Promising final prep chapter in Dale's tale

Conant's Zach Dale had a breakout year last season, and this year the Cougar senior is ready to take it to the next level.

Dale proved to be one of the best runners in Illinois last season, capturing the Mid-Suburban League title, finishing second at the Schaumburg sectional, and then taking fourth place in Class 3A.

This year Dale is ready to take his act to the national stage.

"We had some marks that we wanted to hit and we were pretty much right on," said Conant coach John Powers of Dale's accomplishments last season. "Pretty much everything we set out to do, he was able to do and he carried it right on through the spring."

Dale finished in 15th place in the MSL as a sophomore, but followed it up with a strong track season, which helped set the stage for his sensational junior campaign.

He offered a glimpse of his potential on back-to-back weekends in late September. First, Dale broke the course record held by 2007 Class 3A champion Chris Derrick of Neuqua Valley at Minooka, then he came back the following weekend to break the course record at the Bartlett Invitational held by 2006 Class AA champion Evan Jager of Jacobs.

"It was mentally cool to hit those milestones," said Dale who outkicked Downers Grove North senior Zach Smith at Minooka. "That gave me a lot of confidence," he said. "It told me I was able to run with anyone in state."

Dale had no problems once the postseason started, winning the MSL title by 19 seconds over Palatine junior Graham Brown. He finished second to McHenry Jesse Reisor at the Schaumburg sectional and concluded the season by taking fourth at state.

"I had pictured that state race every morning during the season and became obsessed with it," said Dale. "I kept playing over and over in my mind, and when I go there - it just happened."

Dale kept it coming during the track season when he finished third in the 3,200 in Class 3A and then came back to take fourth in the 1,600.

Dale had proved last fall he was one of the top runners in Illinois, but in the spring he proved to be one of the best in the nation.

In early April Dale competed at the Arcadia Invitational in California, one of the top national track invites. Dale hung tough in a loaded field, finishing 13th in 3,200 with a personal-best 8:56.35.

Dale extended his track season into mid-June, finishing third in the 5,000 at the New Balance Nationals. Dyestat currently has Dale ranked No. 14 nationally in its preseason top 100 cross country runners.

"Arcadia was definitely the turning point," said Dale of his ascension into the nation's group of elite high school runners. "Everything up to that point was just like trying to build my confidence.

"After that race I really felt like I could do anything that I put my mind to."

Despite all of his recent accomplishments Dale still has a few things on his checklist.

One is renewing his battle with Reisor. The McHenry senior finished second in Class 3A last season and also won the 3,200 title in Class 3A for track.

Reisor is ranked No. 12 nationally in the Dyestat top 100 preseason list, setting the stage for a thrilling end-of-season showdown.

"I am really excited to compete against him and I'm doing everything in my power to compete with him," said Dale of his chief rival. "It has really helped him and I push each other to our absolute limits."

"They are both top 10 guys," said Powers, "and I don't think there is much separating them."

Dale who has a heavy AP course load and currently has 4.57 weighted GPA, also is eager to help lead his team back to state.

The Cougars return six of their top seven runners from a team that finished 21st in Class 3A last season.

"We're shooting for a higher finish than last year, but we can't get too confident," said Dale of his team's potential. "According to our workouts, we are in a lot better shape than last year."

Dale is also ready to extend his season into the late fall and is eyeing a high finish at the Footlocker National race in December.

So, where does Dale go from here after hitting so many marks both the state level and national level last season.

The Cougars senior took a moment to consider the questions as he walked on the Busse Woods course, home of the Schaumburg sectional and hopefully a springboard to his state and national dreams.

"I guess I just use that momentum and take off from there," said Dale.