Cross Country: O’Loughlin leads Marist to team title
By Tim O’Brien For Sun-Times Media September 22, 2012 10:56PM
Kristen Brink, of Illiana Christian, takes second just ahead of Lemont's Claire Gagen for the girls Olympic run at the Tinley Park Invitational cross country meet, Sunday, September 22nd, 2012 in Midlothian, IL. | Gary Middendorf~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 24, 2012 6:29AM
Marist’s Maggie O’Loughlin isn’t quite sure how many times she has run at Midlothian Meadows over her four years on the cross country team.
So when the Tinley Park Invitational tweaks the normal course, O’Loughlin gets the change of scenery she loves.
“We have a ton of races at this course so we have to get used to it,” O’Loughlin said. “I like it this way because it’s a little different from ours. It gives you a little something to look forward to.”
Finishing first in the 3-mile Champion (large school) race at Saturday’s Tinley Invite at Midlothian Meadows, O’Loughlin (18:23) helped Marist (24 points) to the overall team title.
Joining her in the top five were teammates Julie Yaeger (2nd, 19:09) and Moira McDermott (4th, 19:15). Battling heavy winds, O’Loughlin cruised to the win, finishing 46 seconds ahead of Yaeger.
“Trying to push through the wind was just not fun,” O’Loughlin said. “We packed together the first half and I ran negative splits. I’m usually exhausted crossing the finish line so it’s nice to just be okay (post-race).”
Shepard’s Lauren Loomis (3rd, 19:13) and Lincoln-Way East’s Sami Ostman (5th, 19:17) rounded out the top five. Lincoln-Way East (51) and Joliet West (150) finished second and third.
Marist’s Kyle Hauser (15:48) similarly cruised to a win in windy conditions in the Champions race, beating Shepard’s Josh Maier (16:02).
“You draft off someone as long as you can, and then you go and make a move,” Hauser said. “I put in a nice surge (at the mile-mark) and was able to separate myself. From then on, I just kept trying to move ahead and build a bigger lead.”
Marist (114) finished third overall behind champion Thornwood (66) and second-place Shepard (89). Andrew’s Leo Teneyuque (3rd, 16:03), Joliet Central’s Salvador Lazaro (4th, 16:06) and Thornwood’s Reggie Brown (5th, 16:14) also finished top five.
In the Olympic (small school) girls race, Illiana Christian (34) beat out Lemont (45) for the title. The Vikings had three top-five finishers in Alexa Beezhold (1st, 19:12), Kristen Brink (2nd, 19:22), and Lauren Brink (4th, 19:27).
Claire Gagen (3rd, 19:23) and Victoria Salazar (5th, 19:49) led Lemont. Lincoln-Way North (89) finished third overall.
Aaron Oldanie (1st, 16:34) and Scott Matulik (2nd, 16:40) paced Lemont in the Olympic boys race. The Indians (38) beat out Bremen (61) and Evergreen Park (120).
Evergreen’s Matt Przeslicke (3rd, 16:42), Bremen’s Jake Widstrom (4th, 17:05) and Oak Forest’s Terry Zalud (5th, 17:09) all finished top five.
