The Dan Horyn Invite is named after the wildly popular Niles North teacher and coach Dan Horyn. Horyn passed away in 2013. Please visit the http://danielmhorynfoundation.org/
The inaugural Dan Horyn Niles North Invitational was greeted with balmy 73 degree temperatures with sunshine to boost. Mother Nature has abruptly decided to switch things up this time around. Even if she decides to not cooperate on the weather front, you can bet the competition will come through with some wonderful performances.
So who is this popular guy Dan Horyn-
Dan was born May 5th, 1979 to Michael and Ellen Horyn. He was married to Andrea Bilec on June 6th, 2006. Dan lost his courageous battle with cancer on Monday, September 9th, 2013.
Dan grew up in West Chicago, Illinois where he attended West Chicago High School. He was an excellent student and athlete always taking pride in his work and effort. As a student, Dan was the West Chicago class of 1997 Valedictorian earning a 4.0 GPA and the perfect attendance award. It was in high school that Dan developed a love for writing through journalism class. He served his school as the editor of the sports, news and perspectives columns for the school paper. Dan, never afraid of being different, once wrote "Well worth the wait," a column he did for the school newspaper, in which he argued against premarital sex. "Morals can be cool," he wrote in the Valentine's Day Wildcat Chronicle.
Dan began running in the 4th grade with an Aurora track club where he was a natural on the track and in cross country. Running became his passion and a way of life! Dan's sister Nicole tells the story of one time in which he was determined to get a 5 mile run in despite the hurricane like conditions outside. He measured a lap in the living room from front door to back door and began running, informing his sister that he thought he was under a 5:00 minute pace indoors. In high school Dan finished 2nd place in the 1600 at the IHSA State Meet in 1997 and went on to run at the University of Illinois on scholarship posting a personal best of 3:48 in the 1500.
Dan was quoted by Barry Tempkin of the Chicago Tribune saying that following college his dream job would be to become an author of fiction novels, but he would also major in education in case it did not work out. Selfishly we are glad it didn't work out. Dan's love for English, writing and running came to Niles North High School in fall of 2001. Dan immediately endeared himself to the student body and faculty with his sense of style, love for what he was doing and compassion for his students and colleagues. On the website, ratemyteacher.com, a student wrote about Dan that sums him up in a nutshell. "Mr. Horyn is the best English teacher I ever had. He has his own style that looks like that 70's show and he isn't ashamed of it, and that is cool. He really cares about his students." It was not out of the ordinary to see Dan wearing the skinniest of skinny jeans and a tie made of wood, metal or even homemade. Those that thought his style quirky were only jealous that they could not pull it off the way that he did.
As an English teacher Dan was talented and passionate and put everything he had into honing the craft of teaching. He was voted teacher of the year by the students in 2008. This was an honor he was extremely proud of and very deserving. Dan was always humble about any honor he won. While going through his desk we found his teacher of the year parking pass and his National Board certification folded up in a bottom drawer. Dan's students and community loved him dearly. Over the last three years, students have run in their Physical Education class in honor of Dan, collecting pledges for the American Cancer Society and now the Dan Horyn Foundation. As a outpouring of support for his fight and memory students have raised over $44,000.
As a co-head coach with Dan during those years, my favorite activity was watching Dan run from finish line to the 200 meter mark giving his athletes splits. Many a referee asked me to not have him do this as it could be interpreted as pacing. One referee stated if you don't stake him down in the middle of the track I am going to disqualify your runner. Remorseful, Dan would comply for a little while but then he was off again.
As a coach Dan was remarkable in how he connected with his athletes. They called him Dad and Andrea Mom as he provided much more than just a coach to his athletes. In Dan's relatively short time at Niles North he coached his team to 3 cross country conference championships and 7 consecutive track and field championships with 3 sectional championships in track as well. He has coached two all-state athletes in cross country and ten all state track and field athletes. His influence over the distance runners was fun to watch.
Dan was special, one of a kind and will be sorely missed by his wife, family, friends and here at Niles North. Please join us today in honoring his memory by competing very hard, cheering very loud and honoring the sport and people that Dan loved. Finish the race, fight the good fight, and keep the faith!
