Kaneland finished 5th in the IHSA Class A State Finals. "We're certainly pleased with our showing at the state finals. Placing fifth was quite an accomplishment," Stated boys cross country coach Chad Clarey.
In fact it was the fourth best placing ever in the state finals in Kaneland's ten tries at Peoria.
Kaneland came in with a specific game plan of working hard through the second and third miles. "The boys maintained their positions very well through mile one, and then they executed the plan beautifully." said Clarey.
Tim Eickhoff and Henry Norris were able to pack up behind Jeremiah Milliman and Ray Pulford to bring the team total down. This was Pulford's second consecutive All-state performance. "We're proud of him," said Clarey.
Joe Reynolds was back in the line up as the Knights fifth man. He took 42 second off of last year's state performance. Jason Morris was close on his heels, and ran his season's best time. Jason Self's first performance in the state meet was also a great on. "He is a very hard worker and good role model for his peers," added Clarey.
"Overall, this was an excellent conclusion to a memorable season. They believed in themselves and they upheld Kaneland's long tradition of fantastic state finishes," added Clarey. "They will go down in history as one of the best."
| Boys Class A Cross Country IHSA State Finals |
| 1. Oregon 5 10 30 46 53 (62)
(83) = 144 2. McLeansboro 4 7 11 54 73 (112)(127) = 149 3. Dunlap 6 12 14 55 80 (102)(117) = 167 4. St. Joseph (Ogden) 15 23 33 42 64 (104)(126) = 177 5. Kaneland 13 27 29 34 85 (91)(109) = 188 6. Fithian (Oakwood) 9 37 44 49 50 (74) (86) = 189 7. Breese (Mater Dei) 18 25 41 52 71 (97)(121) = 207 8. Westmont 1 36 59 68 75 (96) (99) = 239 9. Robinson 24 31 43 70 76 (95)(105) = 244 10. Aurora (Central Catholic) 28 35 47 63 72 (90)(124) = 245 11. Shelbyville 16 22 38 82 94 (118)(136) = 252 12. Winnebago 2 58 61 67 93 (106)(108) = 281 13. Kewanee (H.S.) 8 56 57 81 84 (92)(129) = 286 14. Harrisburg 40 48 51 66 111 (130)(137) = 316 15. Urbana (University) 3 21 88 100 114 (116)(125) = 326 16. Joy (Westmer) 17 19 89 98 115 (139)(140) = 338 17. Liberty 20 69 79 101 103 (110)(122) = 372 18. Chicago (Luther North) 39 65 77 87 113 (133)(134) = 381 19. Rushville 26 45 60 119 132 (135)(138) = 382 20. Rock Island (Alleman) 32 78 107 120 123 (128)(131) = 460 |
Kaneland won the 1997 IHSA Class A Lisle Sectional with 110 points, just slipping past Westmont with 111 points and Aurora central with 125 points. With the win the Knights advance to the State Championship meet in Peoria, Ill.
Ray Pulford placed 10th overall and was the low Knight with 5:23. Henry Norris was 18th with a 5:31 and Jeremiah Milliman was 19th with 5:32. Other Knights included Tim Eickhoff (37, 5:41), Jason Morris (42, 5:42), Jason self (76, 5:53), and Reed Overhaug (82, 5:55).
We couldn't be any happier," coach Chad Clarey said. "It was a nice to have a solid race from all seven runners. We figured to be in the hunt. Today just happened to be our day. We're very pleased to have the chance to represent the Kaneland community at the state finals."
Kaneland girls team placed 12th out of 21 teams. wheaton St. Francis won the sectional. Low runner for the Knights was the 45th overall showing by Alex Self. Other Kaneland finishers were Rhyan Burke (58th), Lindsay Kirwan (59), Jenni Kirwan (74), Tricia Overhaug (85), Lauren App (104), and Emily Guthke (125).
"The girls finished about where they were expected to," coach Doug Ecker said. "Senior Ryan Burke ran her best race. It was a positive way for her and fellow senior Emily Guthke to end their cross country careers."
REVIEW THE 1996 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
PREVIEW OF THE GIRLS 1997 SEASON
PREVIEW OF THE BOYS 1997 SEASON
| Day | Date | Contest | Time | Location | H/A | |||
| Tues | 9/2/97 | Oreg, Sand Whe A WChgo | 4:30 | Elburn | H | |||
| Thurs | 9/4/97 | Genoa, Somonauk, St Edward | 4:30 | Kingston | A | |||
| Sat | 9/6/97 | St Charles Invitational | TBA | St Charles | A | |||
| Tues | 9/9/97 | Burlington | 4:30 | Burlington | A | |||
| Sat | 9/13/97 | Wauconda Invitational | 9:00 | Wauconda | A | |||
| Tues | 9/16/97 | Westmont & Yorkville | 4:30 | Elburn | H | |||
| Sat | 9/20/97 | Larry Eddington Invitational | 9:00 | Elburn | H | |||
| Tues | 9/23/97 | Lemont Ridgewood | 4:30 | Lemont | A | |||
| Sat | 9/27/97 | Rock River Run | 9:00 | Sterling | A | |||
| Tues | 9/30/97 | Evergreen Pk & Elmwood Pk | 4:30 | Elmwood Park | A | |||
| Sat | 10/4/97 | Pretzel Invitational | 9:30 | Freeport | A | |||
| Tues | 10/7/97 | Morris | 4:30 | Morris | A | |||
| Mon | 10/13/97 | Columbus Day Run | TBA | Amboy | A | |||
| Tues | 10/14/97 | Harvard | 4:30 | Elburn | H | |||
| Sat | 10/18/97 | SPC Conference Meet | TBA | Elmwood Pk | A | |||
| Sat | 10/25/97 | IHSA Regional | TBA | TBA | TBA | |||
| Sat | 11/1/97 | IHSA Sectional | TBA | TBA | A | |||
| Sat | 11/1/97 | IHSA State Meet | TBA | Peoria | A | |||
| Note: Home course is
Elburn Woods. Schedule changes are in Red | ||||||||
Outlook: After finishing 13-3 in duals last year, second in the conference and ninth in the state, Kaneland has 5 seniors returning forming a very promising year.
