Jacobs duo shines at Eddington Invitational
Considering Jacobs' week of practice, and considering past performances, the last thing Nick Ellingson and William Hennessy expected was a 1-2 finish at Kaneland's Eddington Invitational Saturday at Elburn Woods.
Following a frantic push over the final half mile, that's just what the two delivered.
Ellingson won his first race while Hennessy went from taking second in the frosh-soph race at last year's Eddington to second in this year's varsity meet.
Both Jacobs runners blew past two runners in their closing kick to take the top two spots in a race that started a little over an hour late because of a lightning delay.
"Coming down into the chute I saw Nick fly ahead and I thought it was just like a workout so I can stay with him," Hennessey said. "So I just put in everything I had left.
"(From) second fresh-soph (last year) to second varsity, I don't know what's going on."
To make a jump like that in one year takes a lot of work, which is just what Jacobs has been doing. Ellingson said the team had its hardest week of practice this past week which made his victory that much more surprising.
"We put in 70 miles this week," said Ellingson, who ran a 16:17. "We wanted to run fast last week so we took it down, then got it back up this week.
"I'm really srurpised. We came here to run against (Crystal Lake) Central. I didn't think we'd be able to (go 1-2), after this week (of practice) I thought Central probably had us."
Despite the duo's best effort, Crystal Lake Central still claimed the team title with 78 points to Jacobs' 92. Dundee-Crown finished third at 93 led by a strong 10-, 11- and 14-pack of Anthony Manfrin, Andrew Knapik and Jon Keable, respectively.
Glenbard West and Geneva tied with 102 points. The Hilltoppers earned fourth based on sixth runner Alec Larsen in 50th, just ahead of Geneva's sixth runner in 52nd.
Mike Lederhouse continued to lead the Hilltoppers with his fourth-place finish. He was one of the runners that the Jacobs duo passed late.
"He did a nice job," Glenbard West coach Kurt Frazier said. "They (the Jacobs runners) got him on the stretch, they were a little bit quicker."
Lederhouse's fourth-place Saturday followed a fifth at Fenton and 23rd in Peoria last week.
"He's run very good races," Frazier said. "He had a great track season and he has pretty much come out and picked up where he left off. For him it's about learning to run up front this year."
Ken Leaf and Brandon Bonifer placed 12th and 13th for the Hilltoppers who made their first trip to Elburn Woods in 10 years.
"We have not run here in awhile," Frazier said. "For us it's a new experience and I thought we ran well. We hoped to run a little bit better but the team did a good job."
Bill Koskiewicz continued his impressive showing in his first year out for cross country, leading Geneva in fifth place. Teammate Connor Bartel took ninth, Ryan Ahern was 22nd and Peter Archibald 24th.
Clint Kliem placed third leading Burlington Central to sixth. Coach Vince Neil said the key to the Rockets' success has been their pack, and the rest of their top five placed 23rd, 29th, 45th and 48th.
"The boys are racing really well," Neil said. "The team thing they are really buying into, all summer long they have been running well. They really understand the pack mentality and it's so necasary in cross country. Clint has been a strong front-runner and the other guys have stepped it up in the pack. Today was a great test for us."
Trevor Holm led host Kaneland in eighth place. Holm was part of a large lead pack for much of the race.
"I know my home course better than anyone else," Holm said. "It's kind of an advantage. Come out slow and wait until you get up the hill and then just go for it."
Unfortunately for Holm cramps kept him from fully going for it down the stretch Saturday.
Holm is one of the senior leaders on a Kaneland team that has had great success the past two years but has several new faces in this year's lineup. Holm said he is enjoying his new role as the most experienced runner.
"I like to have the kids look up to me," Holm said. "We've had a really good past three years. We're planing to go to state this year too. We need a tight 2-5 split; coach (Chad Clarey) wants me to be in single digits."
Batavia came in one spot behind the Knights in eighth place despite running without Mike Redmond.
Chris Spadafora, a newcomer to cross country who played soccer last fall, went out fast and led the race early. He wound up the top Batavia finisher in 16th place with Matt Lash next in 26th.
"He's (Spadafora) still learning, he felt like he could go," Batavia coach Mike DiDomenico said. "You sometimes have to take a risk and if you fail it's OK because it is still early. Every time you race you are learning. If I can get every soccer player to come out and finish 16th I'll take them."
Batavia will take next weekend off to hopefully get Redmond (under the weather Saturday) and a few other runners back to 100 percent before running at St. Charles North's meet in two weeks. DiDomenico said it has been a pleasure having Spadafora on his team.
"He's an outstanding individual and we are fortunate he also is a great runner," DiDomenico said. "We are sure glad he is out for cross country because he's been a great leader for our team. He's an outstanding addition, not just a good runner but a greater person."