Boys cross country: Fremd's Peterson looks like a man on the move

Fremd's Danny Peterson has been a man on the move since his freshman year, and this season the Vikings senior is looking to make his biggest move yet.

Peterson entered Fremd as more of a sprinter than a distance runner, but he started to show some promise in his sophomore boys cross country season, finishing 22nd in the MSL. He kept the upward trend going in his junior year, finishing fourth in the MSL.

And now Peterson enters this fall as one of the top returning runners and a contender for a wide-open MSL individual title.

"I'm at a strong point in my training and confidence levels," said Peterson. "I've put in the work over the summer, and I really feel great going into this season."

The Vikings' senior will have plenty of company in what looks to be a very competitive individual race. Buffalo Grove junior Mitchell Guittar finished third at last season conference race and is the top returning MSL runner. Palatine senior Brian Leonard is healthy after missing last season from a leg injury, and Hersey senior Jacob Krupa is also back after missing last season while dealing with a medical condition.

That is just to name a few of the top contenders, as there will surely be plenty of others looking to make a mark.

But Peterson definitely looks like he'll be part of the picture.

He finished 10th at the First to Finish Invitational in early September last year. He ran a 14.51.8 on the state course in that race, showing he had some wheels.

"It was a position race, and we talked about the first mile," said Fremd coach Darius Sanchez of Peterson's breakout junior race. "He went after position and then tried to see how long he could hold on."

The race gave Peterson a jolt of confidence that he carried throughout the remainder of the season.

"It really was," said Peterson of the confidence boost. "It was a big jump from my sophomore season. That race was kind of like, 'Wow, I'm better than I think I am.' "

Peterson also hit a nifty 4:21 in the 1,600 at the Palatine distance night in late April - another confidence-booster.

It's all quite an improvement from his freshman year, when Peterson wasn't even the No. 1 freshman runner for the Vikings and didn't break 5:00 mark in the mile.

"I've known Danny since he was in seventh grade, and I always knew he had speed - I always knew he was capable," said Sanchez. "We knew that once he had the right racing opportunities that Peoria presents or that the Palatine Distance night presents, he would start to shine."

Peterson is also coming back with a bit of incentive after not qualifying to the Class 3A state meet in cross country.

A soaking rain and muddy course greeted Peterson on the morning of the Schaumburg sectional, and the Viking senior admitted to checking out early.

"I showed up not ready," said Peterson, who has worked on being more mentally prepared. "Ideally I wanted a beautiful day, and of course it turned out to be muddy and not good conditions."

But the sectional race offered Peterson a valuable learning tool that he hopes to use this season.

"I learned I can't be hesitant going out at certain pace or sticking with certain guys," said Peterson. "I just have to gun it and prepare myself mentally."

The MSL offers a long list of former state champions, including Buffalo Grove's Kevin Salvano, who won the Class 3A title last year. Conant Zach Dale won back-to-back MSL titles, finishing second in Class 3A in 2014 and fourth in Class 3A in 2013.

So who is ready to take the reins in the MSL this season?

"As a freshman and sophomore Danny kind of sat back and let his speed pull him along with people," said Sanchez. "Last season you kind of saw him taking charge. I think you will see more of that this cross country season and I think he will turn that into a strength. Take the lead and take control of the race, rather than sitting back … I think he is ready to take it to another level."