Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:32 PM CDT
Charleston boys fifth; Mattoon's Calio second at Cumberland
By MIKE MONAHAN, Staff Writer
mmonahan@jg-tc.com
TOLEDO — After over five inches of rain in two days the Skull and Crossbones Flats had many puddles as 252 competitors from 25 different schools participated in the 39th annual Cumberland Cross Country Invitational.
“It was extremely hard,” said Mattoon’s Joe Calio. “Going around the curves I slipped so many times. My feet were soaked and even my socks were dirty from the inside, but it was fun.”
Calio had the top finish by an area runner, placing second overall in the boys’ meet with a time of 16 minutes, 29.55 seconds, just 1.2 seconds behind Monticello’s Steve Schroeder, the No. 5 runner in Class A according to www.dyestat.com. Calio trailed by 25 meters when they entered the track with 250 meters left. Calio nearly caught Schroeder, falling by several strides.
“Before the race coach (Eric Haslett) came over and said ‘This is a race you don’t need to look at your time. It is where you place. Go out and have fun and do your best,’” said Calio. “All week we have been having some speed work and I have been working on that a little. I think that is going to help me a lot. All of these meets don’t compare to what we have next week (Big 12 Conference meet) that is what I am looking forward to-Big 12, regional and sectional.”
St. Joseph-Ogden defended its titles in both the boys’ and girls’ meets winning the boys’ title by 36 points over Monticello, a team coached by Arcola graduate Jeff Butler. The Spartans are ranked No. 6 in Class A while the Sages are No. 4.The SJO girls nipped Decatur St. Teresa 44-46 as the No. 4 ranked Lady Spartans beat the No. 3 ranked Lady Bulldogs.
Boys
In the boys’ meet Schroeder said, “I was hoping to not run through the puddles and everything, but it seemed kind of unavoidable in the middle of the race. We ended up with great weather (50s and little wind) I was worried in the first mile because everyone was bunched up and getting on the inside of those turns was the key to staying up and that was the most difficult part of being up in the lead pack. I was really worried when two other got 100 feet in front of me (near the second mile) and I was worried I would be fighting for third at that point. I have never had that strong of a kick to begin with and so my strategy was to up enough distance between myself and the chase man (Calio). I starting surging (after the second mile) and it was a great race. I didn’t expect him (Calio) to come up that quick. I took a quick glance when I was coming around the turn and saw him coming up. At least I helped make it exciting at the end.”
Charleston edged Mattoon by three points, finishing with a 147 and was led by Riley McInerney, who was 10th overall with a time of 17:08.55.
“Riley McInerney ran well again for a freshman,” said Charleston coach Derrick Landrus. “Colin Slabach and Jason Lord have been side by side all year and were pretty solid again today. A couple of guys were off, but my pre-race speech was about Tuesday. That is the Apollo Conference meet and that is all we are worried about right now. I told a couple of them if they didn’t have it they have got to be ready to go Tuesday. Tuesday is going to be a big day for us and hopefully we will run well. It was a slow course for sure so times don’t do you a lot of good. You just see what kind of grit they had today and three or four of them were pretty good.”
Mattoon coach Eric Haslett said, “I think if the race was another 10 meters Joe (Calio) would have gotten him. I have never seen any one closing with as much distance between first and second place. It would have been easy for him to coast in there and get second place. I admire Joe’s guts. I also think it is the first time all year that John Righter has beaten Riley McInerney. We don’t need to judge if it was a successful day from Charleston, it is a friendly rivalry, but I think John was pleased with the end of the race. Joe Calio, Blake Flood and John Righter all ran excellent races finishing second, fifth and sixth respetivley.”
Mattoon was without Dane Fitt.
Sullivan-Okaw Valley finished ninth with 181 points and was led by Carmon Harvey, who was 11th overall in 17:14.15.
“All seven of our runners medaled (top 100 earned medallions),” said Sullivan coach Ted Walk. “I was real happy with that. The times were a little slow, but the course was mushy. Cameron Harvey ran a great race. Drew Bandelow was right behind him. We had a solid middle. I would put our middle against most people. We have four guys that can all run with each other (Matt Garrelts, Micah Plank, Alex Bone and Michael Giberson). Zach Righter wasn’t here today, but we have enough boys that they stepped in and filled in nicely. It is awfully nice to come back here. I student taught under coach (Jim) Miller (Cumberland coach). That is where I first got into coaching cross country. I love coaching it. I love being out here. This is my favorite thing in the world. We have got kids who want to run and that makes it a lot more fun.”
Walk, a Neoga graduate, was hoping the team would bring home its second trophy this season as they team earned a trophy at Tuscola, the first one in about 12 years. The Redskins finished ninth, 17 points from being eighth place.
The Pirates were 11th overall with Jory Matteson leading the way with a 35th place finish in a time of 18:08.25.
