Thode makes amazing journey from hospital to state berth

While area runners were getting geared up for boys cross country conference meets and the final stretch run of the season, Conant senior Jeff Thode was laid up in a hospital bed four weeks ago.

After he suffered a collapsed lung, it didn't seem possible Thode would get the chance to contend for a state championship. But after Saturday morning's remarkable third-place effort at the Class 3A Schaumburg sectional, anything seems possible for last year's 15th-place state finisher.

"I was kind of surprised at my time - I didn't realize I would be able to run that fast," said Thode, who crossed in 15:07.21 in his first race since Oct. 2. "I just wanted to run a strong race."

He did, amazingly just nine days after doctors gave him the OK to start jogging again.

"I am a little (surprised)," said Conant coach John Powers. "He's looked strong and very capable during workouts, but this is the first time he's had to sustain something for 15 minutes."

With seniors Tyler Fuchs and Juan Ramirez taking 10th and 23rd, respectively, the Cougars finished fourth (128) behind Palatine (88), Prospect (110) and Lake Zurich (123), and advanced to state for the first time since 2002. Conant took eighth at the Schaumburg sectional the past two seasons.

"We didn't run bad that first year - they were just sophomores," Powers said. "And we didn't run bad last year - it was just a ridiculous sectional. They just got in the spot where they could get it done, and they went out and did it."

So did Prospect. Senior Chris Hayek, who was the Knights' only runner to advance past last season's Palatine sectional, slipped to 16th (15:39.01) after winning the Rolling Meadows regional, but juniors Chris Spudic (13th) and Albert Ciolek (14th, 15:37.46) filled this gap.

"We were good teammates and stepped up when we were supposed to," said Spudic, who finished the 3-mile course in 15:35.76. "I didn't think that I would do that well. I thought the field was really strong."

Led by juniors Chano Bernardo (fifth) and Alec Bollman (ninth, 15:26.66), the Pirates were the strongest in the 20-team field as they won their fifth sectional title - and fourth at Schaumburg - in the past six years.

"It was really hard," said Bernardo, who finished in 15:12.96 after leading portions of the final lap. "I just couldn't keep up."

Schaumburg junior Pat Lesiewicz (15:04.66) finished as the runner-up to Lake Zurich senior Gerardo Perez (15:01.51) for the second straight week.

"You kind of had to pick your spots, because if you went too far back, people were coming from the sides and cutting you off," Lesiewicz said. "You had to maintain your position."

Fremd junior Aaron Ferst (15:24.86), Hoffman Estates senior Matt Perez (15:36.91) and Wheeling senior Eric Rodriguez (15:39.06) - the top three individual finishers - earned the final three spots in Saturday's state meet at Detweiler Park in Peoria. Buffalo Grove's Jereme Atchinson was the top freshman finisher (41st in 16:02.51) in the meet.

"He's the best freshman I've ever had in my career," said BG coach Jamie Klotz. "I think if he would have got out a little better today, he would have been OK. But we're here and the future looks bright."