MK_111419

38 | November 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger sports
mokenamessengerdaily.com
Kreis pushes hard, finishes fifth in historic state meet
4
JEFF DEGRAW
Freelance Reporter
It was the fastest cross
country race ever ran
on the famed Detweiller
course in Peoria at the
IHSA state cross country
finals, and Lincoln-Way
Central’s Jared Kreis had
no regrets.
Josh Methner, of
Hersey, broke Craig Virgin’s
course record of 13
minutes, 50 seconds set
in 1972, running 13:49
on Saturday, Nov. 9. The
record had a magical connotation
for many in the
sport.
Kreis, a senior who was
in second place the first
half of the race, was satisfied
with his effort and his
fifth-place finish, running
14:30.
It was the best finish
ever for a Central runner,
topping the sixth-place
showing from Mark Battista
in 2006.
“I was really surprised
that Josh [Methner] took
it out so hard,” Kreis said.
“He went for the record
and it was really fast from
the start. But I have no
regrets because I went after
it also. It was fun and
I can look back and not
have any what ifs. It’s
pretty good to finish in
fifth place.”
The Knights placed
23rd as a team and Kreis,
a Duke recruit, was the
only senior among the
five runners who scored.
Sophomore Caden Simone
finished 132nd, freshman
Nolan Sams 158th, freshman
Connor LeBeau 184th
and junior Jay Parker was
199th.
“Jared went out after it
and he knew what he had
to do because he is such a
great student of the sport,”
Knights coach John Taylor
said. “This team had a
great mix of guys this year
and we are young.
“Our younger guys
learned a lot today and
they ran well and when
you do that in the biggest
meet of the year that is all
you can ask.”
Lincoln-Way East finished
in 25th and is in a
similar situation as Central
with a very young team.
East was led by sophomore
Nolan Rogers in
153rd. He was followed
by junior Nolan Enright
(190th), and freshmen Justin
Falejczyk (193rd), Jack
Roberts (208th) and Gerry
Cushing (209th).
The Griffins were without
one of the best runners
in the state, as senior Brett
Gardner could not run because
of a left leg injury.
After finishing second in
the sectional meet, Gardner
knew there was something
wrong.
“I felt something before
the race but didn’t think
much about it, but coach
[Ross Widinski] and I
talked and he just said run
to qualify. He told me during
the race that our team
was qualified, so I backed
off, but after the race I
knew something wasn’t
right. It was different than
I had ever felt before and
runners know their bodies
well and I knew this
wasn’t good.
“I didn’t want anyone to
know until after the visit to
the doctor on Monday and
it was a stress reaction in
my lower leg. I feel bad
and it’s frustrating not to
run here, but I’d rather be
out four weeks than four
months.”
Gardner shifted to a
cheerleading and coaching
role.
Lincoln-Way Central’s Jared Kreis receives his All-State medal after finishing fifth in
the Class 3A state cross country race Saturday, Nov. 9. Clark Brooks/PhotoNews Media
Junior Merrigan Allen led the Lincoln-Way Central girls team with a 45th-place finish
in the Class 3A state cross country race. 22nd Century Media file photo.
“This entire weekend
I’ve been excited for our
team and I’m here to help
them anyway I can,” he
said. “It’s different and
I’m taking this entire experience
of being here
from a different perspective.
I know that if I get
healthy my hard work will
pay off down the road and
hopefully that will be [next
spring] in track.”
Central placed 22nd as
a team in the girls race
and received a 45th-place
finish from junior Merrigan
Allen (17:45). Senior
Rachel Baumgartner
followed in 75th (18:06).
Junior Catherine Ihrke
(136th), junior Colleen
Erdman (174th) and freshman
Emma Olson (186th)
rounded out the scorers.
“I’m so happy with my
race today,” Allen said.
“All the hard work has
paid off and hopefully
this will now carry over to
track. Last year being here
and getting sick just days
before the race really motivated
me to do so much
better this year and it’s sort
of redemption for getting
sick last year.”
Ihrke — who Knights
coach Ryan Stapinski said
has improved as much as
anyone on the team — was
extremely happy with her
race and the state meet experience.
“It was fun,” Ihrke said.
“I came through the mile
faster than I ever have and
I thought to myself If I
feel this good going this
fast, I might as well keep
going.
“It’s a mindset that you
can do this, and our team
is really close. We have
great chemistry together
and really help each other
and I’m looking forward to
more of this next year.”
Stapinski said there was
a lot for the Knights to be
proud of.
“I’m very pleased with
our performance,” Stapinski
said. “Merrigan ran so
well and Rachel went out
after it today. Everyone did
their best and how can you
not be happy with that, this
meet is what it’s about.”
Lincoln-Way East
sophomore Kate Guderjan
placed 142nd but suffered
a fall in the first half-mile
of the race according to
coach Wendy Hegarty.
Providence had one individual
in the girls 2A
race as Emma Kulpinski
finished 163rd.