By Jeff Degraw
For the Enterprise
www.enterprisepublications.com
The Plainfield South boy’s cross country is perhaps, the most snake bitten program in the state.
In the past four years the Cougars have placed sixth at the sectional meet, missing a team trip to the state finals by one place.
This season was exceptionally hard as the were edged out by Hinsdale Central by a mere three points.
Christian Knowlton earned the third program medal in Plainfield South history. (Photo by Jeff Degraw)
Part of that frustration was taken out on the course at Detweiller Park this past Saturday at the cross country state finals as South qualified three individuals for the 3A race.
Senior Christian Knowlton placed 16th in 14:44 over the three-mile course to become only the third Cougar in school history to medal.
Dan Lathrop in 2013 and Jake Ferris in 2009 were the other two medalists.
As one of the largest groups of runners ever in the 3A race past the mile mark, Knowlton was in contention from the beginning.
Even with the fast, early pace Knowlton held on to gain the state medal.
“I knew it was going to be fast,” Knowlton said. “But three quarters of a mile before the finish I was gassed. It was all I could do to hold on. A few runners past me coming up that last straight, but I made All-State and that was a goal. If you didn’t go out fast and be a part of that large early group, there would have been no way to make up any ground.”
Knowlton finished off a stellar senior season in style as he also captured the Southwest Prairie Conference title, was the Sandburg Regional champion and was second at the Marist Sectional.
He placed 55th at Detweiller as a junior.
Teammate Timmy Wade, also a senior, finished in 31st place, missing a medal by just four seconds, but saved his best race for his finale.
Cougar James Sottosanto, the third senior participant, placed 150th in 15:46.
“It has been frustrating the past four years of not making it as a team and being so close this season,” Cougar coach Jason Crowe said. “But the effort these three seniors gave us today, all season and throughout their careers is tremendous. Christian is only the third medalist in school history and Timmy ran perhaps his best race of his cross country career. I’m certainly proud of all three.”
Plainfield East was represented in the race by senior Emmanuel Angomas who finished 172nd in 15:55.
In the girls 3A race, Plainfield North placed 25th in the team race, as the Tigers made their third consecutive team appearance.
Juliana Stogsdill led the Tigers finishing 104th in 18:13.
It also brought to end a stellar cross country career that saw Stogsdill run at the state finals all four years.
She was also a four-time All-Southwest Prairie Conference runner, won this season’s Sandburg regional in addition to being a four-time all-region selection and was a three-time all sectional performer.
Caitlin Russell was the only other senior among the state runners as she ran 19:26.
With five runners returning for the Tigers in juniors Sarah Conley (19:01), Emily Bedford (19:03), Riley Frankel (20:13) and add in freshmen Lauren Walczak (19:01) and Aminah Hussain (19:09) the future looks bright for North as this year’s regional title was the first in school history.
Senior Cassidy Martin of Plainfield South placed 131st in 18:25.