“A couple of weeks ago we were at St. Joseph-Ogden and finished 17th as a team,” said Cumberland coach Jim Miller the day after his birthday. “Today we were 11th. I know that our pack, especially our No. 3-5 runners had to pick it up. SJO gave out 100 trophies and we only got three there whereas we got five medals today. We are struggling a little bit this year team wise. They are good kids and they come to practice and work very, very hard. Our pack is getting better and I am very pleased with that, but we are still not where we want to be. One of our goals this year is to get to the sectional as a team and we are on the bubble, but we have a shot.”
Girls
The No. 8 runner and No. 9 runners in the state, both sophomores from Decatur St. Teresa in Grace McCormack and Ellen Devereux respectively finished first and second. McCormack won with a time of 19:13.5, 26.5 seconds off her best time and 20.5 seconds behind the invitational record set by Cumberland’s Chandel Ray (who went on to run at Western Illinois) in 2003.
“It was really wet and really sloppy, but a lot of fun,” said McCormack. “We (Devereux) and I ran pretty close the entire time.”
The top area team was Neoga, who earned eighth place with 181 points. Mattoon didn’t have enough runners to compete as a team, but Cassy Shaffer was the top area finisher, placing 20th with a time of 21:13.8.
“Your feet get really heavy running through the puddles,” said Shaffer.
MHS was without three runners in Brandi Hall (ankle), Corrine Mausehand (ill) and Michaela Harris (hip).
“Courtney Considine had been sick and was able to finish (91st in 21:49.1) and it was the fifth straight meet Selina Johnson has finished,” said Haslett. “She is not having any trouble (earlier had problems with fainting). I know Cassy was disappointed, but she has nothing to hang her head about. We have not had a week where all the boys and girls’ teams have been healthy.”
Neoga’s Ashley Deters was 22nd overall (18th among teams competing) with a time of 21:21.4.
“There were lots of puddle and mid,” said Deters who was caked in mud as most runners were. “I am happy with my performance. It was the first race we had like this (puddles and a little cooler). I tried not to start too fast because that is what I have been doing recently. We asked coach (Tim Mueller) if we should try and avoid the puddles and he said, ‘You just run through them because you can’t avoid them at all.’ Some parts you could go around, but others you just had to go through it. My goal was to try and stay with Courtney Cornell (teammate). We both trade off and on as No. 1 runners. I usually start out fast and she usually catches me after the first mile. The entire race we stayed with each other and I guess I just ran faster at the end.”
Cornell was 29th overall and 25th among teams with a time of 21:41.95.
SOV was led by Caitlyn Cornell, who was 45th with a time of 22:54.0, while Charleston was led by Kristen Gisondi, who placed 55th with a time of 23:49.30. The lady Trojans were 14th overall.
Miller was happy with the meet.
“No matter what if the teams all go away and they feel good about this because for two days I didn’t sleep because it was raining al the time, than I am pleased with the meet,” said Miller. “I didn’t want to run this in the rain nor try and conduct one in the rain. Fortunately, the weather turned out to be good. When you run on a course like that is what we call a mudders tack and it is tough to get your best times. I am very pleased with the way the meet was conducted and I thank everybody that helped make all of this possible. The tradition of our running program is doing well.”
After the meet and before the awards Calio and several teammates went back out and ran through puddles.
“We were joking around having a mudding contest-who gets the most mud on them,” said Calio. “I had never run on a course like this in my high school career.”
GIRLS
Team scores
