The Raider cross country team is now in the heart of our championship series and if we don't put it together as a team Saturday at the
Sectional meet we will be the odd man out. We placed 3rd at the conference meet last weekend and 3rd again yesterday at the IHSA Regional meet, both held at fabled Detwiller Park right here in Peoria.Conference was actually a bit of a dissappointment after all the hype coming in. There were 6 teams that had a legitimate shot at winning but at the end of the day Metamora pulled it out once again. After what I felt like was a light week, the boys all felt sluggish and tired after the first mile and they never really got themselves into it. One high note was freshman Jacob VanGunten winning the frosh race by a nose to keep our streak of 3 in a row alive! It was awsome to see a young man who has never won a race in his life stick his nose in it and compete like he did. Kevin Eades made a push to run with two all state runners but in the end he just couldnt get it going and faded to a dissappointing 5th. He and Hugh Gill did hang on though for All Conference finishes though.
Regionals was just a formality as 5 teams qualify out of the 8 there. We used it as an opportunity to run together as a group for the first mile. Aside from one dissappointment the boys ran pretty well on a cold and windy day. Next weeks sectionals will prove to be a real test as there are 8 teams that have a real legitimate chance to qualify in those top 5 spots. It will take a big effort from every guy but I have faith that this group will go out and set a standard for teams to come. Eades and Gill should both be top 15 and Gonzalez top 25. The real key will be if Alex Cortes can finally race like he works out. If he can crack top 45 and Brant Watson can be top 70 we will be on our way to state.
Conference results: http://www.ivs.org/Results/2009/Mid%20Illini/boyvar_ind.txt
Regional results: http://go.ihsa.org/reports/ccb69794.htm
I will keep you all posted after the race and if you are just dying to know results before I write you can find them on www.ihsa.org and go under the cross country tab. Go to results, 2A, East Peoria Sectionals. Until then, Go Raiders!
