Du Quoin runners shine at Sparta, win team trophy
DU QUOIN - The Du Quoin High School girls and boys cross country teams performed admirably on Tuesday of this week at the Sparta Invitational.
The girls placed first overall, totaling 48 points. Columbia was second with 68 points. Like golf, the lower scores are the better scores in cross country.
Top individual performer for the Indians was Olivia Phillips, who was second overall with a time of 20 minutes, 9 seconds. Lauren Heape was third with a time of 20:16. Jacqueline Crain placed fifth with a time of 21:49. Grace Alongi placed 19th in 23:10 and Alexis George was 21st in 23:23.
DHS head coach Eric Kirkpatrick said George was a key as she replaced the team's top runner, Gabby Alongi, who was ill and missed the meet.
"We needed a No. 5 runner and Alexis stepped up and ran well," Kirkpatrick said.
The DHS boys finished second as a team with 69 points to Columbia's 62.
Landen Swiney won medalist honors, placing first with a time of 16:26. Nathan Smith was eighth overall at 17:32. Jon Gomes was ninth in 17:35. Wendell Killian was 23rd in 19:03 and David Gomes was 28th in 19:16.
Du Quoin was presented with the Mark North Traveling Trophy for best combined (girls and boys) score.
Last Saturday, Gabby Alongi placed a solid 12th out of 471 runners competing at the prestigious First to the Finish meet in Peoria. Her time was 18:37. Also cracking the Top 50 and earning a medal were Phillips (38th in 20:02) and Heape (41st in 20:06). Grace Alongi finished 122nd in 21:41.
On the boys' side, Swiney was an impressive 14th out of 561 runners with a time of 15:53 to earn a medal. Jon Gomes was 88th in 17:23. David Gomes was 272nd in 19:25. Also competing for the Indians was Reese Tilley.
And last Thursday at the West Frankfort Invite, the boys team won the 14-team meet. Swiney placed first overall in 15:54. Jon Gomes was fifth in 17:02. Smith was 12th in 17:33. Killian was 23rd in 18:22 and David Gomes was 25th with a time of 18:27.
The only girl who competed was Crain, and she finished sixth overall with a time of 21:04.