Blake Evertsen, Lindsey Payne Repeat At Hinsdale Hornet Devil Invite

Neuqua Valley solidified the team championship with strong front running and tight pack play

Coach Paul Vandersteen probably could run for politics if he wanted to. But the fact that he is a coach's son and teaches high school environmental science and coaches cross country will more than likely not happen. He is also a realist... and honest. These are qualities not always becoming of some of our elected officials. Coming into this season Neuqua Valley has been tabbed by many outlets as the best team in Illinois. But Vandersteen would not take the bait prior to the meet. "So, we are not at full strength," he said. "Not sure how this is going to go because we have done nothing at race pace all summer other than some strides." Subtle talk can sometimes lull you to sleep.

#1 Neuqua Valley despite not having key runners seniors Matt Milostan, Scott Anderson, and Danny Winek put all doubts to rest with a thumping over a deep field that featured several top ranked teams in the state. The Wildcats scored 36 points by putting all five scorers in the top 15. Additionally, #6 and #7 men senior Jeremy Hayhurst and junior Tyler Bombacino displaced many other team scorers with their respectable 19th and 24th finishes. Senior Jake McEneaney led the way for the Wildcats with a third place finish in 15:05.

Hinsdale Central ran as well as they could against the US #3 Wildcats in scoring 80 points. The Red Devils pack was just strong enough stay ahead of a surprising and unranked Wheaton-Warrenville South bunch. New Trier took fourth behind the 10th place finish of senior Warren Blood. Coach Dave Wisner said coming in this meet was serve as a measuring stick of the training they put in thus far. So far so good for the Trevians. 

Wheaton Warrenville South has a new head coach named Chris Kuntz. Kuntz was previously an assistant under girls head man Rob Harvey. It looks like the apprenticeship has paid off. His upstart Tigers performed will in their season debut. A 1-5 split of 41 seconds took shape and earned them a nice third place finish.

Individually, the boys varsity race led off first and it was the pre-meet favorites getting right to work. Minooka's Soren Knudsen and the hometown fave Blake Evertsen of Hinsdale Central out front. The senior standouts hit the first mile in 4:49 and 4:50 respectively. The trailing pack was about five seconds off pace.

At mile two, it was Knudsen leading the way by a stride over Evertsen in 9:59. Once the race entered the final stages with 600 meters to go, it seemed as though Knudsen would take the title with ease. However, the defending champion Evertsen kept his composure and pounced on Knudsen who seemingly ran out of gas with less than a quarter mile to go. Evertsen zipped past Knudsen and won in 14:48. Knudsen struggled home to finish second in 15:02. McEneaney took third in 15:05. Brian Leonard (Sr., Palatine) held off Josh Mollway (Sr., Neuqua Valley) for fourth and close out the top five.