Boys cross country: Best in C-U! Uni wins Twin City Meet

Gargoyle photo by Dave Porreca (click to enlarge)Nathan Smith scales the toughest hill on the Illini Meadows course en route to his third-place finish at Tuesday's Twin City Championship Meet. The Uni boys won the title, their first since 1997.

By Gargoyle Sports Staff
Published: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 11:08pm

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Isaac Chambers placed seventh with a time of 17:47. Gargoyle photos by Dave Porreca (click to enlarge)

Sophomore Buck Walsh was only one second behind at 17:48 and placed ninth. (click to enlarge)

Like Chambers, sophomore Albert Anastasio finished in 17:47 but was edged out by his teammate, placing eighth. (click to enlarge)

URBANA — Nathan Smith continued his rise as one of the area's top cross country runners and the Uni boys served notice that this could be a very special year for them as the Illineks won the Twin City Championship Meet Tuesday afternoon at Illini Meadows.

Smith placed third overall and first among his teammates with a time of 16 minutes, 59 seconds on the rugged three-mile course.

Only Centennial's Ryan Root (first, 16:24) and Champaign Central's Patrick Mazzocco (second, 16:27) finished ahead of the Uni junior — and both of them are from Class 2A schools.

The closest runner from a 1A school was Judah Christian's Sam Cooper, who clocked in at 17:34, more than half a minute behind Smith.

But as impressive as Smith's performance was (a personal best), the story of the day was how one after another of his teammates came through with times under or near 18 minutes.

Indeed, three of those Illineks packed tightly into the top 10: senior Isaac Chambers (seventh, 17:47), sophomore Albert Anastasio (eighth, 17:47), and sophomore Buck Walsh (ninth, 17:48).

Rounding out the scoring was junior Langston Allston-Yeagle, whose time of 18:15 was good for 13th place.

Together, Uni's top five finishers earned 40 points for a comfortable win over runner-up Central (50). Centennial was third with 57 points, while the rest of the C-U field finished in triple digits.

The victory marked the first Twin City title by the Uni boys since 1997, which was also the last time the Illineks qualified for the state meet. The accomplishment gives Uni bragging rights as the best boys cross country program in C-U.

Two other Uni runners placed in the top 20: senior Andrew Lovdahl (14th, 18:18) and junior Jack Snyder (18th, 18:27).

Sophomore Ziran Shang narrowly missed making the top 20, but he broke the 19-minute barrier, placing 22nd in 18:55.

In all, 24 Uni boys competed in a field of 84. (For complete results, click here.)

The comparison with last year's Twin City Meet is eye-opening. In 2007, only one Illinek finished under 18 minutes: Malcolm Taylor, who ran 17:32 for third place. Taylor was unable to run Tuesday due to illness.

Smith was the only other Illinek to place in last year's top 10 (10th, 18:51). He cut almost two minutes off his time this year.

Chambers, meanwhile, reduced his time by 1:17, Walsh by 1:36, and Snyder by 1:40.

This year's split between Uni's No. 1 and No. 7 runners was 1:28, compared to last year's 2:47. The Illineks placed third in 2007 with 54 points, behind Central (45) and Centennial (46).

In 2006 the Illineks placed fifth with 87 points.

The boys will compete Saturday at the Peoria Woodruff Invitational, where Taylor is expected to return to action.

Junior Langston Allston-Yeagle (left) placed 13th (18:15), while teammate Jack Snyder (right) finished 18th (18:27). Gargoyle photos by Dave Porreca (click to enlarge)