Neuqua Valley's Derrick won't run at state

Neuqua Valley senior Chris Derrick will miss the state finals with mononucleosis.
(Rob Dicker/Pioneer Press)

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CHARLESTON, Ill. — Chris Derrick has mononucleosis.

The Neuqua Valley senior — who won the Class 3A state cross-country title this year, two national cross-country championships and has the fastest 5,000 meter time in the nation — cannot run in this weekend’s Class AA boys state track finals at O’Brien Stadium.

Derrick scratched from Friday’s 1,600-meter preliminary and should scratch from today’s finals in the 3,200 run, Neuqua Valley coaches said.

“I hope he doesn’t run, for his own health,” Neuqua Valley coach Mike Kennedy said. “We want him to rest and get better. But out of respect for him, I left [the 3,200 decision] open.”

Kennedy said Derrick was sick for about a week and was very fatigued after last week’s sectional. Kennedy said Derrick practiced Monday, but went to the doctor Tuesday. Test results came back positive for mono about two days ago.

Scratching from Friday’s preliminaries and quite possibly today’s finals may also mean that Derrick will forgo the Nike Team Nationals next month in North Carolina. Derrick was hoping to break the national record in the two-mile there.