Ben Gorsage of the Washington track & field team was voted the Journal Star high school boys athlete of the week for March 9-14, presented by CEFCU.
The junior turned in one of the state’s top times last week. Gorsage won the 800-meter run in 1:54.12 on Friday at the Batavia Distance Madness indoor meet. That time puts him at No. 3 in Illinois, regardless of class.
The poll closed at noon Friday. Information about the other nominees is below.
If you have a nominee for the honor, email us at sports@pjstar.com or tag us on X @pjstarsports. Last week, Reggie Postlewaite of the Manual basketball team was named JS boys athlete of the week.
Josh Humbles, Manual basketball
The senior put together a perfect end to his high school basketball career. Humbles helped the Rams win the Class 2A state championship on Saturday. His three free throws in the game’s final 20 seconds secured Manual’s first state title since 1997 with the 60-55 win over Quincy Notre Dame. Humbles scored 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting. This came off Humbles’ semifinal performance where he scored a game-high 19 points to beat Tolono Unity, 62-57, on Thursday. Humbles began last week with 14 points in a 75-41 win March 9 against Johnsburg in the Elite Eight.
Mark Cook II, Richwoods track & field
The senior got off to a great indoor season last week. Cook II was a two-event winner Friday at the Jacksonville Invitational hosted by Illinois College. He won the 60-meter dash (6.98 seconds), then ran leadoff in the winning 4×200-meter relay. Cook II, Darrell Taylor, Kyen Curtis and Ayce Hawks ran 1:34.87 — 2.5 seconds faster than their time from six days earlier.
Taven Ostrander, ROWVA/Williamsfield track & field
The senior captured three event victories last week. Ostrander won two sprints and a relay March 9 at the ROWVA/Williamsfield Cougars Indoor Exhibition hosted by Monmouth College. He posted victories in the 60-meter dash (7.05 seconds) and 200-meter dash (22.70 seconds), then was the anchor in the winning 4×200-meter relay (1:38.03). He was joined by Daniel Skala, Emerson Ponce and Eagan Ostrander.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Washington runner voted high school boys athlete of the week, presented by CEFCU
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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