At first, it wasn’t a passion for running that drew Caleb Washington to Shepard’s cross country team.
“I originally tried out for cross country to make the basketball team, get in better shape and conditioning,” Washington said. “Coach (Troy) Walker really made me appreciate the sport, made me love the sport. I stuck with it ever since.”
And succeeded.
Washington raced to first place Saturday at the Plainfield Central Wildcat Invitational in 15:45, 10 seconds ahead of his closest challenger. He finished second a year ago to Young’s Clayton Mendez, who didn’t run Saturday. Mendez was 12th at last year’s Class 3A state meet.
“I wish he was out there,” Washington said. “I want to see where I would stack up against him. It’s always fun to run with him, great competition.”
Washington, a senior, is the Southland’s top returning runner from the 2015 state meet. He finished 26th at Detweiller Park in 14:48, a time normally good enough to earn All-State status in the Top 25.
Washington would have been 20th in 2014 and 13th in 2013 with his 14:48, but last year’s field was one of the meet’s best ever.
“I remember coming up to the finish at Detweiller Park, you kind of go up that little incline,” Washington said. “Seeing guys rush by me, I’m like, ‘I gotta go. I’m right there.’ I just didn’t have it that day.
“I’ve really put in a lot of good miles, working really hard to try and make sure that sort of thing doesn’t happen again.”
Walker appreciates what his senior leader has accomplished — and what could still be within reach.
“That was the fastest 26th-place time in 20 years,” Walker said of last season’s state meet. “Certainly his goal this year is All-State, but it’s a little higher than that. We both think he’s capable of Top 10.”
Washington attended Nathan Hale Middle School in Crestwood, which didn’t have cross country or track.
“The thing that made me stick with cross country was the environment,” he said. “The team kind of brought me into their family. Just being out here, Saturday mornings. I love the fresh air, just being outdoors.”
Washington leads Shepard’s pack that includes Paul Milkus, Kevin Callahan, Joey Iaquinta and Brian Hauser. Matt Gibson and Giovanni Cisneros also could be factors.
“Trying to build something with the newer guys, our freshmen and underclassmen,” Washington said. “Making sure that when I’m gone, the tradition kind of lives on.”
Back-to-back firsts: Lockport senior Morgan Bollinger followed her victory in the Aug. 23 SouthWest Suburban Conference preseason meet with a first place Saturday at Plainfield Central.
“I felt good both races,” Bollinger said. “It was nice to have the good summer of training, be able to feel stronger than I have in the past in the beginning of the season.”
Bollinger and freshman teammate Madison Polinski finished 1-2 to lead Lockport to the girls team title.
“She had an outstanding junior high career,” Bollinger said. “We’re really excited to have her come up this year and run for us.”
Running with Bollinger, a two-time All-Stater, can be a challenge.
“It gives me somebody to try and keep up with, somebody to chase in all the workouts and meets,” Polinski said. “I’m used to stopping at two miles, the extra mile makes a difference. But I went to all the summer training. I’m pretty ready for the season.”
Coming up: Saturday’s Joliet Invitational at Channahon Community Park will feature Lincoln-Way West’s Evan Mitchell, a Class 2A All-Stater, and Jenna Diers, runner-up at the SouthWest Suburban preseason meet.
Tim Tierney is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.
