Verzbicas 'Coasts' to Foot Locker Midwest Win

Watching Sandburg's Lukas Verzbicas finish the Foot Locker Midwest boys cross-country championship on Saturday at UW Parkside in Kenosha, WI, you got the idea he just wanted to get in ahead of Fatzum Zeinasellassie of Indianapolis and save a little for next weekend's Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon. Lukas won it, looking back a couple of times in the last 100 meters, with a 14:44.2. Zeinasellassie was second in 14:47.6. They were way out in front in this studded field as third place went to Tony Smorgiewicz of Rapid City, SD, in 15:00.9. The rest of Illinois' top five went like this: 5. Jack Driggs, Elmhurst (York), 15:06.9; 13. Michael Clevenger, Decatur, 15:21.3; 18. Ben Silver, Downers Grove (North), 15:24.8; 36. William Hague, Winnetka (New Trier), 15:43.5. The girls title was won by Allison Woodward of De Pere, WI, in 17:18.6. Ilinois had five runners in the top 18. They were: 6. Kayla Beattie, Woodstock, 17:33.6; 12. Kelly Whitley, Geneva, 17:55.4; 15. Jill Hardies, Hinsdale, 18:11.2; 17. Alyssa Schneider, Bartlett, 18:16.7; 18. Julie James, Gridley, IL, 18:18.1. There are some good videos at www.flotrack.org.