Athletes Of The Week: Yunk, Perez

Illinois XC 2012: Athlete of the Week
Todd Grasley



Belvidere North senior Tyler Yunk and Glenbard West junior Madeline Perez are this week's Athletes of the Week. Yunk won two races this week including a new personal best best time of 15:14.20 to take the Crystal Lake South Invitational. Perez won the Hinsdale South Hornet Invitational in a new personal best time of 16:59.40 leading her squad to a team title over nationally ranked New Trier.

Boys Winner: Tyler Yunk - Senior @ Belvidere North

Belvidere North senior Tyler Yunk is on a mission  in 2012 after finishing second at state in 2011. Yunk kicked off the season with a win at the Sycamore Invitational in 15:30.26. Then it was the 5K distance he would tackle at the Crystal Lake South Invitational. Coach Troy Yunk, Tyler's dad, says the plan was to stick with the lead pack and work with his teammates.
 
"At Crystal Lake Garrett and Tyler stayed with the lead pack through the first mile at 4:50 and then they pulled away going through the second mile in 9:46. The course at Lippold Park is a limestone path that was fast. Also the race day temperature was in the 70's after two weeks of training in the 90's it felt very comfortable. Our plan was to group up in pairs or groups of three for as much of the race as we could."
 
Yunk went onto to win the race in a new personal bes ttime of 15:14 for 5k beating his teammate Garrett Lee by .6 seconds. It's a time that ranks him number one in the country for the young season and places Lee third nationally.  Coach Yunk says having Tyler train with such a strong group in Lee and seniior Paxon Menard is a strength for this Belvidere North team.
 
"All three of them were together at the mile. At Wisconsin camp this summer University of Wisconsin Head Coach Mick Byrne told Tyler not to press to hard in the early meets so I think running with his team mates has allowed him to run comfortable and I hope he took Mick's advice and has more in him in October and November."
 
Coach Yunk wasn't surprised by the result and new nationally ranked times, but he isn't letting those accolades get to their heads. He knows it is a long way to the Illinois State Cross Country Championships. He says the Blue Thunder our watching other teams and planning for bigger races in October.
 
"Right now we are working on the little things that will make us a stronger team and trying to not wear our team down running in temperatures in the 90's. Our 1 to 5 split is down around a minute and we moved the freshmen Eryk Yunk up on Tuesday to give him a little experience running with our varsity. "
 
Eryk is Coach Yunk's youngest son, Tyler's little brother.  Recently at the NIC-10 Preview Meet, Tyler paced his brother to his first high school win in a time of 15:57. Tyler was second in 15:50.68. Garrett Lee and Paxon Menard went three-four in 15:51.00 and 15:51.34. Coach Yunk knows how benefitial his son is to both the team both on the course and off.
 
"Tyler is a great team mate and he is always concerned about getting his team prepared. He keeps us loose when we need it and he brings the intensity when we need it. The members of our team benefit a lot from his leadership. The next two weekend races(Lake Park and Peoria Notre Dame) will tell us a little more about our team and how we stack up with some of the better teams in Illinois."

Tyler's Athlete Profile

 

Girls Winner: Madeline Perez - Junior @ Glenbard West

Glenbard West junior Madeline Perez started her season off in style. Perez won the Hinsdale South Invitational in a new personal best time just under seventeen minutes for three miles clocking in at 16:59.40. Not only was the time impressive, but the way she did it was impressive beating her nearest competitor Courtney Ackerman of New Trier by fourteen seconds. Coach Paul Hass says the plan was for Madeline to take it out at her pace and run her race. 

"We had a goal to break 17:00 and we know that the Hinsdale coaches are great at placing mile split clocks at both the one and the two mile marks, so we were shooting for high 5:20s at the first mile, and under 5:45 at the two and the three. I think adrenaline kicked in during mile one as she ran 5:21, but her last two miles were even splits of 5:49."

Ever since the track season in which the junior placed eighth in the 1600 with a time of 4:59.80, her and Coach have been focusing on improving her running form. Hass says she has been extremely dedicated in improving her physical strength as well which has paid off in her running efficiency during the second and third miles. Hass believes those are just a few of his number one runner's strengths.

"In addition to her incredible work ethic that complements her natural ability, Madeline is extremely focused upon doing her best and willing to do whatever it takes to push herself to the limit both in practice and in meets. There has NEVER been an occasion since I have known Madeline where she slacks off or cuts corners.  Every year and in every season Madeline is driven to improve upon her previous accomplishments, and does whatever it takes to move towards that goal."

Hard work and determination have paid off for Perez and it comes as no surprise to Hass that she would dip under seveteen minutes this early in the year. Coach Hass had seen her practice the previous three and a half weeks and run 23:20 in a four mile road race in 100 degree heat. They discussed breaking that time barrier before the race and when she hit 15:54 with 300 meters to go, Hass knew with her kick it would be possible. Her time is the second best in the state and nationally behind Lake Park's Kaylee Flanagan. Not only did she win the race, she set a new course record at Katherine Legge Park. and helped Glenbard West knock off nationally ranked (US#4) New Trier 51-55. What's in store the rest of the season for Perez? Coach Hass guarantees she will work push herself at every practice and every meet, but beyond that he can only speculate.

"It is so early in the season and the state of Illinois is filled with such amazing runners this year that any speculation on state champion favorites would be premature. All I can say is that Madeline and her teammates are training very hard as we focus upon doing what it takes to prepare for the challenges of our conference meet and the state series. Our conference (West Suburban Silver) is loaded with talent, both individually and team-wise, so Madeline and the team will be tested every week for the next month in dual meets and upcoming invitationals, but we look forward to the challenges ahead; after all, that’s what makes this sport so fun!  
 

Do you know someone who is deserving of our Athlete of the Week honor? We will be announcing a guy and girl each week based on their performances. If you have a nominee drop us a line at TGrasley@milesplit.com and we consider them.