Welcome to Kaneland Cross Country!

The purpose of this blog site is to allow full access to the team, practices, history, and future events. Please check back with this blog throughout the summer and fall for new updates on the team. Feel free to share it with friends and family who follow the program!

Friday, August 29, 2014

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!


No comments:

Post a Comment