Palatine, Lake Zurich’s Juras take titles
No one would fault Palatine for looking ahead to the Class 3A state race in two weeks.
After all, the Pirates have sat on top of the Illinois Cross Country Coaches poll for most of the season.
But host Palatine kept its feet firmly cemented in the present by cruising to the 3A regional title with 33 points at Deer Grove East on Saturday.
Palatine placed five runners in the top 12 in dominating the nine-team field.
“We’re trying not to take anything for granted,” said Palatine coach Chris Quick, whose team won the Mid-Suburban League title last weekend. “We tried to come out and make something happen today. Our goal all season has been to run our best race, we still don’t feel like we’ve run our best race.”
Lake Zurich senior Pat Juras (14:54) came on strong in the final mile, holding off Barrington senior Erik Peterson (14:57) to take the individual title.
“That’s my kind of race,” said Juras, who won the North Suburban Conference title last weekend. “Holding back the first two and giving everything on the third mile. I won conference, but this is a lot more significant. Hopefully this builds for later races.”
Lake Zurich (57 points) took second in the team standing followed by Barrington (77), Prairie Ridge (91), and McHenry (119).
Crystal Lake South (153) took sixth, with Grant (202) nipping Round Lake (205) for seventh place.
The top seven teams advance to next Saturday’s 11:30 a.m. Schaumburg sectional at Busse Woods.
Junior Dustin Throw (16:01) finished in 25th place and qualified individually for Cary-Grove with junior teammate Daniel Sikora.
Robert Paz, Anthony Arenas and Angel Carrera qualified individually for Round Lake.
Senior Anthony Gregorio (15:01) and senior Peter Tomkiewicz (15:04) finished third and fourth for Palatine. The duo helped push the pace in the second mile after a sluggish first mile.
Senior Marcus Garcia (sixth, 15:22), senior Tim Johnson (eighth, 15:32), and senior Tim Meincke (12th, 15:46) sealed the victory for Palatine.
“Nobody really wanted to take it for the first half-mile,” said Tomkiewicz of the pedestrian start. “When it got the mile coach Quick told us to go out and string out the race and that is basically what we did, and we kept pushing it.”
Juras helped to pace the Lake Zurich attack and was followed by senior Jon Smith (seventh, 15:31). Junior Trevor Kuehr (15th, 15:50), senior David Smith (16th, 15:50), and junior Jon Ramirez (18th, 15:54) lifted the Bears to second.
Lake Zurich won the NSC meet last weekend and seems to be peaking at the right time with its performance on Saturday.
“It’s nice to know if we run well we should advance next week, and if we don’t then we shouldn’t,” said Lake Zurich coach JB Hansen, whose team took second in 3A last season. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. We’re at least in a position where we think we can make it.”
Barrington also is in a good position. Peterson, the two time defending MSL champion, led the way Saturday.
Junior Ryan Burgoon (15:43) and senior Nolan Wojtowicz (15:44) went 10th and 11th and junior Mike Rappleye (15:56) secured 22nd to pace the Broncos’ attack.
“I was looking to lead everyone through the two miles and then go after it,” said Peterson of the Broncos attack. “I felt we were a little strung out at the mile and half, so I started to push early. We need to get our fifth guy right on our fourth guy’s shoulder.”
Senior Mitch Wilkins (15:09) set the pace early before settling for fifth place to lead Prairie Ridge.
“I had a hunch it was going to go out slow, so I wanted to lead it,” said Wilkins of the early pace. “I had the foot speed, but I couldn’t close the last mile.”
Junior Joe Cowlin (ninth, 15:37) and senior Adam Procknow (20th, 15:55) aided the Wolves’ attack.
Freshman Jesse Reiser (15:49) took 14th to help pace McHenry to fifth place. Senior Tay Tomal (19th, 15:54), senior Cody Wallstrom (23rd, 15:58), and junior Bryan Wyszynski (24th, 16:00) aided the Warriors.
Junior Duncan Henderson (13th, 15:47) and junior Ian Meador (17th, 15:53) led Crystal Lake South.
“The first 800 meters felt slow,” said Henderson, who clung to the lead pack early. “But then the leaders started pushing. The key was just staying with them and giving my all.”
Junior Trent Peters-Clarke (28th, 16:12) and junior Peter Audrain (29th, 16:15) helped Grant advance.