Darian Dolenc and Michael Enno
Take the Lead at the Rochester Triangular

Springfield, IL (October 3, 2002) — Ah finally the Rochester meet; a course the BSS/SAS CC Team looked forward to competing on all season. What's this?    They changed the course? You mean it's not just shy of 3-miles like last year but rather it is exactly 3-miles and there are some hills to climb as well? OK team, time to rethink this and rethink it they did as the BSS/SAS boys dominated the field with Michael Enno in the lead most of the race. Enno allowed just one Rochester runner to go ahead and take first but then the rest of the boys team filed right in behind Enno taking places two through nine.
 
On a new Rochester course designed by former Rochester Coach and avid distance runner Bill Owens, the BSS/SAS boys won the team competition without question putting up almost a perfect score. Enno took his usual first position posting 13:15 with Colin McCormick and Gus Bloink clipping his hills posted 13:16 and 13:18 respectively.

"Young sixth grader Gus Bloink has had an incredible first season in CC and Colin McCormick has come back so strong after being plagued with injuries the first half of the season. I can't wait to get all of these boys out on the track this spring," said Coach Jacki Ralph. "We have never had a boys' team hold so much potential." 
 
Chris Frank along with Enno and the rest of this Sectional Seven team are the team to lookout for come Saturday, October 12, 2002, when the meet that matters is up on the schedule; the Sectional meet in Monticello Illinois. Frank posted 13:36 at Rochester and has been trading places with Enno since the Petersburg meet early in the season.
 
"It was great to see Val Contri running again in Rochester," said Coach Ralph. "Val has been torn with football conflicts for the later part of our season otherwise he would surely have made the Sectional Seven team for this weekend." Contri posted an impressive 13:44.0 in Rochester with teammate Andy Ralph whispering in his ear when he posted 13:44.5.
 
Trey Dhabalt has struggled from meet to meet but managed to place in the top seven in Rochester posting 13:47. "When Trey has it all together he runs a great race," said Coach JR. " I just hope he has it all together this weekend when it really matters. As long as all the boys run their best race on Saturday there is no doubt they will be headed for Bloomington, Normal on the 19th."
 
Mike Witsman, another impressive sixth grader will round out the top seven places for Sectionals on Saturday. Witsman put up a 13:51 in Rochester. There are only seven boys and seven girls running in Monticello with three alternates on back up. Of the seven boys, two runners are 6th graders and three are seventh graders. That certainly says alot for the future of the BSS/SAS boys CC team. 

SHG will be thrilled to place Enno and McCormick on their boys team next year. "We hope to pick up Devin Mapes, Ben Ahrens, Danny Lord and Greg Larson as well, " said SHG Coach Ralph."We could really use some solid boys on the SHG team where there are currently only eleven with three of them exiting seniors."
 
Nick Garcia(14:32), Greg Larson(14:45), Ben Ahrens(14:46), Ryan Timoney(14:56), Peter MDermott(15:30), Tim Capestrain(15:39) and Zach Jones(16:26) also ran and posted excellent times in Rochester.
 
Darian Dolenc lead the BSS/SAS girls team and was able to sneak a place in between a very impressive and highly competitive Rochester group of girl runners. Rochester took ten of the top eleven places with Dolenc placing 8th in a time of 14:23. Anne Cumming, who is unable to compete at Sectionals this weekend due to her brothers nuptials, posted 15:00 for her final race of the season. Kaitlyn White came in 13th overall and third for the team in a time of 15:14.
 
Melissa Gay posted 15:22. Kiley Enno posted 15:26 and Emily Meyer, Katie Dresser, and Olivia Gay came in right together posting 15:45, 15:47 and 15:56 respectively. Meyer's 15:45 gave her a 6th place team finish and a first time for her running in the top seven for BSS/SAS with a  PR.
 
Julie McDermott had a very strong finish and posted 16:13 on the tough Rochester course. Abby Vespa(19:43), Lilly Criscione(22:55), and Bianca Hernadez-Renfrow(23:35) rounded out the girls team for BSS/SAS. Next up Sectionals.
 
"Cross Country is one of the toughest sports around, " commented Coach JR. "You really don't know how tough it is until you get out there and do it. All of our runners should be commended on their efforts and their tough mental fortitude needed to stick out an entire season, a season that starts two-thirds of the way into their summer. They have ALL done an awesome job and should be very happy with their times. We have a tremendous building point for this spring's track season. I can't wait to see them all on SHG's track ready to bring home even more state medals."