Palatine boys run to fifth-place national finish

Posted December 02, 2011 11:00 pm

By Michael Eaken Daily Herald Correspondent

Palatine’s boys cross country team proved on Nov. 5 it was the best high school team in Illinois.

On Saturday, the Pirates showed they’re also one of the top elite teams in the nation.

Running as the Palatine Cross Country Club, the boys from Palatine took fifth with 255 points at the Nike Cross Nationals at Portland Meadows in Portland, Ore.

Palatine finished in third place on Nov. 13 at the Nike Cross Regional in Terra Haute, Ind., to quality as an at-large team to the Nike Cross Nationals.

The Palatine Cross Club made the most of its first appearance at the meet.

Senior Peter Tomkiewicz (15:53.32) led the charge by taking 32nd place. Senior Anthony Gregorio (16:15.83) and senior Marcus Garcia (16:27.64) followed with 75th- and 99th-place finishes.

Senior Tim Johnson (16:32.24) and senior Tim Meincke (16:41.31) added 109th- and 127th-place finishes.

Christian Brothers Academy of New Jersey, running as Lincroft Cross Country Club, took first with 91 points, nipping Southlake Carroll, Texas (Carroll Cross Country Club) with 95 points.

Futsum Zeinasellaissie of North Central, Ind., won the individual title in a course record 15:02.41

Illinois Class Class 3A girls state champion Amanda Fox (18:01) took ninth place and Lake Park junior Kaylee Flanagan (18:10) took 18th place in the girls race.

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