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Smolinski, Kotynski go after state berthsBjy Ron BrowJustin Smolinski, who finished second to H-Fs Chris Hudson, learned a valuable lesson at last Saturday’s Bremen Class AA Regional.“It tells me I’m still human,” Smolinski said. “There’s a lot of challenges out there.“It was a reality check. I went into the race thinking that first place was a gill and it should have been given to me. When Chris had a good race and I didn’t, it let me know you can’t take anything for granted.”Smolinski will face his toughest challenge of the season on Saturday at the Lincoln-Way Sectional as he tries to accomplish his season-long goal of reaching the state finals.“This is the race I’ve been waiting for for four years,” Smolinski said. “This is my chance to make the state finals. This willbe a big turning point for me.”Smolinski will find the competition, especially with defending state champion Lockport, Lincoln-Way, Sandburg, Marist and Naperville North in the field,tough.“He understands this week and how important it is,” Thomwood coach Gary Haupert said. “He’s not a sure thing. He’s on the edge and he’s going to have to run a great race.”Nobody knows that better than Smolinski.“I’m going to prepare myself Thursday and Friday,” Smolinski said. “I’m going to make sure I get a good night’s sleep the night before and, when 1 get to the course, I’m going to hope all the training I’ve put in has been enough.”While Smolinski is trying to advance in the boys race, Thornwood’s Cara Kotynski will be trying to do the same in the girls.My goal is to make it to state,” said Kotynski, who ran in Connecticut last year. “1 know there will be people there that are faster. I want to get out fast and try to catch as many people as possible.”Kotynski will rely on Coach Roy White’sadvice.“She’s got a real legitimate shot at getting out,” White says. “She has to run the way she’s been running all year.”Neither Haupert nor White has any illusions of grandeur for their respective teams.“It’s unbelievable,” White says of the competition. “It’s the toughest sectional in the state for the boys and the girls isn’t farbehind.“Last year we were last and the year before we didn’t qualify. I’d like to see us finish in the top 12 or top 16.”Also advancing from the Bremen Regional were TF South with Katie Bachman and Ellie Dust, Thornton with Theresa Bosan and Marian Catholic with Meaghan Hanifin and Jori Jacobeit. TF North’s lorena Martin qualified individually.Thornton, led by Julian Lagunas and Mario Burton, and TF South also advanced boys teams to the sectional. TF North’s Rafael Calzonzi and Derek Hopson and Thomridge’s Chris Ramirez advanced individually.Illiana Christian’s girls finished first and the boys second last Saturday at the Mount Assisi Class A Regional. Both will compete in the Lisle Sectional onSaturday.
Newspaper Details
South Holland Star
South Holland, Illinois, US
Thu, Oct 30, 1997
Page 39
Full Page
Clipped by
Lake C.
IN, USA 26 Nov 2020
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