Illinois Week

September 13 - week 2 details on IllinoisRunner.com

by Scott Bush, IllinoisRunner.com, the site for Illinois news

This week was an exciting one in Illinois cross country, with two big meets: the Peoria Woodruff Invite and the Lake Park Invite.

Boys

At the Reavis Invite (3.0 miles), Matt Withrow (Andrew) won the race easily, by over a minute, in a great time of 14:57, breaking his course record from last year by over 20 seconds.

At Peoria (3.0 miles) Kyle Saginus (Lockport Twp.) won the boys race for AA in 15:08, stamping himself as a top ten contender at state individually. Wheaton North surprised many and took home the team title over a lot of teams that should make state come late October. In the Class A race in Peoria, senior Brandon Mull (Rockford Christian) ran a wonderful race, beating sophomore Jeremy Stephens (Winnebago). Mull ran 15:15. In the team scores Eureka destroyed a solid field, scoring a mere 66 points, and they always do their best later in the year. This team is extremely young...they will be exciting to watch this year and next.

At Lake Park Sinan Khamo (Maine West) beat a great field on the three mile layout, winning in 15:03. Winning the team race was Downers Grove North.

Girls

Lake Park was the place to be. Lisa Bonistalli (Naperville North), a senior, desimated the field, on her way to winning the individual crown in 17:04 (3 miles, although it may have been a little short). Bonistalli defeated at least five other potential top 15 runners and marked herself as a early season favorite. Naperville North also won the team title over a few top notch schools with only 50 points being tallied.

In Peoria, Caitlin Chrisman (Carbondale) and Christina Fiduccia (Barrington) provided a spectacular finish, as both girls finished in 17:41, with Chrisman winning with a lean. This is a good time for early in the season on the new three mile layout. Barrington won rather easily over some solid teams, and also marked themselves as a team to watch.

Next week there is another invite down on the state meet course in Peoria, where York is supposed to open up therir season, led by junior Sean McNamara...and Matt Withrow and a slew of other top talent should be there as well. It will be one exciting weekend. Until next week.

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