Boys cross country: Lake Zurich charges to sectional triumph
The competition was tough as usual Saturday morning in the Class 3A Waukegan boys cross country sectional.
But Lake Zurich's "dream team" continued to impress, winning the championship of the powerful 18-team meet by a comfortable 79-115 margin over runner-up Prospect.
Lake Zurich's fourth sectional crown in seven years was led by the dynamic senior duo of Brian Griffith (14:51.47) in first and Matt Pereira (15:00.72) in second on the 3-mile Waukegan Sports Park course. The race featured seasonably-warm running conditions of about 64 degrees at race time.
After winning its first regional title in 40 years last weekend, Mundelein was unable to find the same magic, as the Mustangs' young squad was beat out for the fifth and final berth to Peoria by a 178-204 margin by Highland Park.
It could be tough for Lake Zurich to reach the top of the mountain next weekend at state, but the Bears are definitely a top-three trophy contender. Consider their depth, as senior Kyle Griffith placed sixth at sectionals.
Lake Zurich junior Patrick Burns placed 19th, while Bears' normal No. 5 runner Eric Metzger was held out of the race to prepare physically for the 71st annual state meet.
"It was a great team win and we had two alternates filling in today," said Lake Zurich coach J.B. Hanson. "Our top two guys were under control and they're ready for next week."
Brian Griffith has but together a stellar senior campaign, and he is a state-title contender along with York junior Charlie Kern, who edged Griffith earlier this season at the Palatine Invite. Pereira placed fifth at state last fall, while Brian Griffith was seventh.
"We wanted to get in the position to win the race, and we push each other every day in practice," Brian Griffith said. "The goal was not a time here. It was just to go out and win. I let up a little in the last 50-100 meters."
Crystal Lake South junior Jack Becker reached his goal of making state. He placed sixth and was the second of seven at-large individual qualifiers.
Dundee-Crown junior Anthony Hurgoi (ninth) and Libertyville junior Alex Tam (10th) will head to Detweiller Park as well next weekend.
"I'm really pumped making it to state for the first time," Tam said. "I didn't want to leave anything in the tank. I want to get a major PR and get all-state (top 25)."
Libertyville coach Stuart Mendelsohn couldn't have been happier with Tam, as well as his squad. The Wildcats finished eighth (218 points).
"We came up short as a team, but I'm still proud of every one of them," Mendelsohn said. "(Tam) went out exactly like he was supposed to with the Lake Zurich guys. We told him they were going to take him with them."
Stevenson junior Nikita Smyrnov also came through big-time, as he captured the final berth to state with a 13th-place run.
"He looked great. He did exactly what we talked about heading into the race by staying with the chase pack,"Stevenson coach Scott Sommers said. "After a mile he was in 25th or 26th place, and he cut that in half in the last two miles of the race."
Mundelein's valiant effort was led by sophomore Robert St. Clair in 26th place. The Mustangs featured one senior, four sophomores and two freshmen.
"I thought our pack was spectacular," Mundelein coach Kurt Rutz said. "The course was slow so we knew we had to get out and be aggressive, and Mike Parduhn came up huge as our third runner today."
Class 2A
Defending state champion Grayslake Central held off Crystal Lake Central 102-111 for the championship of the Belvidere sectional.
The Rams were led by first-place finisher Jack Aho (14:36) and runner-up Matt Aho. Eli Minsky added a 19th-place finish followed by teammates Ben Steinbeck (38th) and Mario Giannini (42nd).
At-large individual qualifiers to state were Hampshire senior Jacob Oury (seventh), Grayslake North senior Liam O'Connell (10th), Lakes senior Jeremy Wallace (12th), Hampshire senior Will Matushek (13th) and Vernon Hills senior Shane Williamson (15th).