Tony Jones- ESPN RISE/Dyestat Illinois
Chicago Public League Varsity Co-Ed Championships
Washington Park; Chicago, IL
3.0 miles; flat, rough footing
Opening Pot Shots
It started out as a nice day it was for a cross country meet right smack in the middle of Washington Park on the south side of Chicago. Yes, the same so-called sacred ground the 2016 Olympic Stadium would have been built on. But instead it hosted the CPS co-ed championships. More than 1500 athletes from 50+ schools participated in eight races that took over four hours to complete.
Whitney Young girls used a dominating start, middle, and finish to easily win their third consecutive championship 20-84 over Lane Tech. Lavinia Jurkiewicz of Young took top honors in 17:46.
Northside College Prep had visions of winning its first championship since the beginning of the summer. The Mustangs placed four runners in the top ten enroute to the victory over Lane Tech 50-59. Lane Tech ace Kulayifi Haji wins the individual title, beating Northside’s Cuit Pineda by less than an eye lash: 15:37.15-15:37.16.
Girls team: Whitney Young dominates
 | Whitney Young seniors (L-R) Rachel Joravsky,
Devyn Thompson, and Lavinia Jurkiewicz.
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The Dolphins senior trio of Rachel Joravsky, Lavinia Jurkiewicz (on left), and Devyn Thompson appear to have “things” and priorities in perspective. The “things” portion is running. But like most serious minded teenagers they have a lighter side. If laughter is what you desire, then they can definitely entertain you. The young ladies are a fun bunch in that they often lure you in with laughter and silliness before competitions. Joravsky, who is the team’s usual #3 runner, likes to snicker when hearing a good joke. But it has to be funny. The ace runner Jurkiewicz will often pose a Chester cat smile after hearing a jest or two. Thompson can be heard from afar with loud chatter as if life is so grand while carrying around an inflatable toy Dolphin.
The starting time of the varsity race was set to begin at approximately at 10:00am. The laughs and hokey chatter had long stopped. Not too long after the top of the hour did the starting gun signal the start. The 15th ranked Dolphins got out well and right to the front along with Morgan Park runner Nyala Eddings. Jurkiewicz quickly began to open up daylight just 1200m into the race. In contrast, Lane Tech, the team chasing the Dolphins, looked very flat and appeared to be very far behind with no runners in the top 15 of the lead pack. Meanwhile, Jurkiewicz was continuing her assault against the competition as she crossed the first mile checkpoint in a swift and controlled 5:45. Soon enough, it was Young’s strong pack following in just under 6:00 with Thompson, Joravsky, and Roriann Nalls. Fifth runner Maisie Vachuska passed by the checkers in a still very respectable 6:09. Seventh place runner Perla Morales (Jr.) was locked in a battle with Lane Tech and Mather’s top runners as most of them passed by in 6:25-6:35. As the course moved back from the far east of the park and out of obscurity and back to the gradual throngs of lingering runners and fans, it was clear that the Dolphins had this one in the bag. But as the race was continuing to move along, and with coach Bob Geiger shouting out instructions, the girls did not let him down.
The second half of any race is difficult, but add the stress of a championship with a lot on the line, it becomes a tremendous pressure cooker for all involved. At the two mile mark, Jurkiewicz is first to come by in 11:43. She was nearly 30 seconds in front of Eddings, who reaches in 12:10. Eddings, running alone, is the one to prevent Whitney Young from sweeping the first four spots. Joravsky, Thompson, and Nalls run past the timers in 12:21, 12:23, and 12:33 respectively. Vachuska is 13:06 followed by teammate Allison Pillar in 13:08.
An old wise coach once said: “every man for himself in the last mile… and remember every place counts in the end.” That seems like a lot to ask for when you’re dead tired. But there is no let up in the legacy chasing Whitney Young Dolphins. It is with 400m that most runners begin to sense the finish line. By the time the lead pack reaches that point, Jurkiewicz was on the finishing home straight. She gathered enough strength to kick swiftly past the tremendously loud crowd of fans roped off to her right. She wins going away in a city championship record of 17:46. This is faster than the 18:08 for 3.06 she ran in 2008. Soon after the Dolphins steamrolled home with Thompson, Joravsky, and Nalls running 18:50, 18:55, and 18:59 times. Those marks account for the third, fourth, and fifth places. Vachuska closed out the team scoring in 8th place overall with a solid 19:46. Pillar reaches 13th place in 20:01 and Morales is 33rd out of 128 finishers. The ending result is a total domination: 20 points.
Eddings did not fade as she ran a school record 18:30, and earned the runner-up spot. Her successful plan to break up the Young sweep was crafted by her coach Derrick Calhoun. “I just did what my coach told me to do. He said go out there and stay in the race. I knew I could do it," elaborated a tired but satisfied Eddings.
