KICKAPOO STATE PARK — The 2009 Illineks are a step closer to returning to the IHSA Class 1A state finals thanks to their victory Saturday at the nine-team St. Joseph regional meet. It was the second consecutive regional championship and third in five years for a Doug Mynatt-coached boys team.

Junior Albert Anastasio led Uni with a second-place finish, missing out on top honors by less than half a second. Classmate Buck Walsh turned in a strong third-place performance, while four other Illineks made it into the top 20: senior Langston Allston-Yeagle (ninth), senior Andrew Weatherhead (11th), sophomore Iain Konigsberg (15th), and junior Ziran Shang (19th). For more detailed coverage of the meet, click here.

The Illineks' next challenge will come Saturday, when Uni takes on 19 other teams at the Decatur St. Teresa sectional. The meet will be held at the Hickory Point Golf Course, 727 Weaver Road (click here for directions). The top five teams will advance to the Nov. 7 state finals in Peoria, as will the top seven individuals not on a qualifying team. The boys race will begin at 10 a.m., following the girls race at 9.

In the meantime, check out these photos from the St. Joseph regional. Will Fernandez took all the photos, and Mohammad Jaber assisted with the captions.

2009 Class 1A St. Joseph Regional Boys Meet in Photos

Senior Langston Allston-Yeagle (277) ran the three-mile course in 17 minutes, 42 seconds and finished ninth. Gargoyle photos by Will Fernandez (click any photo to enlarge and to create your own slideshow)

Sophomore Iain Konigsberg placed 15th with a time of 18:01, making him one of six Illineks to crack the top 20.

With senior Nathan Smith out due to illness, it was up to junior Buck Walsh to provide a strong complement to the team's No. 1 runner, classmate Albert Anastasio. Walsh came through in impressive fashion, placing third (17:06).

Junior Ziran Shang (281) ran the course in 18:09 and came in 19th overall, sixth among the Illineks.

Senior Andrew Weatherhead (285) maintains a lead over Allston-Yeagle. It wouldn't
last, though, as Weatherhead would cross the finish line six seconds behind his ninth-
place teammate. Weatherhead finished 11th (17:48).

Shang and Konigsberg keep it close. Only eight seconds would separate them, with
Konigsberg recording a time of 18:01 and Shang 18:09.

Senior Jack Snyder was the final Illinek to complete the course. He ran a 45th-place
time of 19:48.

Junior Albert Anastasio set the pace for his teammates, including Walsh, who came
in third by a comfortable margin of 10 seconds over fourth-place Sam Cooper of
Judah Christian.

Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman's Matt Avenatti (483) and Anastasio staged an epic duel for the meet's top spot.

Avenatti's sprinter's kick in the final stretch was too much for Anastasio to overcome. Avenatti finished with a winning time of 16:48.89.

Anastasio narrowly missed winning by less than half of a second. He clocked in at 16:49.32.

Walsh (third from left) and Anastasio gathered with runners from other schools after the race.

Uni's 2009 cross country regional winners display their IHSA championship plaque. From left: Weatherhead, senior Horace Wang, Konigsberg, Snyder, Anastasio, Allston-Yeagle, head coach Doug Mynatt, senior Eric Fritzsche, Shang, and Walsh.