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McHenry's Reiser right on track at Palatine

McHenry senior Jesse Reiser has learned a few things in the last year.

Reiser finished second at the Palatine Invitational last season as York's Alex Bashqawi used a strong kick to nip Reiser and secure the title.

The McHenry senior didn't make the same mistake two years in a row.

Reiser ran a controlled race for the first 2 miles and made his surge with 800 meters remaining to claim the Palatine Invitational title, crossing the finish line in 14:38 at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve.

He held off Yorkville's twins Jake Hoffert (14:40) and Luke Hoffert (14:43) to secure the title.

Reiser had his hands full with the Yorkville twins, who finished 2-3 in Class 2A in 2013.

“Last year I got outkicked at the finish,” said Reiser who finished second in Class 3A last year and is an early favorite to win the state title this season. “I didn't know what they (Hoffert twins) were going to do that last mile, so I just made a gut call and went.”

Reiser also won the 3,200 Class 3A title in track last spring and won the First to the Finish Invite in Peoria two weeks ago. The Palatine Invite gave the senior a major lift with the postseason looming.

“It's a huge confidence boost,” said Reiser of his victory. “Last year I took second and it really hurt my confidence a lot. This year I wanted to come in here to contend and win.”

St. Louis University took the team title with 172 points, followed by Loyola (177 points) and New Trier (182 points). Yorkville (188 points) the defending Class 2A champion claimed fourth place with Kentucky's Saint Xavier (188 point) taking fifth place.

Hersey senior David Rodriguez (14:49) also made quite a statement on Saturday, taking fourth place individually. Last weekend Rodriguez took second at the Richard Springs Invite in Peoria.

“Over the last two weekends I think I've made a statement that I'm up there with some of the elite runners in Illinois,” said Rodriguez, who ran a conservative first mile before making his move in the second mile. “I always want put myself in the race with whoever is up there and then seeing what I can do at the end.”

Also making quite an impression was Palatine senior Graham Brown (14:54), who hung tight with the lead early and kept his poise, finishing in fifth place.

Brown rebounded from a 13th-place finish at the Richard Springs Invite the previous weekend and flashed some real potential.

“I wanted to be up there with the top group and run my race,” said Brown who started the season by winning Hinsdale Central Invite. “I'm not sure what happened last week, but it didn't shake my confidence. I'll continue to keep working for the big peak at the end.”

Oakwood junior Jon Davis (14:59) held off a strong challenge by Lake Zurich sophomore Matt Pereira (14:59) to take sixth place. Pereira got a strong start before grinding out the final mile and hanging onto seventh.

“I'm pretty happy with seventh place,” said Pereira of his performance. “It was good to be up with so many great runners. I just need to stay aggressive.”

Senior Matt Plowman (15:09) took 12th place in leading York to an 11th-place team finish with 283 points.

Senior Kyle Monahan (15:32) took 27th place, helping Barrington to a 12th-place finish with 300 points. The Broncos received a strong performance from senior Andrew Gensburg (15:52) and senior Konrad Eiring (15:53) in 53rd and 54th place.

“Certainly it comes down to the strength of our pack,” said Barrington coach Tom Root of his team's performance. “We were a little further back today, but we're in a good place to do well at the end of the season.”

Hersey (302 points) took 13th place, with Rodriguez leading the charge. The Huskies also received key performances from Senior Kevin Ziegenhorn (15:20, 20th) and senior Josh Plischke (15:31, 25th).

“I like where we are at right now,” said Hersey coach Jay Renaud, whose team won the Mid-Suburban League title last season and is without its No. 2 runner senior Grant von der Lippe. “Once we get Grant back I think it is going to come together pretty good.”

Senior Michael Anderson (15:30) took 24th in leading Prospect (348 points) to 14th place.

Supporting Brown for Palatine was sophomore Brian Leonard (15:41) in 40th place to help Palatine (381 points) secure 15th place.

Senior Sam Oh (15:11) led Stevenson with a 14th-place finish.

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