Maine South senior Reese Jordan has proven he’s one of the elite distance runners in the state.
But that’s somewhat of a recent development, dating back only to the beginning of his breakout junior track season last winter.
Jordan said his lack of experience competing as one of the state’s top-tier runners may have been responsible for his slightly disappointing showing at the Class 3A boys cross country state meet on Saturday at Peoria’s Detweiller Park.
Jordan came in 11th (14 minutes, 36 seconds) easily earning all-state (top 25) honors. But the Park Ridge resident had entered the race hoping to finish among the leaders. Jordan was caught off guard by the fast pace of the lead pack during the first lap, and he eventually paid the price by fading down the stretch.
“It was the hardest race I’ve ever run. When I crossed the finish line, I just collapsed. I was really tired. I guess it was a good race for how bad I felt,” Jordan said. “Looking back, what would I do differently? I would have gone out a little slower. I don’t think I was ready for the first mile.”
This was Jordan’s first state meet since 2014, when he finished 199th. He missed last year’s event with a stress fracture in his right foot at a time when he was just starting to emerge as a top performer. Having that experience under his belt likely would have been beneficial this past weekend.
“I don’t have too much experience being elite, and this year I’ve been an elite runner,” he said. “Hopefully, I can learn from this and I definitely think I’ll be able to carry my elite-runner ability into the track season.”
Maine South had a successful afternoon, finishing ninth (301 points) as a team. It was the second-highest finish in program history after the Hawks’ 2012 team, which came in fifth.
Sophomore Tommy Brady was 29th (14:53), junior Brandon Christopher was 52nd (15:04), senior Alex Ortwig finished 126th (15:36) and senior Brian Shanahan placed 164th (15:52).
New Trier
Though top runner Warren Blood, a senior, had some uncharacteristic struggles, New Trier had a memorable afternoon at the Class 3A boys cross country state meet on Saturday in Peoria.
The Trevians came in 14th (346), only six points out of 12th, and their Nos. 2-7 runners all ran personal records.
Blood, who finished third at the previous week’s sectional, ended up coming in 60th (15 minutes, 8 seconds). Trevians junior Patrick Norrick finished 74th (15:14), senior Cooper Woolford was 88th (15:21), senior Matt Burke was 103rd (15:27), junior Kiran Baakkonen finished 138th (15:41) senior Matt Roge took 140th (15:41) and junior Ryan Struckman 143rd (15:43).
“We ran our race,” Trevians coach David Wisner said. “(Several of our guys) got out toward the back of the pack, but it was a super-competitive field. Given the team I have, we couldn’t go out any faster. We ran the race we had to run.”
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Loyola
Senior Paolo Tiongson finished 14th (14 minutes, 38 seconds) at the Class 3A boys cross country state meet on Saturday in Peoria, eclipsing his previous best by 14 seconds.
The Skokie resident said he started the race at too rapid a pace. However, Tiongson said his spur-of-the-moment decision to slow down after the first mile was the key to a strong finish.
“I was kind of freaking out because I was at 4:40 (after the first mile) and I usually go out around 4:50,” Tiongson said. “I slowed down after the first mile, tried to stay relaxed and save a good amount of energy for the last 300 meters. I had a good kick and was able to pass a few guys (down the stretch).”
Northridge
The Knights came in 17th (394 points) at the Class 1A boys cross country state meet on Saturday in Peoria.
It was the Knights’ second-highest finish in school history. The 2006 team took 16th in Class A, when the state still had a two-class system.
Senior Peter Conroy was Northridge’s top runner, coming in 34th (15:41). His time was a personal best and the second-fastest time in school history.
North Shore Country Day
Senior Tommy McHugh finished 40th at the Class 1A boys cross country state meet on Saturday in Peoria, running a personal-best time of 15 minutes, 47 seconds. It was the highest place ever at state for a Raiders runner, according to Patrick McHugh, his dad and the school’s athletic director.
“I was really excited about how I did,” said Tommy McHugh, who lives in Winnetka. “This accomplishment has been four years in the making.”
Niles North
Vikings junior Conor Perreault placed 80th in the Class 3A boys cross country state meet. He crossed the finish line in 15 minutes, 17 seconds on Saturday in Peoria.
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press