Neuqua Valley runs away with UEC

Posted October 16, 2009 11:00 pm

By Matt Stacionis Daily Herald Correspondent

Neuqua Valley didn't just win Saturday's Upstate Eight Conference meet.

The Wildcats placed all 7 runners in the top 7 spots, even though only 5 count toward the team score. Neuqua Valley earned a perfect 15, the combination of all runner's places, to win its fourth-straight league title at Sunrise Park in Bartlett.

Neuqua Valley's 7 runners finished within 31 seconds of one another, led by a first-place finish from Aaron Beattle (15:12).

"I thoughts that (St. Charles North's Kyle) Zankowski or a couple of Lake Park guys would disrupt our pack," said Beattle, who did not compete at last year's conference meet because of injury.

No one was able to disrupt Neuqua Valley. David Wing (15:28), Billy Klimczak (15:34), Luke Verbus (15:36), Carlton Folster (15:42), Jordan Lagomarcion (15:43) and Josh Antonson (15:43) were the 2-7 finishers in the race, which surprised even coach Paul Vandersteen.

"They run together in practice pretty well," he said. "I've never seen a team do it in a meet."

Led by No. 8 finisher Zankowski (15:45), St. Charles North (61) finished second in the boys team standings. Lake Park (89) was third.

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