In the piercing chill of relentless rain and gusts of heavy winds, junior Tucker Roth finished the Vernon Hills Central Suburban League 3-mile race on Oct. 14.
“There was mud flying everywhere in front of me and covering my legs,” said Roth. “Plus, the rain made it more chaotic and harder to see.”
Roth has run indoor and outdoor track since his freshman year, but this is his first year running cross country after playing golf the previous two years.
“I can play golf my whole life, but I can’t always run,” Roth said.
In terms of scoring, Roth has often been the team’s third or fourth runner this season.
“That’sa major contribution,” said head coach Bill Race. “To come in, not only make the varsity team, but then to be one of the top scorers is outstanding.”
Senior John Ihrke has been the team’s No. 1 runner all year and earned all-conference by being one of the Top 14 finishers at cross country CSL championships.
Ihrke finished first at the Macnider Invitational on Sept. 23 with a time of 15:46.
“I have been losing to the same guy for like two-and-a-half years,”said Ihrke. “And then at the invite that I finally won, I beat him.”
Ihrke was behind him for around 2.5 miles of the race and then was finally able to pass him after that, he said.
Ihrke ran a 14:59 in the 3-mile race at the Lancer Invitational on Sept. 9.
Roth could not believe Ihrke broke 15 minutes in a 3-mile race, he said.
“John told us that he got under 15 after the race, and I was just completely in awe,” Roth said.
At regionals, the team finished fifth and qualified for sectionals. At sectionals, the team finished 16th, and Ihrke qualified for state as GBN’s only boys qualifier, with a 3-mile time of 15:17.
Roth did not realize how demanding cross country running would be, he said.
“In track, you’re always running on one material,” said Roth. “With cross country, you can’t expect to run a PR every race because some courses are fast, slow, rainy, wet or hot.”