Banner day for Jacobs comes as Illinois loses a legend

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

SAN DIEGO -- For the first time ever, two boys from Illinois finished in the top three at Foot Locker. 

For the first time ever, a high school (in Illinois) can lay claim to two boys champions at the prestigious meet in San Diego after Dylan Jacobs of Sandburg High joined alum Lukas Verzbicas, the 2009-10 winner. 

For the first time in 20 years, three boys from Illinois finished in the top 10. 

And Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West IL became the fifth Illinois girl to finish second -- the highest so far from the state. 

Nobody yet knew that legendary York High coach Joe Newton had died at 88 years old Saturday morning at his home in Arizona. But everyone with connections in Illinois knew that the man who did so much for cross country culture in the state was gravely ill.

"The fact that all of us accomplished what we did today, and that it coincides with his passing, I think it shows that we were giving him that last burst of Illinois pride and showing how much respect and appreciation we have for him as a man, a coach and a legend in cross country," said ninth-place finisher Clayton Mendez of Chicago's Whitney Young High. "He is the epitome of our sport. He is a true legend and Illinois cross country wouldn't be where it is today without him."

By the time that the races had concluded at the athletes had been bussed back to Coronado for lunch, word about Newton's death had begun to leak out. The architect of the Long Green Line, coach of the inaugural Nike Team Nationals winning team in 2004, and the motivator behind of 28 state championship teams over a career spanning a half-century left a lasting mark on running -- especially in his beloved home state.

Jacobs and Danny Kilrea of Lyons Township IL, racing for the seventh time this year, fought for command of the 39th annual national championship boys race.

Jacobs ripped away from his future Notre Dame teammate as he charged across Jacaranda Place for the second time and headed for the final hill climb.

After a pedestrian first mile of 4:55, Jacobs -- 13th last week at Nike Cross Nationals -- won the Foot Locker title in 15:19.7. 

"It means the world," Jacobs said. "Me and my coaches, this is the one we've been looking for. I'm so thankful to my parents, coaches and teammates for pushing me since state."

Jacobs was suffering through a cold at his state meet and finished sixth. 

In three races against Kilrea since then -- at NXR Midwest, Foot Locker Midwest and NXN -- Jacobs finished behind him every time.

"Today was Dylan Jacobs' day, and all credit (goes) to him," Kilrea said. 

Over the last 250 meters, sophomore Graydon Morris of Aledo, Texas mounted a big kick to overtake Kilrea for second and finished three and a half seconds behind Jacobs. 

It was a performance that gave Morris, who took a giant leap of 32 spots from 2016 to 2017 -- the second-biggest one-year improvement in meet history -- the look of a next-big-thing at this meet for the two years to come.

Jacobs' win took on some added meaning because Verzbicas was present and served as an honorary captain. He was pulling for Jacobs and had conferred with him on strategy. 

"It's come full circle," Verzbicas said. "I've won and now passed the torch to Dylan. I was honored to work with him a bit and talk about the course. It's really awesome and I'm so happy for him."

Coach John O'Malley has coached a second athlete to the Foot Locker title.

"This kind of race course really appeals to (Jacobs)," O'Malley said. "The hard ground, the sunshine, the hills, it's what we run on every day. So we were kind of eyeing this one."

South regional champion John Tatter of RJ Reynolds NC placed fourth, right behind Kilrea. 

Jake Renfree of Knoxville Catholic TN and Carter Cheeseman of Fort Worth Christian TX made it 4-5-6 for the South team. 

The Midwest squeaked out a 31-32 victory over the South.

Only half of the field broke 16 minutes in the race, partly because of the slow early pace. 

Kashon Harrison of Kirtland Central NM, the West champion, took an early lead and held first place ascending the steep hill. Dalton Hengst of the McDonogh School MD bolted past Harrison on the first downhill and tied to make his bid. 

But it was Jacobs and Kilrea that pushed the pace after that and the two of them threw surges at one another over the second and third miles. 

In seven meetings head to head this year, Kilrea beat Jacobs five times. 

But Jacobs, who hadn't won a race since his sectional meet in late October, got the final say.

They both had words to say about Newton as well. 

"He transformed Illinois into a dominant state," Kilrea said.

"He's been the face of Illinois cross country for however many years. It's remarkable what he did at York," Jacobs said. "We run for everyone in Illinois and we love to represent Illinois."