Dundee-Crown junior Adam Swanson did something this month different than from past years.
Swanson stuck to his new routine of competing for the Dundee-Crown cross country team. On a steamy Saturday morning where temperatures rose to 80 degrees by the start of the Palatine Invitational, he was ready for a challenge.
After running for the track team the last two seasons but not qualifying for state, Swanson decided he needed to rearrange his offseason schedule. He joined the cross country team.
“Normally, on nice sunny day like this, I would be riding my bike and probably going to Dairy Queen or something like that,” Swanson said.
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First-year Dundee-Crown coach Jake Zappia is encouraged by Swanson’s results. Swanson clocked a 3-mile time of 16 minutes, 11.7 seconds to finish 71st at the 29-team meet. His time was the second-fastest for the Chargers.
Top runner Anthony Hurgoi, a senior, placed 23rd in 15:33.
“Adam’s coming into his own, and is our No. 2 runner,” Zappia said. “He decided to come out to help him stay in shape for track. He’s definitely pushed our athletes.”
Swanson is slowly adapting to his new but grueling sport, if only to help him reach the Class 3A state track meet next May in Charleston. Swanson’s main event is the 800 meters.
“I was so close to breaking the 2-minute (mark) in the 800 last year, and my (cross country) coach said we need you, but I didn’t know if I could do the three miles,” he said. “I really want to go to state for the 800 this year, so I decided to give it a try. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t run it in my senior year.”
The Chargers on leaning on Hurgoi and Swanson to be leaders on a team with state aspirations. Last season, the Chargers finished third in the Fox Valley Conference, while Hurgoi finished 41st at the 3A state meet.
“Adam is getting faster and better (every) meet,” Hurgoi said. “He’s doing really good for his first year, and is already a key runner for us.”
Swanson said he’s putting in the miles to make a push to help his team. His personal best is 15:24.2 at the First to the Finish Invitational at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Sept. 9.
Swanson, who runs the 400 and 1,600 in track, is still learning the ins and outs of cross country, especially big meets.
“I’m in the same condition as everyone else, but it’s about experience,” he said. “I’m not used to pack running.
“It can only help me for track, just putting in the work and, come track season, I’ll have the mileage and all the workouts in, so I should be ready to go. I just hope to get better for cross country and, come track season, I’m going to be going for it.”
Bob Narang is a freelance writer for the Courier-News.