Boys cross country: Hersey's picking up speed

Hersey boys cross county coach Jay Renaud is feeling good about where his Huskies are - and where they could be going.

And for good reason.

Last week Hersey won its second consecutive Mid-Suburban League title, and the Huskies continued their roll by easily securing a Class 3A Hoffman Estates regional victory with 23 points on a glistening fall morning at Busse Woods.

"We are happy with where we're at," said Renaud, whose team won its third consecutive regional title. "And we're committed to working hard to get where we need to go."

Conant senior Zach Dale didn't seem to have any problems either, controlling the race from start to finish and crossing the finish line in a comfortable 15:26 in securing the individual title.

"This week was about advancing," said Dale who secured his second consecutive MSL title last weekend. "Didn't really have anything to prove and I wanted to conserve my energy for the next two weeks."

Hersey started conservatively but came on strong in the last half of the race, placing five runners in the top eight. Prospect also used a late charge to secure second, nipping Hoffman Estates 77-80. Wheeling (93 points) took fourth, followed by Conant (124) and Fremd (127).

All six teams will advance to the Schaumburg sectional at Busse Woods on Nov. 1.

Hersey seniors David Rodriguez (15:40), Kevin Ziegenhorn (15:42), and Josh Plischke (15:43) packed it together for a 2-3-4 finish. Senior Grant von der Lippe (15:52), who continues to make a strong come back from an early season injury, added a sixth-place finish, and sophomore Jacob Krupa ( 16:05) contributed with an eighth-place finish.

It all added up to a dominant performance from the Huskies.

"It was all about the team today," said Rodriguez, who powered the Huskies' late-starting charge. "We wanted to start out conservatively and finish fast. We're definitely peaking at the right time."

"It was awesome," said Ziegenhorn of the Huskies' successful packing tactic. "Everybody has been working together, and getting Grant back has definitely given us a boost. Our confidence is pretty high right now."

Prospect patiently waited and then let loose in the second half of the race with Junior Matt Cozine (16:06) and senior Mike Anderson (16:07) securing ninth and 10th place. Next were junior Alex Heyde (16:10, 12th) and junior Karson LeComte (16:16, 18th).

"It feels good," said Cozine of the Knights' recent successes. "It's kind of where we are suppose to be, and we're starting to pack it together."

Hoffman Estates wasn't far behind thanks to a strong start that placed the Hawks within striking distance. Junior Bryan Gamboa (16:01) set the tone early, finishing in seventh place helping the Hawks get an early edge.

"We got out to a great start and put ourselves in good position," said Gamboa, who combined with junior Matt Peterson (11th place), freshman Shreekar Patel (17th), and junior Shiv Patel (19th) to lead the way.

Wheeling also used a strong start, especially from junior Justin Loquercio (15:43) who gave the Wildcats a huge lift with a fifth-place finish.

"Last week we didn't get out, but we did pretty well today," said Loquerico who was followed by senior Edwin Hernandez (16th), senior Cole Dammeier (20th), and sophomore Matt Hoffman (21st).

Junior Chris Serrano (22nd) aided Conant's fifth-place finish, while senior Matt Fossing (13th) gave Fremd a big lift.

Rolling Meadows senior Tim Howley (16:14) finished 14th to lead the list of individual qualifiers that includes Maine West senior Alex Liston (25th), Schaumburg junior Jonah Kaufman (32nd), Schaumburg junior Nick Olvera (37th), and Elk Grove senior Matt Warrington (40th).

Palatine regional

Sophomore Matt Pereira (14:52) took second individually in leading Lake Zurich to the Palatine Class 3A regional title with 52 points at Deer Grove East. The Bears placed five runners in the top 15 to secure the title.

Senior Jesse Reiser won the individual title in 14:47, helping McHenry take second with 67 points.

Senior Kyle Monahan (15:37, 5th) and Alex Maher (15:51, 10th) helped Barrington to a third-place finish with 95 points.

Senior Andy Gensburg (16:11) and senior Ben Laning (16:15) aided the Broncos by taking 21st and 24th place.

Senior Graham Brown (15:22) and sophomore Brian Leonard (15:41) secured third and sixth place in helping host Palatine take fourth place with 96 points.

Lake Park regional

Leyden junior Mateusz Szelazck (16:30) and junior Alan Prado (16:33) finished 26th and 27th at the Lake Park Class 3A regional and will advance as individual qualifiers. The Eagles finished in seventh place.

York nipped Glenbard West on a sixth-runner tiebreaker to win the team title with 35 points. York freshman Charlie Kern won the individual title in 14:58 at the Lake Park East Campus in Roselle.

Class 1A Luther North regional

Sophomore Tommy Lowry (17:32) took second individually in leading Christian Liberty Academy to a fifth-place finish with 135 points at the Class 1A Luther North regional at LaBagh Woods Forest Preserve.

Sophomore Scott Naubert (19:55) and sophomore Luke Walder (20:19) contributed to the Chargers' attack by taking 24th and 28th place, helping CLA advance to the Class 1A Lisle Sectional on Nov. 1.

DePaul College Prep earned the team title with 44 points nipping Northridge Prep (50 points).

Northridge Prep sophomore Peter Conroy won the individual title in 17:18.