1. St. Joseph-Ogden 44; 2. Decatur St. Teresa 46; 3. Monticello 110; 4. Urbana University High 158; 5. Rochester 165; 6. Teutopolis 172; 7. Tuscola 173; 8. Neoga 181; 9. Newton 187; 10. Effingham St. Anthony 195; 11. Lawrenceville-Red Hill 226; 12. Tolono Unity 242; 13. Sullivan-Okaw Valley 279; 14. Charleston 335; 15. Dieterich 337; no team scores Arthur, Altamont, Clinton, Cumberland, Mattoon, Paris, Oblong, Shiloh
Top 10 individuals
1. Grace McCormack, Decatur St. Teresa 19:13.5; 2. Ellen Devereux, Decatur St. Teresa 19:15.35; 3. Chelsea Blaase, St. Joseph-Ogden 19:20.55; 4. Liz Wortman, Effingham St. Anthony 19:46.6; 5. Kelsey Hardunib, Monticello 19:53.35; 6. Michelle Moyer, Monticello 19:58.95; 7. Lauren Cessna, St. Joseph-Ogden 20:21.8; 8. Sidney Long, St. Joseph-Ogden 20:35.75; 9. Ivy Handley, Decatur St. Teresa 20:43.75; 1. Justine Seidel, Altamont 20:47.65
Neoga results
18. Ashley Deters 21:21.4; 25. Courtney Cornell 21:41.95; 37. Emma Baker 22:26.25; 39. Allison Mueller 22:30.30; 62. Taylor Walk 24:26.1; 82. Rachel Meyer 24:29.8; 89. Olivia Mintun 24:44.45
Sullivan results
45. Caitlyn Cordell 22:54.0; 50. Hannah Robinson 23:26.5; 57. Hayley Harshman 23:56.55; 61. Rachel Marshall 24:19.25; 66. Katie Devore 24:56.9; 101. Heather Clements 25:22.6; 103. Jenna Collins 25:30.1
Charleston results
55. Kristen Gisondi 23:49.3; 68. Dominique Caputo 25:30.1; 69. Kirstie West 25:39.9; 71. Cierra Bough 25:53.5; 72. Missa Borah 26:22.1; 112. Megan Diss 26:40.2; 121. Miranda Randle 28:22.85
Arthur result
72. Allie Singer 23:50.8
Cumberland results
100. Angie Swingler, 25:15.35; 113. Katie Eubank 26:48.75
Mattoon results
20. Cassy Shaffer 21:13.8; 37. Selina Johnson 21:57.55; 91. Courtney Considine 24:49.1; 115. Telsey Kinnaman 26:54.45
BOYS
Team scores
1. St. Joseph-Ogden 74; 2. Monticello 110; 3. Rochester 112; 4. Urbana University High 141; 5. Charleston 147; 6. Mattoon 150; 7. Tolono Unity 164; 8. Lawrenceville-Red Hill 165; 9. Sullivan-Okaw Valley 181; 10. Rantoul 211; 11. Cumberland 271; 12. Teutopolis 305; 13. Decatur St. Teresa 317; 14. Effingham St. Anthony 321; 15. Neoga 324; 16. Clinton 364; 17. Dieterich 364; 18. Newton 374; Non-scoring teams Arthur, Altamont, Cowden-Herrick, Paris, Tuscola
Top 10 individuals
1. Steve Schroeder, Monticello 16:28.35; 2. Joe Calio, Mattoon 16:29.55; 3. Austin Shunk, Rochester 16:33.7; 4. Zeke Elkins, St. Joseph-Ogden 16:41.75; 5. Blake Flood, Mattoon 16:54.85; 6. John Righter, Mattoon 16:58.3; 7. Ryan Carroll, Rochester 17:01.3; 8. Alex Hargus, St. Joseph-Ogden 17:03.15; 9. Jeff Surbeck, Rochester 17:05.5; 10. Riley McInerny, Charleston 17:08.55
Other Charleston results
21. Colin Slabach 17:45.0; 22. Jason Lord 17:47.25; 30. Aaron Smith 17:58.9; 64. Zach Steidl 19:32.45; 92. Jay Daniels 20:02.65; 98. Nick Dale 20:22.6
Other Mattoon results
53, Chris Third 19:04.65; 84. Colton Dodson 20:42.85; 121. Jimmy Johnson 21:51.6
Sullivan-Okaw Valley results
11. Cameron Harvey 17:14.15; 23. Drew Bandelow 17:47.55; 47. Matt Garrelts 18:55.75; 48. Alex Bone 18:58.95; 52. Michael Giberson 19:03.5; 65. Micah Plank 19:06.65; 77. Bill Brown 19:30.1
Cumberland results
35. Jory Matteson 18:08.25; 44. Dylan Scott 18:40.3; 56. Tyler Corder 19:13.0; 58. Jannis Taschner 124.5; 78. Levi Schrock 20:20.0; 120. Jim Kruse 21:37.9
Neoga results
49. Travis Walk 18:59.55; 60. Joey Smyser 19:25.75; 65. Tim Pezan 19:32.85; 74. Jacob Cole 19:58.75; 76. Nick Wernsing 20:05.35; 100. Trevor Walk 20:23.6; 114. Travis McClellan 21:06.25
Arthur result
75. Mike Rosenbaum 19:27.7
OPEN RESULTS
Area finishers
Boys
17. Taylor Colclasure, Sullivan, 20:40.15; 32. Brock Bales, Sullivan, 22:11.9; 38. Garret Sparks, Sullivan 22:49.3; Austin Carey, Charleston 22:51.55; Michael Trummer, Neoga 23:01.2; Corey Elder, Sullivan 23:23.651. John Mauck, Sullivan 24:15.8; 55. Austin Raboin, Sullivan, 25:05.45; 58. Austin Sherman, Mattoon 25:40.5; 59. Wyatt Grohler, Sullivan 26:27.45
Girls
7. Natalie Walk, Neoga 24:43.45; 13. Meredith Murphy, Sullivan 25:42.9; 15. Aeriana Donaldson, Sullivan 26:01.75; 21. Emma Adkisson, Sullivan 27:10.95; Abbey Buxton, Sullivan 27:23.25; 23. Kaylee Tingey, Sullivan 27:29.45; 27. Rebecca Mueller, Neoga 28:41.4; 30. Hunter Worthey, Mattoon 29:59.6
Contact Mike Monahan at mmonahan@jg-tc.com or 238-6854.
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