Boys cross country: Sectional scouting, Northwest
Boys cross country: Sectional scouting, Northwest
Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectionalWhere: Busse Woods
When:Saturday, 11 a.m.
What to know: The top five teams and top seven runners from non-qualifying teams advance to the Class 3A state meet at Detweiller Park on Nov. 4.
Ouick look: The sectional race returns to Busse Woods after a one-year hiatus, but with a different host as Hoffman Estates replaces long-time host Schaumburg. After a warm fall season, a bit of frost may greet the runners on the 3-mile course. Hersey has looked really good the past two weeks and will enter as the favorite. Barrington senior Nick Laning and Libertyville senior Alex Tam should set the pace, but Hersey sophomore Josh Methner will be nipping at their heels.
Team outlook: Hersey enters the sectional meet on a roll, the Huskies stormed to the Mid-Suburban League title on a soggy Saturday on Oct. 14, placing five runners in the top eight. They didn't slow down in winning the Hoffman Estate regional. Sophomore Josh Methner has looked very smooth in pacing Hersey, with senior Ryan Theisen not far off pace. Junior Ryan Buch, sophomore Max Svienty and senior Quinn Cunningham add to a deep squad that has its sights set on a state trophy. Hersey was ranked No. 4 in the final Illinois Cross Country Coaches poll and is looking to earn the respect of the state. "Sectionals will be tough, but we are looking to embrace the challenge. We just have to perform under pressure," said Hersey coach Kevin Young. After Hersey, there are a lot of questions, such as: How good is Mundelein? The Mustangs looked sharp in taking second at the Palatine Invitational but finished second in the North Suburban Conference. Mundelein did bounce back to win the Lake Forest regional. Junior Robert St. Claire has paced Mundelein; the wild card is junior Michael Parduhn, who did not run in the regional. If Parduhn is running up top, the Mustangs will challenge for the title. And what about Lake Zurich? The Bears lost two all-state runners from last year's third-place state trophy run, and they started the season a bit slowly. But senior Patrick Burns and senior Jacob Bieniek have lifted the Bears to the North Suburban Conference and Palatine regional titles on back-to-back weekends. LZ coach JB Hanson once again has his team peaking at the right time and will challenge for the title on Saturday. And then there is Prospect. The Knights have been running their best at the right time. Senior Jack Terry ran to the Hoffman Estates regional title last week and will pace a Knights attack that finished second in the MSL and second at the Hoffman Estates regional. Senior Nate Cozine and sophomore Erik Snell will lead the second wave. Junior Andy Reimann has missed the past two weeks; if he returns on Saturday he could give the team a nice jolt. Dundee-Crown is also coming on strong, having taken second in the Fox Valley Conference meet and second at the Palatine regional. The Chargers offer a tight five-man pack that could do some serious damage on Saturday. Barrington and Palatine also will be seeking to crack the top five. Sophomore Richard Jacobo and senior Evan Eckels pace a Pirates group that took third at the regional, while senior Nick Laning and junior Greg Van Hollen power a Broncos attack that was third at the MSL meet. Stevenson, Libertyville, Highland Park, and Fremd also will be in a very competitive field.
Individual race: Barrington senior Nick Laning and Libertyville senior Alex Tam have faced off twice this season. Laning took first to open the season at the Lake County Invitational, defeating Tam by 3 seconds. Tam answered by taking second at the Palatine Invitational, with Laning finishing 14 seconds behind in fourth place. Both won their conference and regional titles, setting the stage for a fine sectional battle. But don't count out Hersey sophomore Josh Methner. Tam (15:14.3) edged Methner (15:14.) for second place at the Wheeling Invitational, and the Huskies sophomore finished took second at the MSL meet, just five seconds off Laning's pace.
Other state contending runners: Jack Terry (Prospect), Nate Cozine (Prospect), Erik Snell (Prospec), Nikita Smyrnov (Stevenson), Brett Lucas (Stevenson), Richard Jacobo (Palatine), Evan Eckels (Palatine), Robert St. Clair (Mundelein), Patrick Burns (Lake Zurich), Jacob Bieniek (Lake Zurich), Jack Gilboy (Lake Zurich), Ryan Theisen (Hersey), Ryan Buch (Hersey), Max Svienty (Hersey), Chris Floyd (Conant), Eddie Lennon (Rolling Meadows), Collin Luell (Zion-Benton), Matt Wallace (Fremd), Ed Worthem (Fremd), Maki Mohr (McHenry), Andrew Pilat (McHenry), Adam Swanson (Dundee-Crown), Anthony Hurgoi (Dundee-Crown), Greg Van Hollen (Barrington), Marcos Garcia (Waukegan), Nathan Schmitt (Lake Forest), Fitz Laurie (Highland Park).
Class 3A Lake Park sectionalLeyden will be participating in the Lake Park sectional, with the boys race beginning at 2 p.m. on Lake Park's East campus. Junior Robert Sarad took fifth place in leading the Eagles to a third-place finish at the Whitney Young regional. Maine West senior Danny Johnson and sophomore Ray Ure qualified individually.
Class 2A Chicago University sectionalSt. Viator finished in second place at the Fenton regional and will advance to the Chicago University sectional at Washington Park. The boys race begins at 9:45 a.m. Sophomore Patric Natindim will lead a Lions squad to qualify for its fifth state meet in six years.
Class 1A Lisle sectionalChristian Liberty Academy junior Timothee Ducrozet and sophomore Jake Elafros both advanced for the Chargers to the Lisle sectional at Community Park, with the boys race beginning at 11 a.m.
- Michael Eaken