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).
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