Jones College Prep Runs Away With Latin City Title

Check out the flashing speed of runners as they start the Latin City Invite in Lincoln Park

RESULTS I VIDEOS

Chicago IL-

On a tremendous early evening fall day near downtown Chicago at the Lincoln Park Zoo, there was a cross country race. Latin High School wanted to be included in the best of Chicago talk, so they started an invitational and invited many of the best teams in the city. Jones College Prep, Lane Tech, and St. Ignatius were among the invitees. 

There were two 5k races on the docket: junior varsity and varsity. 

In the opening affair, Colin Linnen of St. Ignatius led early and often holding a two-second advantage through two miles in 10:59. However, over the next half-mile, he broke down and Matthew DeSantis of Jones Prep took over and took off for the victory in 16:46. Linnen held on for second in 16:52.

The main event was billed previously as the true "city championship" as 3A #21 Jones, 2A #1 St. Ignatius, 1A #5 Latin, Lane Tech, and Whitney Young ready to tangle.

As expected, Latin set the early fast pace followed by faces from Jones, St. Ignatius, and Lane Tech. Jones' Andy Niser was essentially the lone wolf out front and passing the first mile in approximately 4:58.

Shortly, it was Latin who followed suit with three of its own in Akili Parekh, Ryan Hardiman, and Peter Bernhardt. Jones had their entire fleet up in the mix as well. St. Ignatius used twins Zack Kiley and Nick Kiley. Lane Tech countered with Hunter Whitney and William Archer.

The second mile is important on several fronts. It is where the real dudes separate from the pretenders and it is also a spot in which those with lesser leg speed can establish themselves before the final stretch of the third mile. The intensity of the Jones runners was evident on their faces as they fought in the middle mile. The Eagles essentially won the race with a mile to go.

Hardiman had a slight lead with less than a half-mile to go but Jones' ace Aaron Hou came on strong and edged Hardiman at the finish line- it was a "tasty finish" win for Hou in 15:49.6 (same time for Hardiman).

TEAM SCORES

PLACE

TEAM

POINTS

SCORERS

TIMES

1

Jones College Prep

23

1+3+4+6+9 (10+22)

0:34 1-5 Split | 16:00 Avg

2

St. Ignatius College Prep High School

67

7+8+15+18+19 (20+31)

0:42 1-5 Split | 16:33 Avg

3

Chicago Latin High School

68

2+5+11+23+27 (37+40)

1:28 1-5 Split | 16:31 Avg

4

Lane Tech High School

72

12+13+14+16+17 (24+25)

0:11 1-5 Split | 16:39 Avg

5

Whitney Young High School

150

26+28+29+33+34 (35+38)

0:57 1-5 Split | 17:40 Avg

6

Payton High School

158

21+30+32+36+39 (41+42)

1:52 1-5 Split | 17:58 Avg