October 14, 2001
BY TINA AKOURIS STAFF WRITER
Glenbard South senior Micah VanDenend has missed most of this boys cross-country season, and sat out all of last year except for two invitationals with a stress fracture in his right leg. But he made the most of his opportunities, winning both times he raced this year.
Saturday VanDenend started his run at the boys state title by winning the Suburban Prairie Conference title at Fenton High School in Bensenville in 15:13. It also helped the Raiders win the conference title for only the second time in school history. Glenbard South's first title was in 1999.
Fenton's Carlos Mendoza was second in 15:18 and Geneva's Dan Huling was third in 15:19. Fenton was second in the team standings with 43 points and Geneva was third with 56.
"We always used to get beaten by Naperville Central by one point,'' said Glenbard South coach Andy Preuss, whose team used to be in the DuPage Valley Conference until it moved into the Suburban Prairie.
"I knew the meet would be decided in the back two spots with sophomores Kyle Nugent (11th) and John Mulrow (9th). They did a super job.''
But the rainy, cold day belonged to VanDenend. In September, VanDenend ran in his first race in a year at the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational, a highly competitive meet that many liken to an early version of the state meet.
"We were out a lot slower [today] than I was in Peoria,'' VanDenend said. "I was feeling pretty good today and I knew where I needed to be. I knew I wouldn't be very happy by not winning.''
VanDenend went out slowly with the rest of the pack before he broke away and led for the first two miles with Mendoza and Huling right behind him. But just past the two-mile mark, Mendoza made his move and took over the lead for the next three-quarters of a mile.
"I was fine with him leading for a while because I figured I can stick with him,'' said VanDenend, who regained the lead for good with 250 meters to go.
Raiders teammate Kevin Kulhman, a senior who finished sixth in 15:52, was about four seconds behind VanDenend and Mendoza at the two-mile mark.
"Those guys kept switching off the lead and each one would go ahead of the other,'' Kulhman said.
"I was a little worried, but after I finished I asked [VanDenend] how it all worked out and he said he came in first. He's the toughest kid I've ever run with, and it rubs off on the rest of us.''
Winning the conference title is just VanDenend's first step to a bigger title he hopes to win at the state meet in November, one he has wanted since he got hurt last year. But he knows even with his championship, there will be doubters.
"I hope to be a force to be reckoned with,'' VanDenend said. "But there's always someone out there who does not think you can do it.''