Focused Prospect wins Libertyville Invitational
Last year the Prospect boys cross country team finished sixth at the Schaumburg sectional and missed qualifying for state by one spot.
The Knights had qualified for the state meet five out of the previous six years, so the 2010 finish was a bit disappointing.
This year Prospect is looking to build another state qualifying team.
So far, so good.
Junior Michael Leet (15:27) and senior Michael Thill (15:54) took first and third, powering Prospect to the team title at the Libertyville Invitational with 54 points at Adler Park.
Junior Nick Korhumel (15:48) and senior Dan Ryan (15:55) went 2-4 in leading host Libertyville to second place with 60 points, followed by New Trier (86 points), Fremd (86 points), and Hoffman Estates (107 points) in the 12-team field.
Leet pushed the pace for Prospect, leading the race from start to finish, taking first by a comfortable 21-second margin.
The Prospect junior missed last season due to a cut tendon, but he has ignited the Knights’ effort this season.
“We wanted to do race shock,” said Leet of the Knights’ initial thrust. “I did it and felt good all the way through. I just kept trucking.”
Connor Fitzgerald (16:27) and senior Joshua Campos (16:29) took 12th and 13th, with junior Thomas Paczko (16:52) securing 25th place.
Prospect pushed the pace early and had four in the top ten through the opening mile.
“They did exactly what we wanted them to do,” said Prospect coach Mike Stokes. “We wanted to get out hard and create a race.”
Prospect’s abrupt 2010 ending has inspired the Knights to have a different experience this year.
“Previous years we took it for granted,” said Thill of the program’s recent success. “Last year we kind of took it for granted and we didn’t step up the way we should have. That motivates everyone on the team.”
Libertyville also looked motivated. With Korhumel and Ryan setting the pace, the Wildcats pushed Prospect for the title.
Senior Easton Huch (16:12) took seventh, followed by senior Cam Taylor (16:33, 16th place) giving the Wildcats a solid performance.
“We knew Prospect was going to be here,” said Korhumel. “Leet took it out too fast, so I just wanted to keep my position and stay with their second guy (Thill). It was a good measuring stick.”
Ryan fed off of Korhumel, providing the Wildcats with a lift and putting a scare into a talented Prospect squad.
“We just wanted to go out and show that we’re for real,” said Ryan. “I definitely feed off of Nick, and I think we work well together.”
New Trier didn’t feature its top varsity runners, but junior Dominic Gattuso (16:18) took ninth place in helping power the Trevians to a third-place finish.
Sophomore Harry Winter (15:59) gave Fremd a lift by taking fifth. The Vikings sophomore clung to the lead pack and held tight the entire race.
“I was staying strong with the front pack and then I finished the best I could,” said Winter, who twisted his ankle after the first mile. “I was able to hang tough.”
Sophomore Nick Vucovich (16:37), senior Jake Winter (16:42), sophomore Danny Johnson (16:43), and senior Matt Jackson (16:49) strung together 18th, 19th, 20th, and 24th to help spark the Vikings.
Senior Michael Goers (16:15) and sophomore Billy Thomas (16:18) led Hoffman Estates in eighth and 10th place, ahead of junior Connor Dressler (16:46, 21st).
“I’m more focused this year,” said Goers. “I’m just controlling my pace better this year. We have a lot of young guys that have also been helping out the team.”
Kevin Schreiber (16:03) and Tyler Sammons (16:31) secured 6th and 14th place to aid St. Viator’s sixth-place finish.
“The key was staying with the guy that was in front of me,” said Schrieber of his execution. “My team has really supported and pushed me.”