PEORIA - The University High School boys cross country team, a six-time state trophy winner in Class A, became the first such school to also land a trophy in Class 2A at Detweiller Park Saturday.
The Pioneers placed second with 119 points, 42 more than Belvidere North, which was led by individual champion Paul Zeman, who sped 3 miles in 15 minutes, 9 seconds.
U High was led by all-staters James Clay and Ryan Rutherford, who were 14th and 17th, respectively.
In the final Dyestat.com state poll, U High was ranked first and Belvidere North second, but Pioneer coach Lester Hampton didn't buy it.
"They are the No. 1 team," he said. "They have got talent you wouldn't believe. They started to fade a little bit in the middle of the season. We started to come on at that time."
The last time U High won a trophy was 2003.
"We handled this (74-degree) weather about as well as you can possibly do it," Hampton said. "I just couldn't be more proud."
Clay, fifth a year ago in 15:12, climbed as high as fifth Saturday before finishing in 15:30 while Rutherford ran 15:32.
"James totally bought into the team concept this year," Hampton said. "I told him you've still got another year to worry about the individual race. He's one of the reasons why we were able to pull this off today."
Clay covered the first mile in 4:55 with Rutherford by his side.
"We wanted to win, but Belvidere ran a really strong race," said Clay, who ran a 5:15 second mile.
"After the second mile, it was just all guts," Rutherford said. "In the last straightaway, I got (past) a couple people but I felt it. We definitely wanted a trophy and we got one."
Also scoring for the Pioneers were Wesley Ward (37th, 15:52), Alex Parlette (41st, 15:55) and Wil Ward (51st, 16:01). Wesley Ward placed fourth among freshmen.
In Class 1A, Delavan junior Will Cross earned his second state medal, improving three places from a year ago to finish 18th in 15:41, two seconds faster than in 2008.
"That's the best kick I've had all year," said Cross, who was 50th after a 5:00 opening mile.
Cornerstone's first state qualifier, Sean Larsen, ran a personal best of 16:04 in 30th.
"It's just awesome to run with this quality of runners," he said.
No. 16-ranked Tremont placed 11th (252) while No. 15 Eureka placed 14th (299).
"We were hoping Cole Dill would be all-state, but he had a bad side ache at the mile," said Tremont coach Mike Lynn, who watched the sophomore place 42nd in 16:18.
Chris Pflederer led the Turks in 32nd (16:06) as he missed a medal by nine seconds.
Eureka was led by Derek Scott in 55th (16:28).
"I couldn't be more proud of them, how they progressed throughout the season," said Hornet coach Brett Charlton.
PBL senior Tom Pacey, sixth a year ago, was 57th (16:31).
"The second half of the season hasn't worked out," he said. "Maybe mentally I'm burned out. I don't know."
In 3A, Normal West finished 24th (507) as Bryce Basting clocked a career best of 15:10 to finish 36th, nine seconds out of the medals. Basting passed teammate Drew Kerschieter (47th, 15:16) in the final 200.
"I knew if I stuck next to Drew he would drag me to a good time," Basting said.
West coach Steve Destri blamed himself for asking his Wildcats to start slowly because of the heat.
"As a result our kids just weren't in the race early," he said. "They just could never work their way back into it."