Lane Tech finished in the runner-up spot for the second year in a row with 84 points. Stephanie Pineda, the team's #1 runner all season, had to reach hard in the last mile in order to catch two teammates. Pineda, sick during the week with a cold, was able to overtake Brenda Nava (15th) and place 14th and earn the team’s #1 scoring spot (13th).
But in the end it was the Dolphins all the time, with jokes and fun play that provokes laughter and smiles. Winning will do that.
Girls individual: Jurkiewicz adds to her legendary status To really respect what Lavinia Jurkiewicz has done in her high school career the past four years, one must take a trip back down memory lane for a moment. Jurkiewicz was “just” 13th as a freshman in the city championship. On that 2006 team that featured Joravsky and Thompson, Jurkiewicz was the 4th finisher for her team. She concluded that first season at the Niles West Sectional meet in 106th place running 21:51.
It wasn’t until after going through growing and learning pains that the light went on. 2007 became a much different year. The team pre-season #1 runner Joravsky slipped a little with a variety of issues including a sinus infection that stalled her progress. Meanwhile, Thompson stepped up to the forefront as the team ace. She went on to win the city title but Jurkiewicz was there in second just six seconds back in a personal best 18:17. The confident Jurkiewicz continued to grow and jumped past Thompson at the Niles West Sectional into 4th place and a state final berth. But her success was overshadowed (for good reason) by the team’s first qualification to state. The ending result was a sweet 13th place effort and all-state status. Her 17:32 time was a school record. A star was born.
Although the 2008 harrier campaign was a little more challenging than predicted, it was ruled a success. The post-season was met with easy wins at city and regionals. But things got tougher at the sectional round. Jurkiewicz did score a 7th place finish. That was more than good enough to qualify for state as an individual if needed, but her team advanced to Peoria once again. Jurkiewicz had hoped for more in her second trip to historic Detweiller Park. She sat in 23rd place as the race entered the second half but slipped the last half-mile and fell out of the top 25 all-state status. The end result was a disappointing 27th place.
2009 entered with renewed focus and more challenging goals for the track season. Jurkiewicz produced one of the best track and field seasons in the history of a Chicago Public League athlete. She placed 4th in the 3200m (10:54.46) and 9th in the 1600m (5:05.86). She ran 5:04.73 in the prelim round. Only Lane Tech legend Michelle Giampapa and her 4:59 1600 stands in the way as the best ever distance runner from the CPS.
Lavinia, as she is simply known by tons of fans and general onlookers, had to know she was the big favorite to repeat as city champion. From the outsiders it would be by how much and whether she could break 18:00 on a very sluggish course. She clocked a very respectable 17:46- an all-time best in a city championship. Afterwards, a contained Jurkiewicz peered up at the finish line to see how her teammates were faring. She was obviously more concerned about the team than for her own great feats. “I’m so proud of my team. We need to keep getting better and ready for the sectionals, “she said happily. As for her own race: “I remember watching Lindsay Flanagan (former Lake Park great and ’08 XC 3A champ) run by herself. I thought to myself, ‘I can do that.’”
Boys team: All “hail” to the champions
It was a long time coming but worth it after several near misses against Lane Tech and Mather. In fact, it has been the Mather show the last three years that resulted in city titles in each one of them.
Just as the girls varsity race was coming to a conclusion it began to rain harder. But something even more unique happened just before the start of the boy’s varsity race. It began to hail. The entire starting line of runners immediately cheered as if to welcome more. The headiness obviously filled the ear and the MAIN EVENT was ready to take place.
The starter’s pistol signaled the beginning of the race and as predicted several overzealous runners from non-contending teams blazed to the front in a near full sprint as if they were running a 400m final on the track. Unfortunately, for them they had 2.75 miles to go after the pack of nearly 200 runners caught up… and passed them by.
After the race began to settle down and the usual suspects began to emerge just past the opening kilometer, it was very surprising to see Northside ace Cuit Pineda test the waters of a frontrunner. It is unusual because he likes to run from within a pack but on this occasion he decided to lead. It was almost like a reversal between he and Lane Tech star Kulayifi Haji. Haji is a frontrunner in most of his races, but was content on holding back a bit behind teammate Victor “Flaco” Terrazas. Terrazas was shielding him from the elements and setting things up for a late race push.
The first mile was a rather slugglish 5:12 by Pineda. The trailing pack stayed intact about five to seven seconds back. Northside Prep’s pack along with Lane Tech appeared to be playing chess. Mather on the other hand was aggressive. They are a team that everyone always count out- until it’s too late. Their top runner sophomore Abe Haji (younger brother of Lane’s Kulayifi Haji) was up in the mix along with fellow young guns Juan Mendez, Tarik Estrada, and Bana Negash. Oscar Medina of Lake View was in tow as was Jose Mora of Payton College Prep.
