HIGHLAND PARK TEAM QUALIFIES FOR STATE MEET!

After a slow start at the Libertyville Regional a week earlier, Highland Park came into the Waukegan Sectional looking to not make the same mistake. The team got a strong start and had a tight 1-6 pack (4 seconds) going through the mile led by junior Alec Glazier with senior Matthew Casey lurking just 6 seconds behind the pack. As the team hit the switchbacks they were running well and working together to earn a trip to the IHSA State Meet. By the two mile, sophomore Jose Reyes took over leading the pack with Glazier a second behind him. Not far back, the trio of seniors Jonathan Rosenfeld and Casey along with junior Nate Amster were moving well. Less than 10 seconds behind them, senior Charlie Skurie and junior Fitz Laurie worked together to stay close to their teammates.

Coming into Sectionals the team knew they needed to come back to beat a talented Mundelein team that edged them out to win Regionals. With 400 to go you could see that this was a special team performance by the GIANTS. Mundelein’s number one runner was in front of the HP pack of 4 that was right together with Amster just 5 seconds back. Their number two and three runners were with the HP pack. At that point you could see in Rosenfeld’s eyes that he was going to chase down and beat the top Mundelein runner. He did as he finished with another incredible kick and took 24th in 15:42.92. The rest of the boys raced with all they had to the finish line with Reyes running another gutsy race to take 38th in 15:56.32 just behind a sophomore rival from Mundelein. The next finisher for HP was Casey. This was a tremendous race by Matthew as he was patient and just showed tremendous determination moving up throughout the race to finish in 40th place at 15:57.44. Two juniors that have been so tough all season pushed across the line in 45th and 46th just ahead of Mundelein’s number 3 runner! It was Amster (16:00.01) showing excellent focus as he moved up several key spots late in the race and Glazier (16:00.45) who has been so consistent all season and helped get the pack out into great position on this challenging course. Skurie battled and gave it his all to be the next HP finisher in 62nd place 16:13.13. He had the best finishing place of any team’s 6th man except for Prospect.  Despite dealing with a recent fever, Laurie once again showed how much heart he has as he helped the team get out early and pushed through with a strong finish to take 77th in 16:23.14. He had the best finishing place for any team’s number 7 runner except for Prospect. The team finished with a 1-5 gap of only 17.53 seconds and a 1-7 gap of 40.22 seconds!

As the HP team, family, and friends gathered at the team camp after the race the final results were unknown. Everyone was hopeful that the superb team performance earned the GIANTS a trip to the State Meet. After waiting, the results were posted and it became a realization that the team took 5th place and qualified for the 2016 IHSA 3A State Cross Country Meet! It was a wonderful scene as the team embraced and enjoyed this special moment. It was an amazing team performance with each runner giving it everything they had for their teammates. These 7 runners represented the entire team’s commitment to each other that was made at the start of the summer.  They trained together all summer and throughout the fall to run races like this.

The last time an HP team qualified for the State Meet was in 2012. This now makes it 7 straight years in which an individual or the team has qualified for the IHSA 3A State Cross Country Meet. Highland Park and Lake Zurich are the only two teams from this Sectional to have the same current streak. Also, the less than 18 second gap for the 1-5 HP finishers was the smallest gap for any of the 25 state qualifying 3A boys teams!

Now the team is focused and ready to run their best TEAM race of the year in Peoria! The coaches, teammates, family, friends, and alumni are all so proud of this team!  GO GIANTS! BELIEVE!