hanse used what he calls ribbons tees, which offer loads of flexibility as they're essentially extensions of the fairway. So much so that it can be difficult to find a flat spot to tee up the ball. Fields Ranch East was set up at 6,532 yards on Friday, when winds gusted up to 30 mph and temperatures soared into the triple digits. They'll be able to stretch it back to 8,000 yards for the men someday if desired, a modern design at the Home of the PGA of America that, as Jerry Kelly said at the 2023 Senior PGA, is 'future-proofed.' Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom said she's heard mixed reviews from players on Fields Ranch East, which will host the PGA Championship in 2027 and the KPMG once again 2031. 'I think you can be rewarded for good shots,' said Sagstrom. 'You definitely get punished for bad shots, so that's good. It's in beautiful condition.' The Northbridge Bermuda rough is penal. Miss a fairway by mere inches and it might be necessary to wedge out as the ball sinks down out of sight. Major champion Ashleigh Buhai said her group noted there were a lot of Sunday pins on Thursday, though she liked the challenge. 'I don't mind it,' said Buhai. 'You've got to think. I don't mind using my brain and having to hit the different shots. Sometimes, leaving it 30 feet is a good shot.' Angel Yin had a decidedly different take, telling scribes on Thursday that she thought it was quite boring. 'It's just kind of repetitive,' said Yin, 'and there are challenges, but it's very subtle.' Lewis disagreed with Yin's "boring" take, but did say she's heard from a number of disappointed players. 'We had such a good run with this championship at very good golf courses and then we come here,' said Lewis, referring to recent venues such as Baltusrol, Atlanta Athletic Club, Congressional and Sahalee. 'The issue of this all too is, make us look good,' she continued. 'We're trying to get more people to watch women's golf, and to watch us play golf, and setups like this, they don't help us. "And this is when we have our biggest stages, network TV and all of that, and we're making very good players look silly."
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Jonathan Toews' incentive-laden Jets contract shows Winnipeg has concerns
Jonathan Toews will officially return to the NHL next season, ending a two-year hiatus that many fans expected was more likely to lead him into retirement than back to the rink. On Friday, the 37-year-old center who captained the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups agreed to a one-year deal with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. The deal will be official when free agency opens on July 1. Toews stepped away from hockey at the end of the 2022-23 season. He played in just 53 games that season as his body continued to break down from battles with long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome. Following the expiration of his contract with the Blackhawks, the center chose to not seek a new team while he addressed his health — a journey eventually took him to India last December. While the Jets are certainly adding a savvy veteran, it's also clear they aren't quite sure what Toews will be able to offer throughout the course of a regular season and playoff run. Look no further than his reported contract details. It's worth noting that Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was the assistant GM of the Blackhawks during the early portion of Toews' career from 2009-2011. There's a certain level of familiarity there. Cheveldayoff knows all about the intangibles Toews can bring to a locker room. But he also clearly knows about all the uncertainties here. That Toews would earn a bonus just for skating in 20 games — and every 10 games after until 60 after — sets rather low, if not reasonable expectations. It's unclear if Toews will need a conditioning stint in the AHL (if he'd be open to it) or what his role will be on the team. Per The Athletic: As a UFA, all Toews costs is cash, so Winnipeg's bet on him as a potential 2C — or as a third-line centre if the Jets run Adam Lowry's line as hard as they've done for the past three seasons — is highly sensible. The Jets will be able to take a good, long look at Toews' ability ahead of the deadline before looking for any additional upgrades. And even if Toews struggles to make a top six impact, he's been such a strong faceoff performer throughout his career that he'll be dependable as a depth option who can be trusted for key defensive zone draws — something the Jets don't often trust their current 2C, Vladislav Namestnikov, to do. Signing Toews is an incredibly low-risk, high-reward move that's also just straight up great public relations. Manitoba is home to Toews Lake and the Jonathan Toews Community Centre, both of which were renamed for the forward. But if it doesn't work out, if Toews can't manage 20 games, then the team that won the President's Trophy last year isn't on the hook for much. The club has all the talent it needs to win a Stanley Cup. Now it has another veteran who knows how to finish the job. So long as he can stay on the ice. That part remains to be seen.
