Chicago Public League Sports Blog

No Poll Needed - Cuit Pineda, Boys Cross Country 2009 Player of the Year

Cuit Pineda (sr) of Northside Prep was the only class AAA CPS state qualifier.

The 2009 class AAA CPS player of the year award has been awarded to Cuit Pineda of Northside Prep. No poll needed this time. Cuit was the only class AAA state qualifier in boys cross country finishing in 58th place overall with a time of 15:23.

Pineda also led Northside Prep to their first ever city championship in cross country. He finished 2nd overall in the closest boys cross country individual championship finish - when he finished just behind individual winner Kulayfi Haji by a time of 15:37.15 to 15:37.16.

Pineda did beat Kulayfi Haji two out of the three times they faced this year. The third time came at the Niles West Sectionals where Cuit gutted out a state qualifying finish.

Here is what Cuit Pineda had to say about winning this award:

This cross country season was amazing for me. I had
so much fun with my team and coaches and felt like
I accomplished so much. Im kind of bummed that this
was my last year of high school cross country because 
its been such a large part of my life, but I guess 
I have track to look forward to now. Its cool to win
things like this award because I know this will only
help to push me and try to work even harder than I've
already done. 

Running in CPS has truly been a unique 
experience because even though all of the schools are
competing against each other, when it comes down to it
we all like to see each other perform well and 
break new boundaries. Seeing Mather run a 4 by 800 in
8:08 last year, Kulay going down state for the 1600m,
or me being able to go down state for Cross Country 
this season was amazing and I think the rest of CPS
loves to hear how well their athletes are doing even
though were all on different teams. 

Id like to thank all my coaches and teammates that
pushed me so hard this year and without them I dont 
think I would be accepting this award right now. 

Thanks for everything and keep up the work on the blog.

Cuit Pineda will be forever linked with Lane's Kulayfi Haji after their epic finish at the CPS championship. Haji tipped Pineda at the finish by an eye lash.

Cuit Pineda managed to become the only CPS class AAA state qualifier in the rugged Niles West Sectional that had York Hgh School (3rd in state) and Loyola Academy (2nd in state).

CPS State Cross Country Qualifiers 2008, 2009

Oscar Medina of Lake View

I added a list of CPS boys state qualifiers for 2008 and 2009 to the CPSfan.com CPSRunnerFan Page.

 

Videos Now - Video Interview with Tony Jones...Part 1

....Part 2 coming soon

Mental Toughness v.s Physical Ability

        There is a point during a race when a runner runs out of gas and is physically exhausted. At this point what drives the runner forward, his physical training/fitness or mental toughness? As a runner would you rather have alot of talent but limited mental toughness or the opposite. Please join the conversation. Comment below.

- written by Jonathon Kamel

More info on being a CPSfan volunteer blogger

- written by Jonathon Kamel

More info on being a CPSfan volunteer blogger

2009 CPS Boys Cross Country Pre-Season Rankings, All classes

The development of runners such as Ryan Flood (above) will be key to #4 ranked Whitney Young.

1. Northside Prep -

Northside Prep starts out the season ranked #1 in the CPS for the first time. But wheter they stay there is seriously dependent on their number 5 man. 1-4 are tops in the CPS. If number 5 stays close to #4, then Northside Prep, will be hard to beat. But if Northside Prep's 5th can't run below 17:00, then the door will be open for another team to take the top spot.

2. Lane Tech

In high school cross country it usually takes 4 years to fully develop a runner to their top performance level.This is a senior laden team with up to 5 are  seniors projected to make their top 5.  Of the top 5 seniors, none of them with the exception of number one runner Kulayfi Haji ran eye opening times their freshman year, this is the year to see if the Lane coaches are worth their pay. Other teams better beat Lane while they can, I hear the incoming freshman class at Lane Tech has the best incoming talent in at least 4 or 5 years.

