Derrick, Neuqua win at Nike Team Nationals

Neuqua Valley senior Chris Derrick won the boys race at the fourth annual Nike Team Nationals in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, pacing a team victory as well.

Derrick, who qualified for the national event by setting a Midwest regional record on Nov. 10, ran the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 39.8 seconds, three seconds faster than Colby Lowe of Carroll, Texas.

York's Steve Sulkin placed fourth at 16:23.2, and the Dukes -- otherwise known as the Elmhurst Cross Country Club -- finished ninth in the team standings.

Reported by Dyestat's Dan Devine, Derrick was in an early tussle for the first mile with Lowe and Ben Johnson, out of Albuquerque. Johnson fell off the pace and after dueling with Lowe, over the final kilometer Derrick opened up a seven-second lead at one point.

The seven Neuqua Valley runners billed as the Naperville Cross Country Club earned a 2-point win in the team standings over Los Alamos, N.M., which placed a pack of four among the top 18 finishers.

Neuqua's Jimmy Riddle earned crucial points with his sixth-place finish. Dan Pawola placed 23rd followed by Aaron Beattie (28), Kevin Grady (67), Michael Ruff (91) and Joe Budnik (109).

After Sulkin, York senior Tom Achtien pulled in at No. 30.

Derrick, the reigning boys IHSA Class 3A cross country champion, will compete at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championship National Finals next Saturday in San Diego.