In memory,
Paul Swanson
Niles North Head Coach
The Dan Horyn Mile-
The cool climes should not stop this race from being the marquee event of the evening in Skokie and probably in the state. For those that didn't know this, the selection committee put in a bid to land the likes of Zach Dale (Conant), Jesse Reiser (McHenry), and Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc, MI). Yes, the Grant Fisher 2x Footlocker cross country champion and top miler in the USA. There was an issue with travel that his school administration could not fix... oh well. This second edition should be a good one regardless. Jon Davis comes in ready to flex after exhibiting a very strong indoor season in which he ran 4:16 and copped the Top Times Class A title. Davis will be making his first travel to the Chicago area to face some of the best competition around. He beat Pavlo Hutsalyuk thoroughly in early march at the U of I Armory. The second match-up between them will be very interesting. Hutsalyuk has some big goals in this event later in the season so having a good outdoor debut would be good for the mental state. No one is really talking about twins Jake and Luke Hoffert. They have been relatively quiet since the state cross country championships. But quiet as kept they closed out the indoor season on a good note and have run 4:18.97 recently. It is go time for Bradley University bound twin killers. Kevin Salvano is coming off of a trip in California where he blazed 9:04.79 for 3200m. It is clear that Salvano is ready to strut his stuff in the mile Friday evening. Check out the invitational field:
Section 2 Timed Finals
1 Davis, Jon JR Oakwood 4:16.00
2 Hutsalyuk, Pavlo SR Lane Tech Co 4:17.85
3 Hoffert, Jake SR Yorkville 4:18.97
4 Hoffert, Luke SR Yorkville 4:18.97
5 Flight, Salvatore SR Fenwick 4:20.26
6 Salvano, Kevin Buffalo Grove 4:22.00
7 Nash, Charles SR Deerfield 4:22.07
8 Maloney, Kyle SR Jones Colleg 4:23.57
9 Patel, Dhruvil SR Niles North 4:24.00
10 Sarchet, Will SR Jones Colleg 4:24.50
11 Wieties, Ryan SR Batavia 4:24.63
12 Barr, Martin JR Niles North 4:25.00
13 Swenson, Todd SR Loyola Acade 4:25.00
14 Carroll, John SR Loyola Acade 4:25.00
Check out some of the Dan Horyn Invitational events-
- 4x100r: Proviso West is fresh off of a waxing 42.82 at the Midwest Prep Invitational. The now mentally strong Panthers want more and so does their coach Johnny Jenkins. "We did not run through the tape last weekend in Indianapolis and that's not how I coach," said Jenkins who was not entirely pleased with the effort. Expect a 100% effort this time around.
- Ryan Kriozere (Jr., Highland Park) may be emerging at the right now. Kriozere dropped a 14.40 in his first 110HH race of the season last weekend at the Warren Invite. Kriozere only ran 15.12 a year ago.
- 4x200: Look for Proviso West to come back and lay down a smack to the competition if they can get the stick around the track. This has been an issue for the Panthers from day one- keeping the stick off the track and in the intended hands of its runners. If the wind is decent, everyone in the stadium should expect to see a great time.
- The high jump should be a great event to watch as Jamante Steward (Proviso West) and Noah Agnew (Vernon Hills) duel. Steward took the indoor season by storm when he leaped 6-10 and had the crowd at the 50th Annual Proviso West Invite on its collective feet attempting 7-feet. Agnew has cleared 6-8 and on any given day this event can transform a track meet like a tornado does a small town in Kansas.
- Eddie Smoliak (Highland Park) is the leader in the pole vault with a fine personal best of 15-3 from the Windy City Pole Vault Summit.
- Proviso West will command the horizontal jumps for sure. JaShawn Steward is the boss in the triple jump after passing the 47-foot mark and his teammate Louis Brown Jr. is starting to find the form that landed him in the state meet last year.
- A fleet of teams will try and chase down Proviso West in the 4x4. The Panthers shook loose and ran 3:24.79 last weekend.