Winning streak(s) continue for Palatine

Palatine’s boys cross country team may yet have a few concerns, but the past two weeks the Pirates have looked pretty flawless.

Palatine continued to impress on Wednesday in winning a pair of Mid-Suburban West duals on the Macnider Cross Country Course at Hoover Park in Schaumburg.

Palatine defeated host Schaumburg 21-36, and also beat Hoffman Estates 15-48. Those wins clinched the MSL West division title for the Pirates. Schaumburg defeated Hoffman 17-43.

Palatine won its 10th MSL West title with its 60th and 61st consecutive dual meet victories.

“Our goal all year has been to execute what we do in the race,” said Palatine coach Chris Quick. “And run our best race. That’s the only thing we can control. It was perfect tonight.”

Senior Peter Tomkiewicz (16:16) and senior Anthony Gregorio (16:16) set the pace for the Pirates on a muddy course, taking first and second.

Senior Marcus Garcia (16:44), senior Tim Meincke (16:47) and senior Tim Johnson (16:54) added to the Pirates’ victory by taking fifth, sixth and seventh place.

“It’s always something in the back of our mind,” said Gregorio of the Pirates’ impressive streaks. “We wanted to keep it going.”

“It was all about executing today,” said Tomkiewicz, who combined with Gregorio to push the early pace. “And that’s what we did.”

Meincke rebounded from a subpar performance at the Palatine Invite to put a charge into Palatine’s attack.

“When we get him at his best we’ll be tough to beat,” said Quick of Meincke’s performance.

Palatine has come up big the past two weekends in winning the Peoria Notre Dame Invite and the Palatine Invite.

Now the Pirates can start to focus on what they hope to be a very rewarding postseason.

“It’s cool to have success in the regular season,” said Gregorio. “We got to know what we do best. Now it’s putting in the work the next few weeks to get ready for the postseason.”

Senior Tyler Anderson (16:31) and junior Evan Prizy (16:35) took third and fourth to lead Schaumburg.

“We just wanted to get out there and push from the beginning,” said Anderson, who along with Prizy helped Palatine’s front duo. “We’re excited for the postseason, and we definitely think we can do well.”

Junior Juan Barajas (16:57) and senior Pat Sweich (17:11) added eighth and 11th place, with senior Brian Flight (17:27) taking 13th place for Schaumburg.

Sophomore Billy Thomas (17:03) took ninth place for Hoffman Estates.