St. Francis takes a solid second place
St. Francis didn't have the flash of champion Illiana Christian, whose runners sported bleached-blond locks as a "playoff tradition" according to Viking D.J. White.
What they did have was the second- and third-place individual medal winners and a solid second-place team finish at the Class 2A Chicago Jones cross country sectional, earning a state finals advancement.
Seniors Garrett McKnight, in the time of 15:32, and Phil Diamond will lead St. Francis charge next Saturday in Peoria.
Wheaton Academy will also move on to the Detweiller Park meet behind a sixth-place medal from senior Mark Phillips and a tie for fifth as a team.
Nick Kramer of Illiana Christian was first overall in 15:30 as the Jones sectional, which took place at Niles West.
"We definitely PR'd (personal record) by tons today," Diamond said.
McKnight, who won last week's Glen Ellyn regional, deflected the credit to coach Scott Nelson and teammates Dillion Murray, Joe Giamberdino, Chris Sullivan, Kyle McKenna and Joe Germanos.
"Our No. 3 (Ben Stefely) was out due to injury," McKnight said, "and the other guys stepped up and did a great job."
Ben Miller was fastest for Glenbard South to earn a trip to Peoria as an individual, Driscoll junior Jeremy Wilk finished 24th, and Montini junior Andrew Larsen shook off the lingering effects of illness to claim fourth-place overall and advance.
"I've been sick for about two weeks, with bronchitis," Larsen said. "Tuesday and Wednesday this week I was pretty much bedridden, and I was battling a 102-degree fever.
"I felt a little better today when I got to the starting line. The adrenaline was going, and the race atmosphere gives you a little extra."