McDowell-Sparks duo leads Geneva to title
Calling the way Geneva's Kevin Sparks and Kevin McDowell came to the finish line Saturday at the Class 3A West Aurora cross country regional a photo finish probably doesn't do justice to how close they were.
Even observers with a camera or video camera in their hands couldn't tell a winner from looking at their photos. Officially, McDowell edged Starks, 15:52.0 to 15:52.1.
Their 1-2 finish at Waubonsee Community College led Geneva to the regional title with 44 points and a spot in next week's St. Charles East sectional at LeRoy Oakes.
"That's the goal is moving through regional, finishing top five, but you have a chance to win a plaque and that's icing on the cake," Geneva coach Bob Thomson said.
Sparks and McDowell have traded the top spot at Geneva this year, with Sparks holding it while McDowell was gone at a triathlon in Australia, then McDowell reclaiming it when he returned, then Sparks winning last week at the Western Sun meet.
It seems there's not much difference between Geneva's two Kevins.
"Those guys have been really good buddies," Thomson said. "They are working with each other, helping each other. One-two, that's a great finish."
Sparks and McDowell ran side by side for most of the race. Late in the final mile, Sparks made a move to pass McDowell and appeared headed for a win until a rare sprint by McDowell caught Sparks at the line.
Two weeks ago at the West Aurora Stampede, McDowell saw Ben Silver from Downers Grove North make a move at the same spot Sparks did to beat McDowell.
"From the go, we were both taking turns going and we were working really good together," McDowell said. "It (the finish) reminded me of Ben Silver, I was like, no, this isn't going to happen two times on this course. I really started going the last 100. Usually I'm not a sprinter so he didn't expect me at all."
"Coming into the stretch I thought I was going to pull away," Sparks said. "I could hear everyone cheering. I didn't look back because I didn't want him to blow by me. Ten steps from the line he popped up right next to me and I was kind of surprised. He caught me off guard. There's no shame in losing to one of your teammates."
Geneva junior Justin Rodriquez finished sixth.
The other teams who qualified for the sectional were: West Aurora (78 points), West Chicago (87), Batavia (94) and Waubonsie Valley (106).
A strong four-five punch from Stephan Loran and Matthew Muth led the Blackhawks.
Gunnar Sterne shook off problems with both his knees to lead West Chicago in eighth place. Sterne said his right knee started to hurt after last week's DuPage Valley Conference meet, then his left knee also started bothering him during practice this week.
"My time was about 40 seconds slower," Sterne said. "Next week I want to be 15:30s and get a chance to get downstate."
Sterne was in fifth place through the first mile before his knee and course conditions slowed him in the final two miles.
"Water fills up in your shoes and makes it slower," Sterne said. "And my knee started hurting halfway through."
Derrik Pietrobon and Roberto Campos-Saldana followed Sterne in 14th and 16th.
Sophomore Mike Redmond led Batavia by placing seventh.
"We're excited for him, he's really come on," Batavia coach Mike DiDomenico said. "He's done great things this year for a sophomore. He was not in our top seven at all last year, only two of our top seven were. That's a credit to these kids."
Sam Stoner followed Redmond in 11th. Matt Lash was 13th.
"I thought we ran well," DiDomenico said. "We changed the lineup and I think that produced some better results. It's tough, you are running against some great schools, anything can happen. Especially a day like today when the ground is wet, can't get good footing.
"We're in (sectionals), we're glad about that. Now we just turn the page and go on to the next chapter."
Junior David Groeber paced Waubonsie Valley in third (16:17).