Triple gets away, but CM's Max Weber celebrates double with track state title

May 31-CHARLESTON - Max Weber found a shaded patch of green grass bordering the blue track at O'Brien Field, sat on the ground and took off his spikes and socks for the final time as a Civic Memorial Eagle.

The disappointment from his 11th-place finish in the 1,600 meters was fresh, but it could not wipe away the state championship smile earned three hours earlier.

"I'm really happy I have that to hang my hat on," Weber said of his victory in the 3,200 meters. "Because this is very disappointing."

Weber went to the IHSA Class 2A boys track state meet looking for Illinois history with a Triple Crown to be claimed with state championships in cross country in the fall before a state sweep in track in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters.

Weber got the first jewel in November in Peoria by becoming CM's first cross country state champ and the second jewel came Saturday in Charleston with a victory in the 3,200. But in the race after Gillespie's Chaz Oberkfell completed his Triple Crown in Class 1A, Weber found the tank empty when he asked for more in the 1,600.

"I ran out of gas," Weber said. "I did everything I could to recover in between. Slept, ate, drank so many electrolytes, cold shower. Thought I did enough. It's a different beast when you're actually out here in the heat having to do it at state. I just wasn't ready for it, I guess."

Morris junior Cuyler Swanson, who finished sixth behind Weber in the 3,200, won the 1,600 meters in 4:16.56. Taylorville junior Liam Bettis, seventh in the 3,200 at state and runner-up to Weber in both distance races in the Triad Sectional, was second in 4:18.02 with Marion's Raphael Greer third in 4:18.23.

Weber, who set a school record at 4:13.19 in the 1,600 earlier this season, started in the back of the 12-runner finals pack and remained there, finishing 11th in 4:27.15. Weber said it didn't take long into the race before he knew he was in trouble.

"When we went out super slow and it still felt like we were in a PR type of race," Weber said. "From then on, I don't know. My legs weren't in it. Mentally, I should be able to battle a little bit tougher than that. You live and you learn."

Weber, who placed fifth in both the 1,600 and 3,200 last season as a junior, came up short of joining Lebanon's Craig Virgin (1972-73) and Edwardsville's Stephen Pifer (2002-03) - and now Gillespie's Oberkfell - as Southern Illinois' only Triple Crown winners.

But Weber was satisfied with the 3,200 cake coming without the 1,600 icing.

"The main race was definitely the 32," Weber said. "We said, run the 32 and then think about the 16 afterwards. We thought the 16 was going to go out a little slower. When I saw the first 400 was like 64, 65, even that was faster than I thought it was going to go. I don't know, I just wasn't ready for it."

The day's first race went according to plan for Weber. He spent the first six laps in the back half of the pack, avoiding a mishap in tight traffic, before moving into fifth behind twins from Morris (Everett and Cuyler Swanson) and Marion (Gabriel and Raphael Greer). Weber surged to the lead in lap seven and drew off in lap eight.

"We said, 600 (meters) to go, just take it, make a move and don't look back," Weber said. "I did look back at the end, but I stuck with my move and made it hard. It was just what we wanted to do."

Weber won in 9 minutes, 5.86 seconds, just off the school record 9:03.81 he ran in April at the Belleville West Invite. Morris' Everett Swanson closed ground in the stretch and ran a PR to place second at 9:06.68, with Gabriel Greer third in 9:12.18.

Weber was one of three medal winners for CM. Junior Glenn Collins and senior Tullio Zampieri both made the field of 12 finalists in the 800 meters and both made the medals podium for the first time. Collins' PR broke his own school record with a fourth-place finish at 1:52.53. Zampieri, who set a PR in Friday's prelims at 1:55.59, was ninth in the finals at 1:55.34. Metamora junior Zach Born won in a PR 1:51.18.

Jersey also left EIU with a state medal when junior Bradley Tueth finished third in the 400 meters at 48.80 seconds to break his own school record. Danville junior D'Mario Jackson, who also won 2A state titles in the 100 and 200 meters, was first in a PR 48.59, with Bartonville Limestone senior Logan Smallwood also posting a PR in second at 48.50.

Weber's four laps in the 1,600 ended the day for CM, which cheered on its finalists in three races from the front row of the bleachers with coach Jake Peal leaning over the railing shouting encouragement and instruction.

The Eagles coach, an avid and accomplished runner, was restrained by rules prohibiting coaches on the track's infield at state after a season spent running the infield from one side of the track to the other.

"You're used to seeing Mr. Peal sprint down and back," Weber said with a smile. "But you can hear him hanging over the fence screaming at you, too."

Weber appreciated the support. From his coach, his teammates and CM fans that showed out in Charleston.

"We're not a huge school - we're a 2A school - but we have a huge fan section," Weber said. "You can hear them out there and it means a lot, hearing people and having people support you. You hear people say, you've got this or we're proud of you, no matter what. It means the world to me, really. And coach Peal is a great coach. He's always there and he gets everything right. He always predicts what every race is going to do, usually, and you just have to do it. It's kind of crazy, every time. And he's such a good guy outside of running, too. We pray before every race and, with my faith, that has really helped this whole season."

Weber, who spent his freshman year at Metro-East Lutheran before transferring to his home district's high school at CM, leaves as the Eagles' greatest distance runner. He missed out on a Triple Crown, but a state championship double leaves him with no regret.

"I never imagined that I could be a two-time state champ, so it's really exciting," Weber said. "I'm even more excited for college now."

Weber will run cross country and track at Illinois State in Normal. His last race for CM brought a disappointing result, but the day will not be recalled as a failure.

"You can't win state and not call it a success," Weber said. "But, obviously, we left something out there that we definitely could have done better in the 16. But I can't mope around. It's my last high school race and I'm just happy with everything I was able to accomplish."

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