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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!

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Kaneland Claims 2nd in Home Regional, Opens State Series

 Kicking off the State Series at home was a great blessing for the team. The Knights demonstrated both strong firepower up front as well as great personal grit in racing to multiple personal record times.

Evan Nosek spent another week of taking control of the race early and charging forward to an individual win in a time of 15:24. This was Evan’s third consecutive invitational championship. He is definitely looking forward to the many big challenges ahead.

David Valkanov is starting to heat up, racing to a ten second PR on the home course while notching a 2nd place effort at 15:36. He has been working at race consistency in the third mile, and appears to be getting back to form. 

Evan Whildin has been such a solid performer for the team all season long. This week, he posted a :29 career best time on the home course and surged to sixth overall. Whildin ran 15:52, and was joined at the finish line by his uncle, Michael, who ran for the Knights back in 2005. It was a special day to come home.

Zachary Murdock has been turning heads of other coaches lately with his progress and surging up toward his teammates. This week, he was able to land in the Top 15, racing to 16:18. Murdock’s time was a :33 improvement on the home course, and his points were an important tally in the final score.

Liam Lentz found his training from the week to feel exceptionally good in the first mile of the race. Liam pushed himself through the next two miles to complete the three miles in a PR time of 16:58. Lentz was 26th overall in the race, helping secure 48 points for second overall.

Collin Reutimann shook off some early rust on his gait and was able to push ahead of scorers from seven of the Regional field teams. Collin’s time of 17:23 net him 40th overall in the meet. He will look forward to leading his team and  running in his second Sectional, next weekend at Woodstock.

Joey Schuch got his first taste of running at the Varsity level. The freshman settled in early with Reutimann, then came up with a cramp midway through the race. He finished strong and his ever-present smile was rewarded with a :28 home course PR. He is eager to get back to work with his teammates and try to help them advance to State.


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