NT’s Blood on track for a big finish

Warren Blood of the Trevians (No. 192) keeps pace with the leaders in the early part of the CSL Championships. Blood wound up with runner-up honors. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER

Warren Blood, who is known for turning it up a notch as the season winds down, was in contention for top honors.

The New Trier senior cross country runner ran a sub-15 on the three-mile layout at Glenbrook North High School on Oct. 15.

But his time of 14:57.03 wasn’t enough to take first place in the South Division of the Central Suburban League Championships. Maine South senior Reese Jordan won the race in 14:49.60.

“I went out and hung with Reese as long as I could,” said Blood.

He just couldn’t close the deal. Jordan pulled away at the 2.5-mile mark.

Blood, however, definitely is on schedule to do some damage in future meets. He’s primed and ready for the state series.

“I generally run my best at the end of the season,” said Blood, who took third in the CSL South Division a year ago before placing 48^th at the state meet (15:05) in Peoria.

“He understands the process,” said NT head coach David Wismer.

“Reese is very good. This race had three of the best runners in state,” added Wismer, including Niles North’s Conor Perreault (3^rd, 15:04.20) in that mix.

Blood is no stranger to the sub-15. At the Palatine Invite on Sept. 24, he took 10^th in a tough field with a 14:55.9 clocking.

“But it is pretty special to break 15:00 at the conference meet,” he said.

Blood has learned to embrace the longer races.

“He’s always been better on the track,” said Wismer. “But I think he’s proven that he’s a pretty good cross country runner, as well.”

Blood had a strong ending to last spring’s track season. He qualified to state in the 3200 meters by running a 9:14.07 at the Loyola Sectional. A week later, he earned a state medal (7^th place, 9:19.90) in Charleston.

Running fits Blood’s “lifestyle”.

“I found out that I wasn’t very good at other sports, like wrestling and soccer,” he said “But I love going out for long runs. It refreshes your mind. It clears your head after a long day at school.”

With Blood leading the way, the Trevians took second in the team standings (50 points) behind Maine South (35). Four of Blood’s teammates earned all-CSL South status: senior Cooper Woolford (10^th, 15:32.52), senior Matt Burke (11^th, 15:33.22), junior Kiran Baakkonen (13^th, 15:38.31) and junior Pat Norrick (14^th, 15:39.27). Senior Matt Roge just missed all-division honors: 15^th, 15:43.99.

“You never want lose, but Maine South is a very good team,” said Wisner. “We’re getting better. And that’s important.

“We still have a long way to go, but I’m feeling a little better about this team,” the coach added. “We could be a top-10 team at state.”

New Trier Girls

Five New Trier competitors claimed all-CSL South honors in last Saturday’s meet at Glenbrook North.

Senior Caroline Fix led the way by taking third (17:43.47) behind two Maine South standouts: Maddie Dingle (17:30.04) and Olivia Niziolek (17:36.56).

Senior Grace Fagan (9^th, 18:31.52), junior Savannah Noethlich (11^th, 18:36.06), sophomore Caroline Trukenbroad (12^th, 18:43.31) and senior Cara Keleher (18:49.47) were NT’s other medal winners.

The Trevians, who also received solid work from sophomore Elizabeth Finnigan (16^th) and junior Rachel Weix (19^th), finished second (49 points) in the team standings behind Maine South (41 points). Glenbrook South was third (63 points).

Glenbrook South Boys

Led by senior Alec Sanchez and junior Matt Jortberg, GBS placed third in the CSL South race on Saturday at GBN with 76 points. Sanchez (7^th, 15:23.56) and Jortberg (12^th, 15:37.01) earned all-league honors. GBS’s other scorers were senior Jack Whetstone (17^th, 15:59), sophomore Joey Pauletto (18^th, 16:02) and junior Jordan Theriault (22, 16:15).

Glenbrook South Girls

The trio of junior Kayleigh Pitterman (4^th, 17:55.85), sophomore Lauren Hayes (6^th, 18:02.84) and freshman Kate Jortberg (7^th, 18:03.14) earned all-league honors and paced GBS to a solid third-place finish (63 points) in the CSL South race at GBN on Oct. 15. The other scorers were sophomore Claire Williams (22^nd, 19:19) and senior Quincy Theriault (24^th, 19:59).

Loyola Academy Boys

Paolo Tiongson turned in the top performance in the Chicago Catholic League Championships.

On Oct. 15, the Loyola senior covered the three-mile course in Romeoville in 15:02.90. He beat the runner-up, Marmion Academy’s Michael Ronzone, by more than two seconds.

The Ramblers, who finished third in the team standings (69 points) behind Marmion (45) and St. Ignatius (54), also received strong outings from senior Connor Hoag (7^th, 15:30.0) and sophomore Jack Lynch (17^th, 16:00.5).

The team other scorers were senior Matthew Kadus (21^st, 16:11) and senior Case Brennan (25^th, 16:27).

Loyola Academy Girls

Thanks to some fine running by its top five — junior Annie Foley (4^th, 18:47.20), sophomore Raegan Robertson (8^th, 19:01.20), junior Payton Hoag (9^th, 19:04.40), senior Margot Dooley (10^th, 19:07.90) and junior Emily Plodzeen (17^th, 19:23.80) — Loyola claimed runner-up honors (48 points) in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Championships in Romeoville on Oct. 15.

The winning squad was Fenwick with 44 points.