Runners contend with early season heat, make progress
HUNTLEY — Huntley senior Tommy Nitz beat the 15-minute mark as athletes contended with the heat at the Lake Park Invitational cross country meet.
Nitz finished third in the boys varsity race with a time of 14:56.8. Teammates’ efforts also included juniors Nathan Sauber in 42nd, 16:34.5; Brandon Thompson, 45th, 16:34.5 and Logan Barreto ran a 16:46.0. The Red Raiders ended seventh in meet standings with 205 points.
“In terms of considerations for the warmer temperatures, meet directors have the option to move up the time schedule to try and get races in the earlier hours as the temps start to rise,” HHS cross country coach Matt Kaplan said. “At the Lake Park meet, the temperatures rose quickly and the final three races were not run to make sure more kids didn’t experience difficulties competing in the warm temperatures. In the three races that were run to completion, many runners struggled to make it through the warm temperatures.”
Kaplan was glad to see Nitz’s final result.
“In the boys varsity race, Nitz got to experience a quicker start than the previous two meets he had run. That will help him moving forward. Overall another solid effort for him,” Kaplan said.
Girls race
“Haley Rahman led the girls team to a 4th place overall finish against some great competition. Rahman did a great job pushing up into one of the front packs of girls early on and came away with a top 20 finish.”
Kaplan is pleased with the early season progress of both teams.
“The boys and girls teams continue to do what is expected day to day and our Saturdays have been quality in these early season contests. Once the temperatures start to come down it should allow everyone to keep performing the best they can.
The girls team placed three runners in the top 25 it ended in fourth place with 130 points.
Sophomore Rahman led the way with a 19th place finish in 18:26.9 while juniors Isabella Ciesla, 23rd, 18:26.6 and Aspen Maldonado, 24th in 18:37.28, did well. Junior Cori Klivinger was 40th, 19:09.0 and senior Mackenzie Billard ended in 48th, 19:33.4.
