Boys cross country: Hersey hones in on MSL meet with win at Wheeling Invite
Entering the season, Hersey's boys cross country team was the popular pick to win the Mid-Suburban League title.
With the conference meet less than a week away, the Huskies seem right on schedule.
The Huskies were down two varsity runners on Saturday but had no problem running to the Wheeling Invitational title with 69 points at Heritage Park.
New Trier (81 points) took second followed by Lake Zurich (93 points).
Highland Park (118 points) edged Barrington (119 points) for fourth place.
"I'm very happy with what they are doing," said Hersey coach Kevin Young whose team will be looking to secure its fourth MSL title in five years on Saturday at Salk Park in Rolling Meadows. "They've been following the race plan, clicking stuff off time. We're happy and healthy and that is where we need to be."
Chicago's FW Parker senior Jack McNabola took control with a half mile remaining to earn the individual title in 15:13.
McNabola held off a hard charge by Libertyville senior Alex Tam (15:14) and Hersey sophomore Josh Methner (15:14) to earn the win.
"I just wanted to stick on Tam's back and make my move when I felt it was appropriate," McNabola said. "I just barley held on but I came here to win."
Tam has been running strong all season.
Despite being a bit under the weather, the Wildcat senior was in position to win right up to the finish.
"Alex (Tam) has been exceeding our expectations," said Libertyville coach Stuart Mendelsohn of his star runner. "For how he was feeling and seeing how he raced today, he is right where he needs to be."
Methner was in the race until the end, too.
The Hersey sophomore offered a glimpse of his potential by taking ninth at the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational in mid-September.
But the Huskies sophomore has not run a major invite since then.
He still showed no rust in hanging with leaders on Saturday and will enter the post season with a bit of momentum.
"Yeah definitely," said Methner who used a fast start to connect with the lead pack. "I've had great workouts and nothing is holding me back right now."
The same holds true for the Huskies team.
Senior Ryan Theisen (15:53) led the second wave by taking eighth place followed by junior Ryan Buch (16:09) and senior Sean Paton (16:27) who took 13th and 18th place.
"I definitely know that we're there," said Theisen of the Huskies' building momentum. "We were missing a few runners and we're getting over a few illnesses but I think we're ready."
Antioch sophomore Charlie Smith (15:44) also seems to be right on schedule.
He settled in nicely with the chase pack and earned an impressive fifth-place finish.
"I always want to keep with the lead pack and try to get them at the end," Smith said. "Today they got me on the up hill and made some separation but I'm very happy with that time and I want to finish the season strong."
Senior Patrick Burns (15:53) did a nice job of powering a rising Lake Zurich attack.
The senior finished seventh aiding the Bears third-place finish.
"The past week or so the team seems like it is really coming together," said Burns of the Bears' attack. "Our training generally really helps us come together at the end of the season."
Freshman Jack Gilboy (16:22) added a 16th-place finish for LZ followed by sophomore Adam Cupples (16:36) and sophomore Patrick Hart (16:40) who secured 22nd and 25th place for the Bears.
Barrington was missing its No. 1 runner Nick Laning but the Broncos still delivered with a fifth-place finish.
Junior Gregory Van Hollen (16:26) took 17th and was followed by junior Jack DeWeerdt (16:37), sophomore Paddy Furlong (16:39) and senior Jeff Hesselbein (16:41) who took 23rd, 24th and 27th place to support the Broncos' attack.
"I've would have liked us to be even tighter today," said Barrington coach Tom Root of his teams pack. "But it is another great step in that direction."
Tam was joined by sophomore William Gordan (16:10) who took 14th place helping push Libertyville to a sixth- place finish.
Junior Eddie Lennon (16:04) came on strong in the final mile to secure 11th place with junior Matt Schoessling (16:41) taking 26th place to help aid Rolling Meadows' seventh-place finish.
"I've been pretty consistent this season," Lennon said. "I feel like I'm in a pretty good spot."
Lake Park senior Colin Kirkham (15:56) gave the Lancers a nice jolt by taking tenth place.
Wheeling junior Tyler Polak (16:32) used a conservative start but finished hard in securing a 19th-place finish.
"I felt pretty good," said Polak of his effort. "As of late I have not been running as well as I've wanted to, Today was step in the right direction."