Trumpy finishes 3rd in state hurdles meet

Mike Trumpy wasn't quite fast enough to win the Illinois state championship in the 100-meter high hurdles, but that same speed may enable him to capture playing time in the Northwestern backfield next season.

The three-star running back and 2009 Wildcat signee from Wheaton North finished third in the state final last weekend. He was running neck-and-neck with the leaders until clipping the eighth hurdle and finishing with a time of 14.46 seconds.

"He was mad," said his father, David.

Erick Gavin of Chicago Heights Marian Catholic won the title in 14.04 seconds.

To watch a YouTube clip of the 110-meter hurdle final, click here. (Trumpy is in the fourth lane from the left, wearing a blue-and-gold uniform.)

Trumpy's best time in the high hurdles this season was 14.13, and he was undefeated until the state final, according to his father. He captured the DuPage Valley Conference, DuPage County and state sectional titles on his way to the state meet in downstate Charleston, where he won his preliminary heat before the final.

He also captured the DuPage Valley Conference 55-meter indoor hurdle title.

The 6-foot, 197-pounder also competed as the anchor runner in the 4x100- and 4x200-meter relays for Wheaton North at the state meet. The Falcons finished eighth in the 4x100 with a time of

43.07 seconds. The 4x200 team was disqualified in the final for running outside of the passing zone.

According to his father, Trumpy's best time in the 100 meters was a manually timed 10.59 seconds (10.83 electronic).

In addition to his bronze medal for the high hurdles, Trumpy will have to clear space on his trophy shelf for the Chuck Long Award he recently received. The honor, named for the former Wheaton North and Iowa quarterback, is given to the school's top male athlete every year and voted on by the school's administration.

Trumpy rushed for 883 yards in just four-and-a-half games for Wheaton North this fall, before a hamstring injury in Week 5 effectively ended his season. He averaged a whopping 8.7 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns for the Falcons before the injury.

He was named honorable mention All-State by the Chicago Tribune, and was the top-ranked running back and 14th-best overall prospect in the state according to Rivals.

Trumpy finished his career at Wheaton North with 5,763 rushing yards and 75 touchdowns.

He committed to Northwestern last April 27 and was one of 18 incoming freshmen that signed their national letters of intent in February.