Whiz Kids: Old Quarry State Track Qualifiers

Each week, Lemont Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments.

We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to Local Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the information included below.

And without further ado, this week's Whiz Kids are...

Whiz Kids’ Names: Claire Gagen, Christopher Thompson and Rory Cunningham

Whiz Kids' School:

Grade: 8th

Accomplishment: On Saturday, May 12, the Old Quarry track and field team competed against 13 area schools in the Illinios Elementary School Association track and field sectional at Brooks Middle School in Bolingbrook. Old Quarry had three eighth-grade students qualify for the IESA Class AA State track and field meet, held Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 18, in  in East Peoria.

Claire Gagen qualified in the 1,600-meter run (mile), finishing third with a state-qualifying time of 5:37.21. She trimmed more than 14 seconds off her personal best time.

Christopher Thompson qualified in the 400-meter dash, finishing first with a personal best time of 56.34. 

Rory Cunningham qualified in the high jump with a first-place jump of 5 feet, 10 inches. Rory is a two-time state qualifier in the high jump, and holds the school record with a jump of 6 feet, 1 inch.

At the state competition, Cunningham finished third with a jump of 5 feet, 11 inches. It was the best finish in Old Quarry history and the school's best since 1996.

Thompson finished 32nd out of 48 in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.46. Gagen finished 30th out of 44 girls in the 1,600-meter race with a time of 5:51.08.

Coaches: Brian Holdman, Patrick Casey and Peggy Collins.

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