Belvidere North makes statement at Wheeling Invite
Belvidere North has taken on all challengers this season, and the Blue Thunder has met them all.
Belvidere North continued its impressive run by taking first at the Wheeling Invitational with 45 points on warm fall morning at Heritage Park.
Senior Paul Zeman, the defending Class 2A champion, led the charge by taking first in 14:50 to lead a dominating Blue Thunder attack.
Belvidere North won the Class 2A title last fall, and the Blue Thunder have had no let-up this season, including an impressive first-place finish at the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational in September, where they bested York and Oak Park-River Forest, who are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Class 3A according to the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches poll.
Belvidere North, currently ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, had five runners finish in the top 22 in beating Lake Zurich (62 points).
Sophomore Tyler Yunk (15:07) and sophomore Paxson Menard (15:15) went 4-5 to aid the Blue Thunder attack that is gearing up for another strong post season run.
Zeman was challenged by Barrington sophomore Erik Peterson (15:00) at the 2-mile mark, but the senior used a surge in the final mile to pull away and nail down the victory.
“It's been a long summer and a long year, said Zeman of the Blue Thunder journey, “but we're ready. We've all been racing together since we were nine, so this is it.
Lake Zurich also looks ready. The Bears are currently ranked No. 9 and are hoping to make deep run in the postseason.
Senior Victor Delatorre (15:16) and senior Alex Brend (15:18) went 6-7 helping the Bears take second with 62 points. St. Ignatius (92 points), Barrington (95 points), and Highland Park (196 points) rounded out the top five.
“We did what we could, said Delatorre of the Bears attack. “I had a feeling Belvidere North was going to pack it in, right about the two miles I started kicking and that is when I felt it, I tried to stay with them.
Junior Pat Juras (15:19) and senior Ryan Moncrieff (15:44) finished 9th and 16th for LZ, while junior Jon Smith (15:56) added 24th place to aid the Bears attack.
“Belvidere North definitely dominated the race, but it's nice to compete with them, added Brend, “We just need our fifth guy to step up a little, we know (Smith) can do it, he has always stepped up in the postseason, and he probably will do it again.
Barrington was missing three of its top seven runners, including No. 2 runner Kyle Dockery who is out with an ankle sprain. But the Broncos still have Peterson, and the junior was impressive on Saturday challenging for the lead at the 2-mile mark before finishing second leading his team to a fourth-place finish.
“If you want to be one of the best you have to run against the best, and Zeman was a good test for him, said Barrington coach Ty Gorman of Peterson. “Zeman pulled away a little easy at the end, and Peterson learned he has to fight that a little better. But I was glad to see he challenged him.
Peterson is quickly learning what it takes to compete against the state's elite runners and is hoping the experience pays off in November.
“It's a different race, said Peterson of running in the lead pack. “It's a lot faster, and I'm trying to stay up there longer. I feel like I'm getting better. Next time I want to maintain his move and then make mine.
Sophomore Ryan Skelly (15:48) and sophomore Ryan Burgoon (15:50) finished 19th and 20th for the Broncos.
Carmel junior KJ Matuszek (15:24) took 10th place to pace the Corsairs.
“Getting out was really huge in this race and then stay strong, said Matuszek who then proceeded to push the second mile. “I hope to keep progressing and I'm really excited about the post season.
Buffalo Grove junior Jereme Atchison (15:27) took an early lead but couldn't maintain the pace before finishing 11th for the Bison.
“I went out too fast and my legs were kind of shot, said Atchison of the torrid early pace. “Next time I just need to keep grinding it out, I kind of waited up for them today and then I couldn't match their move.
Senior Ryan Mamerow (15:27) also started strong in securing 11th place and leading Grant.
“Some great runners in the field and I wanted to stay up there with them, said Mamerow of his solid race. “I felt I did a pretty good job of doing that.
Lakes sophomore Ryan Prais (15:45) took 17th place.