By Michael Newman

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Elmhurst, Ill --- The idea of the inaugural DyeStat Illinois Distance Medley Relay was to qualify teams for June’s New Balance Nationals. The weather did not cooperate with that idea. It was the coldest day in the last week and it happened to fall on the day of this race. It was overcast with a temperature of 48 degrees. The wind picked up in the afternoon to close to 20 mph from the west. It was not the ideal conditions to run this race. It did not bother the twelve teams that lined up on the York High School track. The goal was quite simple for these twelve teams: to see who would be the king of the DMR in Illinois.

Some of the top distance programs in the Chicago area were there including 3A state cross country champion Hinsdale Central, 2A state cross country champion Yorkville along with perennial distance powers New Trier, Neuqua Valley, Lane Tech, and host York.

The first leg of the race had so many great middle distance athletes running the first 1200 meters. There are sometimes when that happens, the athletes look around to check and see who will take the lead first and push the pace. The answer in this instance was none. Jake Hoffert (Yorkville HS) led the pack through a 29 second first 200. It was a great start on the way to a fast pace that was needed.

That is when that pace ended. The pack of runners behind Hoffert got closer. They passed by the 400 in 63 seconds. They passed by the 600 in 1:36. No one wanted to push the pace. The thoughts of running a time in the 10:10 to 10:15 total time were going out the window.

The action started to pick up as the runners approached one lap to go in this first leg. Connor McCue (West HS, Aurora) was in the back of the pack. He forced his way out of that situation and pushed towards the lead as they passed one lap to go. The split at that point was 2:08. Too slow. It was time to start moving and McCue did just that.

It released a chain reaction of moves. It was David Schmieg (Lane Tech HS, Chicago) countered the move of McCue and took the lead with 300 meters to go in the opening leg. Alex Bashqawai (York HS, Elmhurst) and Chase Silverman (New Trier HS, Winnetka) followed suit and stayed on the shoulder of Schmieg as the pace continued to pick up. What was a pack was a single file line led by Schmieg.

With 150 meters to go, Schmieg started to falter just a little bit. That was the cue for Bashqawai to make his move. He swung by the Lane runner and took the lead as they approached the final 100 meters. Bashqawai’s move was not definitive as Schmieg and Silverman fought to hold on. It was good it enough though to give York the lead. Hoffert was close behind Schmieg and Silverman. Ty Moss moved by a couple of runners and established himself in fifth.

After 1200 Meters: York-3:07.3, Lane Tech-3:08.0, New Trier-3:08.7, Yorkville-3:09.8, Neuqua Valley-3:10.9

Alex Teague (York HS, Elmhurst) took the baton from Bashqawai and opened up a big lead for the Dukes. The fast early pace by the York runner had its affect as he approached the final 100 meters of the 400 Meter leg. Bryant Herlocker (New Trier HS, Winnetka) stormed ahead of Teague to take the lead. Chris Howard (Lane Tech HS, Chicago) ran a strong 400 leg to keep close to the leaders. Nick Rafacz (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) ran the 400 leg’s fastest split (50.2) and positioned his team close behind New Trier, York, and Lane Tech. The four schools had separated themselves from the rest of the pack. The winner would come from one of these four quartets.

After 1600 meters: New Trier-3:59.1, York-4:00.0, Lane Tech-4:00.9, Neuqua Valley-4:01.1, Yorkville 4:03.4

Connor Trapp (New Trier HS, Winnetka) took the baton and started to open the lead up for the Trevians. Matt Plowman was close behind and chasing after Trapp. There was a gap of 15-20 meters, then came Oswaldo Lorenzana (Lane Tech HS, Chicago) and Jeremy Stern (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville). There was another 20 meter gap and then seven schools fighting for position.

It was close to the same scenario as the end of the 1200 leg. Plowman took the lead over from Trapp as they passed 150 meters to go. Stern had solidified a third position for Neuqua Valley. Luis Acosta (Kaneland HS, Maple Park) and Brady McCue (West HS, Aurora) had put their teams in good position as they were in fourth / fifth just ahead of Lane Tech.

Plowman had the 800 leg’s fastest split of 1:55.4. It was still only a second and a half ahead of New Trier.

After 2400 meters: York-5:55.4, New Trier 5:56.8, Neuqua Valley-6:01.9, Kaneland 6:02.7, West Aurora 6:03.0, Lane Tech 6:03.1.

The goal for Kyle Mattes (York HS, Elmhurst) was to extend the lead on Peter Cotsirilos (New Trier HS, Winnetka) as much as possible. Mattes had good finishing leg speed, but not in the same class as Cotsirilos who has 50 point speed in the 400. It looked that way as Mattes passed through the first 400 in 62 seconds, the 800 meters in 2:10. He had opened up a three second lead on Cotsirilos, but would that be enough?

There was a solid pack 15 meters behind the two led by Luke Hoffert (Yorkville HS), Billy Magnesen (Hinsdale Central HS), Kyle Carter (Kaneland HS, Maple Park), and Pavlo Hutsalyuk (Lane Tech HS, Chicago). They were starting to make ground on the two waiting for the right moment to strike.

With 500 meters to go, Mattes started to falter. It was the right time for Cotsirilos to make his move. 200 meters later, the New Trier senior had the lead. Mattes fought the 100 meters to stay in stride but Cotsirilos made one more move. Hoffert was starting to gain ground on the two with Connor Horn (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville) close behind.

Cotsirilos ran the last 400 in 63.1 to give New Trier the win (10:19.1). Mattes came in strong holding his position of second (10:23.2). Hutsalyuk ran a great 4:21.9 1600 split to bring Lane Tech from sixth to third. Luke Hoffert ran the fastest final 1600 split of 4:20.1 to give Yorkville fourth three tenths behind Lane Tech.

“My goal in the last 800 meters was to maintain contact with him (Mattes),” Cotsirilos said after the race. “I wanted to make the move with 400 meters to go. I was just trying to hold on and give everything that I had at the end of the race.”

New Trier’s time is currently the sixteenth fastest time in the nation. York currently has the twenty-second fastest national time. The goal of running under 10:15 did not happen in the cold air of Elmhurst, but the racing that the 48 runners showed was spectacular.

Only three seconds separated Lane Tech (10:25.1) in third and Kaneland (10:28.8) in seventh.

The excitement was there watching these great and distinguished distance programs going at it in great competition. Would it be great if an event like the Distance Medley be included in the state meet program?

It’s just a thought.

So was this race more than a week ago. It shows that anything can happen.

Check out these great pictures from Yorkville's Ben Draper. Thank you Ben!