3. Mather

With no seniors projected in Mather's top 7, I keep hearing that this is a team built for a championship the next two years. I just don't buy that. Mather's projected top 5 of Haji (so), Estrada (jr), Elyousouffi (jr) , Mendez (so), and Negash (so) are all capable of running below 16:20 by the end of the year. In most years at city 5 below 16:20 is usually a good formula to win city. Plus, I think we have not even seen the full potential yet of # 1 runner Abe Haji. As a freshman last year Haji ran a 16:07 for 3 miles. This year he could be a top 5 CPS runner.

4. Whitney Young

Whitney Young has talent, but can they put it all together? It does not help that Assistant Coach Billy Poole Harris recently left the coaching ranks at Whitney Young and that #1 runner Julian Deville - has had questions that he may not cross country. I'll know a whole lot more about Whitney Young after their first meet at the St. Patrick's Invite.

5. Kenwood

The #1 Class AA team has a young but very talented team. The Broncos snuck up on people when they finished 3rd at the frosh-soph level last year finishing only 1 point behind Mather and ahead of Northside and Lane. The word out there is that Kenwood is running seriously this summer, probably more serious than they have had in years past. Will the extra effort push Kenwood of Whitney Young for the 4th spot?

6. Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park has a new coach and graduated their #1 runner last year Jacob Cetera. But Lincoln Park should still produce a solid - if not outstanding year. Lincoln Park boys team opted out of the competitive Lake Park Invite this year and instead will run at Immaculate Conception Invite to start the season.

7. Lake View

With up to 5 seniors in their top 5, Lake View has the makings of their best team they have ever had in a long time. #1 runner Oscar Medina (jr), qualified for state last year as a sophomore. He returns his junior year with the talent level to run in the 15:40's or even lower. Not convinced? Well he ran a 10:10 two mile run last spring at the state meet.

8. Harlan

New cross country program this year. Will not be sure how Harlan will be ranked until after their first meet or two.

9. Jones

Jones could surprise this year. But needs more depth to break into the top 7 at city.

10. Payton

The story stays the same every year... who will support Jose Mora. Well, this is the last year to ask that question, because Mora, state qualifer last year, is a senior this year.

Others: Kennedy,Noble Street, Curie, Steinmetz, Simeon, North Lawndale

Northside Prep, Mather, Kenwood, and Lincoln Park added to Links Page

 
Expect Andrew Zotti (so) to make Lincoln Park's top 5 in cross country this year.

I added Northside Prep, Mather, Kenwood, and Lincoln Park''s school cross county and/or track team to the Links Page.

2009 CPS Pre-Season Top Returning Runners

Abe Haji (so) returns for Mather as one of the top CPS Runners.

1. Kulayfi Haji (sr) - Lane Tech
2. Charlie Mesimore (jr) - Northside Prep
3. Cuit Pineda (sr) - Northside Prep
4. Victor Terrazas (sr) - Lane Tech
5. Jose Mora (sr) - Payton
6. Wesley Laytham (jr) - Northside Prep
7. Oscar Medina (jr) - Lake View
8. Abe Haji (so) - Mather
9. Julian Deville (jr) - Whitney Young
10. Max Silva (jr) - Lane Tech
11. Cooper Eben (sr) - Northside Prep
12. Felix Peralta (jr) - Juarez
13. Bana Negash (so) - Mather
14. Chris Tidd (sr) - Lane Tech
15. Tarik Estrada (jr) - Mather
16. Abdel Elyousouffi (jr) - Mather
17. Juan Mendez (so) - Mather
18. Omar Tall (jr)- Kenwood
19. Matt Otero (sr) - Whitney Young
20. Nathan Scott Wade (sr) - Lane Tech
21. Ryan Flood (jr) - Whitney Young
22. Jimmy Orellana (jr) - Lane Tech
23. Matt Sebek (jr) - Whitney Young
24. Andres Mahmud (jr) - Steinmetz
25. Sam Redmond (jr) - Whitney Young

Others (no order)
Joseph Laseter (jr) - Kenwood
Eric Shan (so) - Whitney Young
Eric Zuehlke (jr) - Northside Prep
Dominique Crutcher (so) - Harlan
Vincent Perkins (sr) - Harlan
Jonathon Jackson (sr) - Lane Tech
James Wiatr (sr) - Lane Tech
Andrew Papageirgeiou (jr) - Mather
Edwin Lira (jr) - Lane Tech
Espoire Habimana (so) - Chicago Math and Science Academy

Introducing...2009 CPS Cross Country Schedules Page

I pulled together some CPS cross country schedules on the new CPS Cross Country Page.

