Clayton Mendez makes good on his first CPL title (Colin Boyle image)
Boys-
It was a foregone conclusion that Whitney Young would win its second city title since 1986. In between that nearly 30 year drought, life in the cross country lane has been filled with grief, heartbreak, and eventually bliss. Head Coach Billy Poole-Harris came in with a long-term plan five years ago when he took over the reins. "I want to build a culture here that's based on winning. I have seen what Lane Tech and Jones Prep has done over the years," he said earlier in the season. That culture began immediately through a solid middle-school pipeline known as the Windy City Hammers Running Club during the off-season and the Whitney Young Academic Center which houses talented 7th and 8th graders. The Chicago Public League does not have a viable feeder system like most of its suburban and statewide counterparts, so being innovative within is a must.
The five year plan was finally put to the ultimate test during this first leg to the state championship...
Things got started for the Dolphins on the strength of its leader Clayton Mendez who bolted from the starting line and assumed the lead before the initial 200 meters had elapsed. He was followed by his trusty teammates Keduse Worku (Jr.), Evan Radomski (Jr.), Sam Wishnewsky (Sr.), and Sam Rivera (Fr.).
Mendez might as well been the Pied Piper with Walmer Saavedra (Sr., Lindblom), Danny Rosen (Sr., Northside Prep), Jaime Marcos (Jr., Von Steuben), and a few others following close by in the early going. However, the tense pace that Mendez was demonstrating may have been too much for the would be contenders. The sophomore legend in the making motored through the first mile in 4:44. The chasers was forced to back off or face an untimely fate. Team wise, though, it was clear that Whitney Young was in control entering the second mile.
Mendez did not show any signs of slowing down as he breached the second mile in 9:33- more than 20 seconds ahead of Rosen and Saavedra who seemed content on holding their positions. Next was Marcos and a slew of Orange and Blue jerseys from Whitney Young and Jones. But it was the Dolphins who were in complete control.
Mendez stamped his name alongside the immortals of the Public League with a record displaying 14:42 three-miler performance on the same course that former Jones star Jamison Dale ran 14:49. The jubilant Mendez was quickly greeted by several well wishers at the back of the finish chute.
The second and third place runners Saavedra and Rosen streamed home in 14:59 and 15:00. Wishnewsky and Nico Moreno (Sr., Jones Prep) completed the top five.
-Top 10 finishers-
| Place | Athlete | Team | Result | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mendez, Clayton | 10 | Whitney Young High School | 14:42.00 | 1 | |
| 2 | Saavedra, Walmer | 12 | Lindblom Math & Science Academy | 14:59.60 | 2 | |
| 3 | Rosen, Danny | 12 | Northside High School | 15:01.50 | 3 | |
| 4 | Wischnewsky, Sam | 12 | Whitney Young High School | 15:13.90 | 4 | |
| 5 | Moreno, Nico | 12 | Jones College Prep | 15:19.10 | 5 | |
| 6 | Yemane, Robel | 12 | Mather High School | 15:30.90 | 6 | |
| 7 | Rivera, Samuel | 9 | Whitney Young High School | 15:34.10 | 7 | |
| 8 | Galvan, Mauricio | 12 | Kennedy High School | 15:38.10 | 8 | |
| 9 | Worku, Keduse | 11 | Whitney Young High School | 15:40.20 | 9 | |
| 10 | Barreto, Ethan | 12 | Jones College Prep | 15:40.90 | 10 | |
The team title was unofficially tabulated was as soon as the Dolphins five crossed the finish line well ahead of the field. The breakout party for the high flying team from the west side of the Chicago loop looked to be in full swing for Poole-Harris and his crew.
| Top 10 Team Scores | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Team | Points | Scorers | Times | ||
| 1 | Whitney Young High School | 33 | 1+4+7+9+12 (13+19) | 1:05 1-5 Split | 15:23 Avg | ||
| 2 | Jones College Prep | 67 | 5+10+14+17+21 (33) | 1:00 1-5 Split | 15:52 Avg | ||
| 3 | Lindblom Math & Science Academy | 99 | 2+16+20+29+32 (38+48) | 1:41 1-5 Split | 16:07 Avg | ||
| 4 | Von Steuben High School | 132 | 11+18+27+34+42 (57+80) | 1:21 1-5 Split | 16:27 Avg | ||
| 5 | Northside High School | 149 | 3+15+23+45+63 (67+74) | 2:41 1-5 Split | 16:27 Avg | ||
| 6 | Mather High School | 179 | 6+22+36+55+60 (62+66) | 2:09 1-5 Split | 16:48 Avg | ||
| 7 | Lane Tech High School | 186 | 24+28+40+44+50 (54+58) | 1:03 1-5 Split | 16:53 Avg | ||
| 8 | Solorio Academy | 240 | 30+39+49+52+70 (83+84) | 1:20 1-5 Split | 17:17 Avg | ||
| 9 | Payton High School | 247 | 25+31+41+61+89 (136) | 2:28 1-5 Split | 17:19 Avg | ||
| 10 | Kennedy High School | 280 | 8+26+65+90+91 (94) | 3:14 1-5 Split | 17:32 Avg | ||