Niles West edged in 400 for state title

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Niles West's Lavelle Jordan (center) runs the Class 3A 400-meter relay. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Updated: August 1, 2011 12:20AM

BOYS TRACK — Santiago Ochoa ran out of Niles West arguably the best sprinter in program history.

The Niles West senior wrapped up his standout career as a seven-time state qualifier and a five-time medal-winner. Ochoa earned his last two all-state honors Saturday in Charleston as part of the 4x100- and 4x200-meter relay teams.

Ochoa helped the Wolves finish second in the 4x100 in 42.03 and then ran the second leg on the 4x200 that ended up eighth in 1:28.85. What was lost on paper is that Ochoa injured his hamstring during the 4x200 and still managed to complete his stretch.

“He blew it out with 150 or so meters left,” Niles West coach Chris Vivone said. “To his credit, he pushed through it. That says an awful lot about who he is.

“He had hamstring issues all year long, but he felt his best over the weekend. But he pulled it, and he said he heard a pop in his leg.”

Before the Wolves competed in the 4x200, Vivone admitted the team was disappointed with its runner-up finish in the 4x100. Belleville West won the race in 41.87.

“If that happened last year, we would have been ecstatic,” the coach said. “We were a little bummed out we lost. We really felt like we had a strong chance of winning it.”

Ochoa was one of two seniors on both relays. He joined senior Seve Loubriel, junior Mike Wright and junior Lavelle Jordan on the 4x100 and ran with sophomore Jeremiah Jordan, Loubriel and Jordan on the 4x200.

“We wanted to prove to everybody that we had a good 4x1 team,” Vivone said. “Not a lot of people talked about us all year, for good reason. We never ran good until we broke 43 at the sectional. But we all believed in ourselves. It was kind of disappointing.

“But I will look back in a week or two and realize we did something pretty special.”

Like Ochoa, Loubriel was a fixture in the lineup while at Niles West. Vivone said the Wolves will miss his leadership as much as anything.

“He’s going to be hard to replace,” the coach said. “He was not as decorated as Santiago, but he was just as important. He was a great captain, a great leader. He was the rock of our sprint crew. He was the best captain I’ve ever had.”

Despite the loss of the two seniors, the Wolves will be in good shape for the future. Wright and the Jordan brothers all are expected back. Lavelle Jordan clocked a 10.92 and took sixth place in the 100.

Vivone also said there are several sophomores ready to make the jump to varsity.

“The talent is there,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun for another couple of years.”