 The second mile featured the same characters but the race to determine the championship was just a little more defined. Pineda was still in the lead as he passed the two-mile mark just under 10:30 and K. Haji began his move to catch Pineda. A. Haji followed suite and separated himself from Northside’s Cooper Eben and Charlie Mesimore, Mora, Medina, and Terrazas. Lane Tech had Danny Zimney-Schmitt, Jimmy Orellana, Lucas Beltran, Nathan Wade-Scott, and James Wiatr on the case. Still, Northside was ahead on the strength of their top 4 runners up front and a surprising Fahad Sarvari as the 5th man. With just 400m to go for Pineda and K. Haji, they were locked in a tight battle for the individual championship. K. Haji was able to outlast Pineda for the victory at the finish line.
It was nearly 45 minutes before confirmation giving Northside the victory over Lane Tech. Mather was close too. But for the Mustangs, it was a well deserved championship for a program that only began running cross country in 1999. Coach Gordon took over the reigns in 2004. Everyone knew his top runners would be the difference and it was. Pineda finished second, Eben was 6th, Mesimore, back from a stress fracture, copped the 9th position, and the steady Wesley Latham checked in at 11th. To the victors go the spoils and coach Gordon received a nice bucket of ice water on his head from his team.
Lane Tech hasn’t won a title since 2005, but it was quite a long time since the team would even be remotely happy with a runner-up finish. The reason is because for the first time in a long time the team was deep and talented. Even during the championship years, the Indians were only four strong. They are now 8-10 runners deep on the varsity level. The future appears bright with the freshman and frosh-soph units winning titles earlier in the day. In addition to K. Haji’s victory, Terrazas had his best race of the season to place 7th overall in 15:59. Sophomore Zimney-Schmitt, was not even part of the scoring team in last year’s freshman race, placed 16th overall for his team in the varsity championship. Fellow sophomore Lucas Beltran grabbed all-city honors in 20th place.
Mather’s win streak was snapped at three, but the Rangers did not go down without a strong fight. Coach Dale Devinney’s bunch gave everything they had in placing third. A. Haji and Mendez placed 3rd and 8th respectively to lead their team.
Boys individual: A classic finish for Haji and Pineda
It was not a good day for fast times and certainly no one could have predicted such a great battle between Kulayifi Haji and Cuit Pineda. These two mutual admirers had locked horns for the past three years on the varsity level. But Haji had his troubles prior to this year with former Mather great Ivan Coronel. Coronel got the best of Haji in the last two city championships. This year it was time to take Pineda more serious. In the first race of the year, Haji edged Pineda at the St. Pat’s Invitational by just a second 15:28-15:29. Pineda returned the favor as he defeated Haji for the first time ever at Peoria Notre Dame Invite. Haji actually led Pineda by over twenty seconds entering the final mile before crashing and burning to 16:01.
One last hook-up in a city cross country championship means a lot to them. It gives their teammates and friends an opportunity to swell with pride when discussing who is the best distance runner in the city of Chicago. Either way it was going to be a hard fought battle with the outcome uncertain.
Pineda struck first by assuming the lead just before the opening half-mile and pushed himself in the harsh elements that featured wind, rain, and then sleet. Haji, is usually the attacker. In last year’s championship, he opened a huge lead to only lose in the end to Coronel. This time he played a different role and stayed with the pack. The first mile was not fast by any account in 5:12 by Pineda and Haji in 5:19. Pineda kept pushing in the lead and Haji remaining back with his teammate Terrazas and the pack. Lane Tech coaches appeared to be a little concerned as the race approached the second mile and Haji not in the lead. But he appeared totally relaxed while Pineda had a look of concern on his face. Pineda hit two miles in 10:28- just three seconds in front of Haji. Haji began his move to catch Pineda. With less than 800m to go, Pineda had company. Haji did not open up a surge on Pineda. It seemed like the race was going to go down to the very wire. And it did. Haji and Pineda emerged from the wooded area locked step for step. As they entered the home stretch with probably 150m to go, they were still were tied. Haji has superior miler speed as in 4:24 credentials. That did not appear to matter to Pineda as stayed glued to Haji. Pineda made one last gasp to edge Haji at the finish line when he dove. But somehow Haji remained upright and was ruled the winner in the tightest of finishes: 15:37.15-15:37.16. It was undoubtedly one of the best races many in attendance have ever witnessed.
Pineda and Haji both appeared stunned as if they didn’t know the outcome but they did. “I felt good in the beginning, my plan was to go out how I felt,” Pineda explained when asked why he took the lead so early in the race. Haji on the other hand was just happy for the win: “I’m glad to finally win the city [title].” |
