Dukes XC dominates at conference meet, ready for state series
October 16, 2018
On Sat., Oct. 15, the York Boys cross country team headed over to Proviso West for the annual West Suburban Silver conference meet. With Downers Grove North taking home the previous two conference championships, York had their hearts set on getting back on top for the first time since 2015.
The team not only accomplished this feat, but they did so in a dominating fashion. Both the varsity and junior varsity teams finished in first place. In both races, York had the first runner to cross the finish line with junior Ethan Kern taking home the varsity race and junior Will Yasdick winning at the JV level.
Daniel Klysh (left) and Ethan Kern (right) get each other hyped up just before the varsity race as the rest of athletes look on.
“The atmosphere was really encouraging, just seeing all the support for York and the green and white while running,” Kern said. “Despite being happy with our performance at the conference meet, we know there is still a lot of work to be done. Going into the state series, we know that we all have to race well if we want to compete for a trophy.”
Kern ended up running the three-mile race in just 15:29. Just behind him finishing in third place was teammate, junior Daniel Klysh who ran a 15:45. Out of the 42 athletes who ran at the varsity level, just five of them were able to break a 16-minute run, three of them coming from York as sophomore Colin Hill placed fifth with a time of 15:57.
A group of York runners provide motivation for their teammates from the sidelines.
“We came into the season ranked 19th in the state, and this upset us because we know we are better than that,” Klysh said. “Winning conference was great but it’s nowhere near our goal, it’s a stepping stone to the state meet. Coming back on Monday everyone was right back into work mode and dedicated to continuing the great legacy of York cross country.”
Being the most decorated high school program in state history, it has always been more than the top seven runners on the team that make York so great. It’s about every single runner, in every race crossing that finish line in green and white.
“We are all feeling great going into the regional meet this weekend,” Yasdick said. “We know that if we want to make noise at the state meet this year it will all depend upon the work we put in these next few weeks.”
Juniors Johnny Brennan (right) and Will Yasdick (left) cross the finish line at a race earlier in the season.
This Saturday, Oct. 20, the team will begin the state series by heading over to Lake Park to compete in their regional race. Depending on how they perform they can advance onto the sectional meet which will be held at Niles West high school in Skokie the following Saturday.
“The conference race showed us we belong and that our hard work is paying off,” Klysh said. “All we gotta do is continue to work, work, and work.”