Sycamore Invite Itinerary

We run our first race of the season at Afton Forest Preserve in DeKalb on Tuesday. Varsity boys race at 4:45pm, and FS boys at 5:45. The address to Afton FP is:

13998 Crego Road, DeKalb

Take Keslinger Rd west to Somonauk Road, and turn left. When Somonauk meets Perry Road, turn right. Follow Perry Rd to Crego Rd and turn left. The course will be on the left after less than 1 mile. Allow the parking attendants to help you. Team camp will be near the somewhere near the pavilion.

The course is not all that friendly to spectators, in that you will see them start, and see them finish.  It's an out and back type of course, with coaches and spectators not allowed east of the river after the start of the race. Please stay near the finish line for this meet. You'll see our team charging to the finish, and none of us will get in trouble for going where we've been asked not to go.

Concessions are available, but we will not be stopping on the way home. Bring a snack, or sandwich. Parents who choose to sign out their athletes in the team camp may do so, but may not leave until the conclusion of the Frosh Soph team cool down (roughly 6:20).

Opening Knight Scrimmage Goes to Team Orange

It’s a new year, and the core of the team is demonstrating outstanding leadership. The influx of new runners is also making it fun, because we are teaching and learning more than ever. Our potential growth this fall is both intriguing and motivating.

This team is beginning to take shape, and it is awesome to see so many veterans knocking off time from a year ago, on a similar (hot) day for weather.

Kaneland Orange just outlasted the Silver team by a lone point in scoring, 45-46. Orange’s charge was led by freshman Matthew Richtman (14:07) who finished with a time that was just 1 second off of what Kucera ran in 2013. His teammates (French and Kurz) managed strong races to net top 10 finishes. Newcomer, Austin Parks (16:37) just missed the top 10, and their scoring was complete when junior Nick Moses finished in 18th place . We are going to continue to see a blend of veterans and “rookies” making a big difference in our meets ahead.

Orange Team surprises came from a strong effort (Heiser) and a final hurrah (Rawers). Peyton is learning the ropes, and Rawers is hanging up the spikes next week to take up a new career in acting. Going to miss you, Phil!

Will Kuipers (3rd) and James Walker (5th) helped make the scoring tight, and a nice surprise from Silver’s Henry Nosek (9th) gave them a shot. Teammates Brandon Cruz and Ben Purcell have been training together often, and it showed in their races, finishing just 1 second apart. This type of pack mentality is what we preach on an annual basis. It’s what works for us. We must continue to do so. Ben Smith showed he is a true competitor with a gutsy race, and Osborne made a :25 improvement from 2013.

Black Team had a strong effort from Park (2nd) and a big race from Kantola (6th, 15:35). Wojak, Wells, and an aching (but tough run) Duffey rounded out scoring, and freshmen Wilk and O’Sullivan put forth great effort on the hilly short course of the Woods.

The White Team had a split of :56 from 2-5, with #1 Reger racing a full minute plus faster than a year ago.  White boasts the best pack split of the day, and a very encouraging pair of races from Kasap and Gingrich. We are getting better!

Congratulations, Grandpa Phil

Our own Phil Rawers was cast as Grandpa in the Willy Wonka musical at the Batavia Fine Arts Center. Was nice seeing teammates join Phil at the performance.

Team Visit to Marklund

Our boys and girls teams went to Marklund Home in Geneva to spend an afternoon with the residents. We played baseball, and went on a scavenger hunt with 72 of the 90 residents that live there. It was a great day of bonding between the athletes and clients. We are grateful that the Marklund group allows us this opportunity to volunteer. They have more opportunities available, including assisting in a Rock n Roll (pun intended) 5K on Sunday, Oct. 26th. Please mark this date down on your calendars, and if you are available (boys), please consider stepping up to help out.

Saturday, Aug. 16 - TEAM BUILDING DAY (6am to Noon)

Our annual team building day will begin bright and early on Saturday, Aug. 16th.  Runners should report for practice at 6am, by the livestock pavilion at Elburn Lion's Park. The team will run a workout, assist with the Elburn Days 5K race, have breakfast at the American Legion, then move north to the Community Center to play some beach volleyball, have a team meeting and then play softball or kickball.

The boys will need about $5-7 for breakfast. If they do not like pancakes, sausage and OJ, they should plan to bring their own breakfast. We will conclude our team building day at noon, where rides can pick up athletes at the Elburn Community Center (former Elburn Elementary School).

If you have questions, please contact the coaches, or check the itinerary handed out at practice.

Let's Get Back to Running!

Welcome Kaneland Cross Country Families, Runners and Friends,

It's been a while! We begin practice on Wednesday, meeting in the cafeteria at 7am. We will conclude practice around 10, and get as many runners as possible back for our annual trip to Marklund. We leave KHS at noon, and will return around 3:45.

An itinerary for the week will be shared with every runner at the first practice. This is your best means of knowing what we are up to for the week.  Thursday through Saturday practices will be held at 6:00am the rest of the week.  Thursday and Friday we will meet at KHS, by the track.  Saturday, we will meet by the livestock pavilion at Elburn Lion's Park.  We have a Team Building Day set up for Saturday, so check out the details on that.

Monday's practice will be at 3:30pm, with everyone meeting at the Lily Lake Bike Path. (Directions: Rt. 47 north to Rt. 64, turn left (west). One block up on 64, turn right onto Wooley Rd. Team meets at the trail on this road.)  Plan on picking up athletes at 5:30pm that day.

This website will be used to highlight some races and share some details about our season.  For immediate communication needs, up to the minute, please follow Coach Clarey on Twitter:  @coachclarey