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!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Knights Race to 14th in Class 2A Field at Detweiller/First to the Finish

     Bringing a roster to Detweiller, which only 10 of the 30 checker-boarded Knights competed last fall in Peoria,  mattered little. The 2013 team combined to run 82:18 with their Top 5, minus Carter. This year’s crew ran 82:15, without Lesak, Kintz or Murri. The collective core of this team is just getting started. Our charge to the “Finish” was a complete team performance.

     Richtman continues to prove that he’s up to the challenge of racing at any level, and posted the fastest time ever by a KHS freshman on the State Finals course (16:01). He was backed up by career best times from his supporting cast of scorers: Brandon Park (16:16), Sean Spaetzel (16:23) both of whom bettered their 2013 State Finals times. Also scoring with PR’s included Reger (16:33) and Kuipers (17:02). Sophomores Kantola and Messina  record breaking efforts sandwiched a 1:18 improvement from senior James Walker.

     Webster and French ran a dead heat at 18:11, with Gale, Nosek and Kurz finishing in a pack spread by just 7 seconds. The effort put forth to pack up was obvious by the pairs and groups of three that raced through the field. Austin Parks improved his best 3 mile by a minute, with Girolamo, Nance and Wells just 4 seconds apart.
Smith and Purcell fought all the way to the finish with matching times of 19:55. Wojak and Moses were 2 seconds apart, with Heiser 1:30 faster than Tuesday at the Woods. O’Sullivan, Wilk, Wolfe and Gingrich were all under a minute apart, and they looked like experts running the pack through mile 1. Kasap improved his time by nearly 4 minutes, and looked very strong in the process. Ian Piazza bettered his mile pace by :48 to establish a new PR.

     On the day, the team amassed 26 Personal Records, and demonstrated why the mental imagery that we use on Fridays is such a valuable tool. To see the team scaling the right sideline along the main path up toward the chute through loops 1 and 2, passing all day long, and charging up the finish, driving their knees, pulling with arms, and leaning at the blue mat finish, it was evident that what we are doing is working. Continue to use this 20 minute exercise on Friday afternoons, and make the most of your race experiences.

    The family picnic following in Henry was awesome. Thank you to all the parents who helped make this a bountiful meal for the boys upon their arrival. We all sincerely appreciate the extra effort of the Park and Walker Families, for organizing and grilling our main dishes. There will be bagel money left over, so the boys are fortified throughout the rest of our season.

    Final thoughts include a note of thanks to the team for being extremely well disciplined and prepared for the race. We were without two of our favorite coaches, and yet you all worked seamlessly to make sure you know surge points, routines for warm up and cool down, and how to act like a first class team. We have a lot to look forward to this season. You’ve already made it special. Keep it up.




No comments:

Post a Comment