Boys Cross Country
Eyes on the future
Sandburg junior Jacobs looks ahead after finishing third in 3A
A week ago, it could have gone to someone else.
Next year, it might belong to Sandburg's Dylan Jacobs.
“All the hype throughout the year, it all comes down to this race,” Jacobs said. “Everyone's here. It's a race where you've got to push early and show what you're made of. Only one person gets to take home the win. Unfortunately, it wasn't me today.”
Jacobs, a junior, outraced everyone at Detweiller Park except Knudsen, a senior, and Lyons junior Danny Kilrea, whom Jacobs beat at the Marist Sectional.
“Kilrea was pulling away, but Soren, he had a lot left the last 1,200 (meters),” Jacobs said. “He won the race fair and square. He had a great race.”
Sandburg coach John O'Malley, whose 2015 Eagles won the 3A team title, thought the same of Jacobs.
“He was awesome. He was the aggressor,” O'Malley said. “He made them come after him. He really made the race in a lot of ways. He got the pace going. He went through the half mile faster than we took it through last year, and last year people thought we were nuts.
“He just kept fighting. A couple guys got him at the end, but (14:10). Third-fastest Sandburg cross country runner behind (Tom) Graves and (Lukas) Verzbicas is pretty unique.”
Maybe next year for Jacobs.
“I'm hoping,” he said. “I'm hoping I can win next year. I'm disappointed right now, but it happens.”
Knudsen (14:02), Kilrea (14:08) and Jacobs (14:10) topped the list of 25 All-Staters that included Sandburg senior Martin Skucas, who was 25th (14:50) by one second.
Sandburg placed 10th in the 25-team field. Skucas attributed part of his running success to Jacobs.
“I can't really see him that much throughout the race,” Skucas laughed. “I train with that guy every day. I'm running workouts with him. It's, ‘Do my best because he's doing his best.'
“When your guy is up there, it's ‘OK, I've got to carry my weight, too.' You're putting everything you have out there just like he's putting everything he has out there. It really is a big boost. It's good to have someone like that on the team.”
Lincoln-Way West senior Evan Mitchell, a Class 2A All-Stater last year, said he was “upset” at first when he learned West was being moved up to Class 3A.
It doesn't bother him now. Mitchell clocked 14:40 to finish 16th in the faster 3A race.
“It's so much more challenging,” Mitchell said. “I'm so overwhelmed right now. I'm so dead. I left it all out there. I couldn't do any more.
“I proved something to myself. The improvement over the years, being able to add mileage and strength training. Eating right. It goes a long way.”
Although Mitchell is headed for Bradley next fall, West will have returning state experience. Junior Ryan Taylor finished 87th and sophomore Jonathan Stiglic was 132nd, both competing as individuals.
Southland runners who also reached All-State status in 3A were Shepard senior Caleb Washington (18th, 14:41) and Lincoln-Way East senior Noah Healy (24th, 14:47), a transfer from Lincoln-Way North.
Southland individuals to watch next year include Illiana Christian junior Austin Ohm (42nd in 3A, 14:59) and Eisenhower junior Josh English (71st in 3A, 15:14).
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