Do you want your team on the schedules page? send me an email of their schedule: Publisher@LaneTechFan.com

Neilski's 2009 Top CPS Girls Cross Country Runners (non-freshman)

A sight you will often this year #2 ranked Aden Alemu (left, jr) of Mather battling it out with #1 ranked Lavinia Jurekiewicz (sr) of Whitney Young.

Below is my list of the top 30 CPS Girls in 2009, regardless of class. The list does not include incoming freshman, which in girls cross country is always a factor. Last year state qualifier Whitney Young had 3 freshman in it's top 7. The list does not include injuries, turnover from last year, transfers, or other unexpected happenings. The list can permanently be found on the CPS Runner Fan Page. Feel free to comment.

1. Lavinia Jurkiewicz (sr) - Whitney Young
2. Aden Alemu (jr) - Mather
3. Devyn Thompson (sr) - Whitney Young
4. Nyala Eddings (sr) - Morgan Park
5. Jamie Hershfang (jr) - Payton
6. Breonna Green (sr) - Morgan Park
7. Rachel Joravsky (sr) - Whitney Young
8. Maisie Vaschuska (jr) - Whitney Young
9. Stephanie Pineda (sr) - Lane Tech
10. Veronica Roznyak (so) - Whitney Young
11. Roriann Nalls (so) - Whitney Young
12. Elin Erickson (jr) - Von Steuben
13. Bessie Nolan (sr) - Northside
14. Cade Yankowski (sr) - Jones College Prep
15. Gabriela Spingola (so) - Whitney Young
16. Yoselin Flores (jr) - Kennedy
17. Maddy Sopena (jr) - Lane Tech
18. Kelsey Marron (so) - Payton
19. Hannah Blackwood (so) - Whitney Young
20. Savannah Graham (so) - Payton
21. Katherin Madreno (so) - Washington
22. Marily Angel (sr) - Mather
23. Miranda Shaver (so) - Jones College Prep
24. Corina Salinas (so) - Hubbard
25. Thea Bloom (so) - Lane Tech
26. Morgan Jackson (so) - Whitney Young
27. Adriana Ortiz (sr) - Lake View
28. Shantee Garrett (sr) - Morgan Park
29. Jihan Manzhoui (so) - Lane Tech
30. Venus Rivera (so) - UIC College Prep

Others (no order):

Helena Mietka (sr), Payton
Maria Batista (jr), Kelly
Rachel Smith, Kenwood
Su Yang, Northside Prep
Paola Salazar (sr), Lane Tech
Brooke Pfest (sr), Lincoln Park
Ciana Tabb (sr), Morgan Park

Coach Troy Steps Down as Cross Country Coach at Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park, 6th at the girls varsity level and 5th at the boys varsity level last year will continue it's fine CPS cross country tradition.

There's a shakeup at Lincoln Park High School. Longtime cross country coach Troy Holley has decided to step down as head coach of the cross country team. "I want to focus on family", said Coach Troy last spring an why he is stepping down. "I will still coach track in the spring", said Coach Troy.

Troy has coached some outstanding distance runners the last few years including 800 standout Derek Schnake from two years ago and distance standout Greg Jones. In 2003, Coach Troy Coached Greg Jones to the Lincoln Park High School school record in 3 miles with a time of 15:47.

Although it is not 100% confirmed yet, my sources tell me that Alex Forester will replace Troy. Forester is a current teacher at Lincoln Park High School.

I would not expect the level of distance to drop off too much with Forester. Lincoln Park located in the north side of Chicago in Lincoln Park of course, has a fine cross country tradition in the CPS. Every year, Lincoln Park is a top 7 caliber CPS team at both the boys and girls level.