Key returners: Seniors Ray Pulford, Jeremiah Milliman, Jason Morris, Joe Reynolds and Tim Eickhoff; and junior Scott Peterson. Seniors Reed Ovcerhaug, Jon Dieckman and Jason Self are listed as up-and-coming runners.
Top newcomers: Senior Tom Darragh, juniors Neil Hutton and Shawn Kramer, and freshmen Hank Norris and Chris Clark.
Head Coach Chad Clarey (third year) says: I'm excited about the large number of experienced seniors competing this year. If we staty healthyand run as a pack, it could be an exciting year for us."
Outlook: Young. Young. The Lady Knights were 4-4 last year, third in the conference and fifth in the Kaneland Class A regional. Would like to do better this year.
Key returners: Seniors Ryan Burke, Heidi Striedl and Alicia Brown; and juniors Sarah Campbell and Jenni Kirwan; and sophomore Alex Self.
Top newcomers: Freshmen Lindsay Kirwan and Tricia Overhaug.
Head Coach Doug Ecker (11th year) says: Overall, we're very young. But we've got a good class of freshmen and better depth than last year."
| Sept 2 Kaneland Meet | |
| Boys | Girls |
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| Sept 4 Genoa Meet | |
| Sycamore edged rival Kaneland 28-29 at Wal Camp in Genoa. Host
Genoa-Kingston has a 119. Kaneland won the boys meet edging Sycamore 35-47 while G-K had 56 points. Ray Pulford took first place with 17:08. | |
| Sept 6 St. Charles Invite. | |
| Boys | Girls |
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| Sept 9 Duel with Burington Central | |
| Boys | Girls |
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Kaneland Wins 20-41 |
Kaneland loses 39-17 |
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| Sept 13 Wauconda Invitational | |
| Boys | Girls |
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| Sept 16 Duel with Yorkville | |
| Boys | Girls |
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Kaneland Wins 18-51 |
Kaneland Wins 15-50 |
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| Sept 20 Larry Eddington Invitational | |
| (For more on the meet see below) | |
| Boys | Girls |
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Kaneland finishes 9th |
Kaneland finishes 13th |
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| Sept 23 Lemont Ridgewood | |
| Boys | Girls |
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Kaneland Wins 26 |
Lemont Wins 15 |
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| Sept 27 Rock River Run | |
| Boys | Girls |
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NA |
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NA |
| Sept 30 Elmwood & Evergreen Park | |
| Boys | Girls |
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NA |
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NA |
| Oct 4 Pretzel Invitrational | |
| Boys | Girls |
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| Oct 7 Morris | |
| Boys | Girls |
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Kaneland 15 |
Morris 27 |
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| Oct 13 Columbus Day Run | |
| Boys | Girls |
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6th place out of 28 teams |
16th out of 34 teams |
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| Oct 14 Harvard | |
| Boys | Girls |
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Kaneland Wins 19 |
Kaneland Wins 26 |
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| Oct 18 SPC Conference Meet | |
| Boys | Girls |
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Final team standings: |
Final team standings: |
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| * = All Conference | |
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In the Super Bowl of Cross Country meets, Kaneland hosted a 26 team field at Elburn Woods on a pleasent Saturday morning. The Varsity girls finished 13th and the boys finished 9th.
"Our girls did a great job of improving their times. Many girls bettered themselves by a minute or more. I am very pleased with their performance.", Stated girls coach Doug Ecker.
Boy coach Chad Clarey said, " I thought our entire team performed well at all levels. Almost every runner improved himself on the home course. Tim Eickhoff and Joe Reynolds were great as our #2 & 3 runners. I think Jason Self and Tim Zielinski probably had the best races of the day."
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1997 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ROSTER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jon Dieckman |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Eickhoff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeremiah Milliman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jason Morris | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reed Overhaug | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ray Pulford | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Reynolds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jason Self | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Zielinski | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shaun Kramer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manuel Guzman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kurt Oland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Peterson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Josh Rogers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neil Hutton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rob Baert | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conor Gibbons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jon Zielinski | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Clark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry Norris | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Head Coach: Chad Clarey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1997 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY ROSTER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Head Coach: Doug Ecker |
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