CSL North Quad #2 2022
DEERFIELD KEEPS CSL NORTH STREAK ALIVE WITH THRILLING WIN OVER HIGHLAND PARK, VERNON HILLS, AND MAINE WEST
Back in 2019, Deerfield had September 17 circled long in advance as the date where they could possibly end Highland Park’s impressive 45-meet dual win streak, thinking they had a strong enough team to get it done. It happened, and Deerfield was well on their way to a win streak of their own - up to 41 straight CSL North wins entering this season. But like the 2019 Deerfield team, the 2022 Highland Park team probably had September 20 circled as the day they could snap Deerfield’s streak right back.
Lightning turned September 20th into September 22nd, and Highland Park came to Deerfield with a good team looking to sting a Warrior team that graduated their entire top seven from last year. It was their best chance to win in a long time. While the rivalry is always heated, it is usually pretty lopsided one way or the other. This year, anticipation was extra high because Deerfield and Highland Park are probably as evenly matched as they’ve been for decades. Would Deerfield add to their streak, or would Highland Park get revenge?
A much improved Vernon Hills team and Maine West were lined up alongside the two rivals, and the fireworks were ready to begin. Deerfield had a race plan, but Highland Park dismantled it right away with a very hot early pace preventing the Deerfield runners from reaching their intended spots. It was worrisome. Highland Park was leading by an estimated 12 or 13 points at the mile mark, so Deerfield had a lot of make up work to do.
Nate Wehner from Highland Park, the eventual winner, was gone right away. Next came a big pack with Dylan Cohen, Dane Brown, Vernon Hills’ top two runners, and Highland Park’s two through four. And behind them was Jon Wool trying to climb into the fold. Way further back and far off their assignments were Ryan Jones and Drew Spiegel. They hoped to gauge off Highland Park’s four, but they were a long way back behind Highland Park’s five.
Brown and Cohen battled in the front pack and ultimately found a way to put a gap on the Highland Park runners, though not a comfortable gap. They crossed the line in huge PRs of 15:46 and 15:47.
Further back, Jones and Spiegel did the late work they needed to do to reel in Highland Park’s five, and freshman Jamie Chandler emerged from the Deerfield pack with them. They chased after Highland Park’s four, but only Jones was able to get him. Jones caught Wool, and the two runners finished together but only four seconds in front of Highland Park’s four. Chandler was the next runner in the chute as Deerfield’s five and their final scorer. Spiegel finished next, knocking Highland Park’s five back one spot. Fisher Houston had a spectacular race as Deerfield’s seven, and he got ahead of Highland Park’s five for some time too but could not quite hold on.
Deerfield fought hard and tough to make up ground on Highland Park after they jumped to a big early lead. And they needed all three miles to do it. Over the course of the race Deerfield slowly overcame the deficit, and the final score was incredibly close - 27 to 29 in favor of Deerfield. The Warriors kept their streak alive and extended it to 44 with wins over Vernon Hills and Maine West too. But this was the closest score of all 44 matchups in the streak. Highland Park nearly snapped it. Before, during, and even long after, the crowd could feel the extra intensity of a bitter rivalry enhanced by an incredibly close matchup that came down to the wire.
When the frosh/soph team stepped to the line, they knew they could cap off a very memorable day for Deerfield. Danny Kriegel paced the race out front with Scott Harvey on his tail, and then Harvey took over in the second mile. Harvey ran a lifetime best mile of 5:36 at the mile marker, and then continued to run another lifetime best of 5:30 in the second mile for a huge two-mile PR of 75 seconds and the individual win. Kriegel also ran a big PR by 53 seconds. Sam Rush, Rohin Krishnan, and Charlie Marks all finished in the top ten to seal the sweep for Deerfield.
The fast course, excellent running weather, and extra rest made this an incredible PR day. Overall, 32 Warriors set new PRs. Perhaps the most impressive of which was Zach Bolon who had the breakout race he had been waiting for with a 72-second PR of 17:27.
Deerfield now holds an undefeated record after the first quarter of CSL North action. Their quest for a fourth straight Conference title runs through next week’s Quad meet and the Conference Championships on October 15th where they will race Highland Park again. This first win helps, but It is far from over.
