His legacy as a Chicago Public League runner is still being written because he is only a junior at Whitney Young High School. Clayton Mendez has been on a mountain high in 2017 since running a US #2 9:01.89 at the Proviso West Indoor Invitational. Saturday evening at the Distance Night In Palatine Mendez became the first Illinois runner to break 9:00 this season outdoors. He did so the hard way by running solo over the second half of the race. On the other side of the ledger, Mendez has had his share of demise like a 3rd place finish in the CPS cross country title race and a draining 79th finish to end a disappointing harrier season. However, it is this emotional interview that Mendez really lets out the facts of what was ticking in his head over the past school year.
Watch Clayton's race
Event 4 Boys 3200 Meter Run Elite
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Meet Record: M 8:59.46 4/22/2017 Clayton Mendez, Whitney Young
Name Year School Finals H#
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Finals
1 Mendez, Clayton Whitney Young 8:59.46M 2
2 Hall, Logan Arthur-Lovington 9:11.06 2
3 McIntyre, Wyatt Athens 9:11.32 2
4 Pereira, Matt Lake Zurich 9:11.79 2
5 Mitchell, Evan Lincoln-Way West 9:13.27 2
6 Makrounis, Alex Hoffman Estates 9:15.94 2
7 Worman, Jack Hoffman Estates 9:15.99 2
8 Chada, Tanner Hinckley-B-R 9:16.69 2
9 Hurgoi, Anthony Dundee-Crown 9:21.59 1
10 Hamblen, Brayden Rock Falls 9:22.31 2
11 Brady, Tommy Maine South 9:22.76 2
12 Butcher, Brian Mahomet-Seymour 9:22.94 1
13 Ohm, Austin Illiana Christia 9:26.90 1
14 Adams, Jeremy Chicago (Jones) 9:27.63 2
15 Leonard, Brian Palatine 9:28.97 2
16 Burns, Pat Lake Zurich 9:29.19 1
17 Friedler, Kyle Chicago (Northside) 9:30.06 2
18 Obroin, Michael St. Ignatius 9:33.09 1
19 Aho, Matthew Grayslake (Central) 9:34.14 2
20 Maison, Scott WW South 9:34.73 2
21 St. Clair, Robert Mundelein 9:36.35 1
22 Parrish, Charlie Freeburg 9:37.00 1
23 Blanco, Matthew Oswego (East) 9:37.86 1
24 Adesso, Cole St. Charles (East) 9:38.02 1
25 Carillo, Dario Mundelein 9:38.86 1
26 Jacobo, Richie Palatine 9:38.90 1
27 Haffner, Brett Hinsdale South 9:43.32 1
28 Amoruso, Joe St. Ignatius 9:47.73 1
29 Keys, John WW South 9:50.92 2
30 Walls, John St. Ignatius 9:55.16 1
31 Wong, Eric Chicago (Jones) 10:03.37 1
32 Prior, Gavin Mattoon 10:09.66 1
