Trying to Break the Lane Tech/Jones Monopoly
Logan Means(sr) looks to lead Whitney Young
losses - Eric Shan (city runner up),Mike Schaible(13th at city), Nathan Beltran(21st at city), Sam Barder (22nd at city), Ben Kromash(61st at city)
returnees -Jayson Wong (freshman city runner up), Michael Perez (soph city champion), Jon Villasenor (soph city runner up), Aden O'Carrol (19th at soph city), Kevin Ma (22nd at soph city), Logan Means(15th at varsity city), Taro Salinas(19th at varsity city), Leo Jimenez (16th at JV city), Justin Wong (20th at JV city)
last year -
Freshman level - 3rd
Sophomore level- 3rd
Varsity level- 3rd
Junior varsity level- 3rd
Consistent is the one word you can best about Whitney Young last year, as the Dolphins took 3rd at every level- freshman, sophomore, and junior varsity, and varsity level. 3rd is a good finish and to do it at every level shows you the strength of their program at all levels. However, the problem with a 3rd place finish in the CPS is that it does not win you a team trophy as only the top 2 teams win team trophies.
Whitney Young was also consistent last year in finishing near the top individually. Whitney Young finished at least one runner in the top two individually at the freshman, sophomore, and varsity levels. So they do have the star power. The question for Whitney Young is can they put it all together in a season which is shaping up to be a battle between Lane Tech and Jones College Prep for cross country supremacy. Both of those programs have realistic goals of a top 2 finish at every level this season. Jones took first at the freshman and sophomore levels last year. Lane took first at the varsity and junior varsity level.
What are Whitney Young's chances to break the Lane/Jones monopoly?
It will start with expected #1 and #2 runners seniors Logan Means(sr) and Taro Salinas(sr). Both showed great progress in track. Means ran a season best 1:57.33 in the 800. Salinas ran a 10:04.21 in the 3200 meters at sectionals. Both seemed poised to have great senior seasons. Don't be surprised if both dip into the 15:40's or below for 3 miles.
2011 CPS sophomore city championship Michael Perez also ran well in track. He ran a season best 10:18.4 in the 3200 meter. That was the 5th best 3200 meter time run by a freshman or sophomore in the CPS last season. I can see Perez as low 16's or better type of runner for Whitney Young.
Some other returning runners to look out for include: Jayson Wong (freshman city runner up), ,Jon Villasenor (soph city runner up), Aden O'Carrol (19th at soph city), Kevin Ma (22nd at soph city), Leo Jimenez (16th at JV city), and Justin Wong (20th at JV city).
Outlook
Whitney Young has 3 very proven runners in Means, Salinas, and Perez. They also have a good number of runners to develop from their lower levels that took 3rd in both the freshman and sophomore level last year.
I see a team with 2 or maybe 3 runners in the 15's. The key for Whitney Young is to keep that time gap between their big 3 and their 4th and 5th runners. If they can do that, Whitney Young has the makings of another good team.
CPS Cross Country Page
Aden O'Carroll was 19th at the sophomore level
Posted by: Go CPS | July 07, 2012 at 11:33 AM