Coronel, Joravsky look to claim city titles

While plenty of high school kids spent their summers hanging out at the park or going to the beach, Mather's Ivan Coronel was running right by them -- literally.

The junior, who took second in the cross country city championship last fall, has stepped up his commitment as he looks to take the city title and make some noise at sectionals and state.

"He's on pace for about a 700 mile summer which is double what he did last year," Mather head coach Dale DeVinney said. "And he would go even more if I let him.

"He's going to push the low 15's if not get below. If he can run Peoria in November he'll have a good shot at going under 15:00."

All the hard summer work has Coronel excited and ready to go.

"I've been training hard," Coronel said. "I'm trying to run like 50 miles per week. My legs feel good. I have no injuries and I feel great."

DeVinney has high hopes for Coronel, not only individually, but as a team leader.

"He doesn't have a teammate to follow this year and he's had to change his (racing) attitude," DeVinney said. "He needs to lead every workout and change his mentality where he goes out with the top pack in every race."

Coronel won't be able to win the city team title by himself. The Rangers will need other runners to step up including seniors Gustavo Martinez and Jorge Casiano and junior Eddie Torres.

While winning city is a goal, it's not the ultimate goal.

"This year we're hoping to win city again but that's not our main focus," Coronel said. "We want to qualify for state and that's what we're really focusing on."

Lane Tech looks to pose the biggest threat to Mather for the city team title.

"Things look really good for the boys," Indians head coach Kris Roof said. "They've been doing a good job running on their own. We're pretty deep and solid. We have some good senior leadership and the upperclassmen are going to be strong."

Leading the pack will be Kulayifi Haji, Fernando Arroyo, Gerardo Gonzalez, Chris Gallardo, Kent Frayn and Eduardo Sanchez.

"I imagine through the season the top seven will keep switching around," Roof said. "I think we have a different guy who can be the team leader every day."

The Indians will definitely be hungry after coming up short in last year's city meet.

"Last year we were favored and Kevin Beltran broke his foot in the race," Roof said. "It was unfortunate and the motivation is already there. That's why they've done such a good job in the summer. They know they shouldn't have lost."

Other top runners to look out for are Northside College Prep's Jonathan Kittaka and Lake Virew's Alex Agafonov and Sirak Areki.

With the graduation of four-time city champion Stephanie Hughes (Lane Tech), the North Side could have been set up for a down year.

But that's not the case. Whitney Young's Rachel Joravsky (Logan Square) had a fabulous freshman season taking second place at city last year, 11 seconds behind Hughes.

"I'm running and doing a lot of mileage," Joravsky said. "For me it's really been racking up miles. I want to win city for one thing and I really want to improve at state and be All-State."

There will be one major difference for Joravsky this season. She will no longer have someone to chase down.

"It's definitely going to be different," Joravsky said. "I came in freshman year under the radar and now, in the city, I'm going to be a girl that everyone is chasing.

"I look at it as a challenge. People are going to expect me to win and I just need to keep on going fast."

Joravsky's fastest time last season was a 17:59 and she ran an 18:00 at the state finals to take 55th.

Hot on her heels will be teammate Devyn Thompson, Northside's Rachel Kittaka and Lane Tech's Stephanie Pineda.

"We're going from one Stephanie to another one," Roof said. "(Pineda) isn't as accomplished (as Hughes) but she's our new leader."

Lane Tech has dominated city distance running as they have won the last five cross country city championships.

"The girls coming in are just expecting to have another good season," Roof said. "They've won five in a row but they all know what position we're in now. They know they're chasing Whitney Young and Northside."

Joining the sophomore Pineda in the front pack will be her senior sister, Teresita Pineda, senior Danika Marcano and junior Jennie Wojtas.

"Coaching them is going to be fun," Roof added. "We have a couple seniors but there are a lot of good young runners. We can only improve with the team we have."

At Mather, DeVinney is expecting big things from Monica Rodriguez.

"She'll be on the same level as Ivan," DeVinney said. "She's never run a lot during the summer and she's going to break 500 miles. She's not going to let Rachel Joravsky run away from her."

Other key contributors for the Rangers this season will be junior Teresa Robeldo, junior Makini Harrison and senior Diana Arellano.

"We have a real solid one through four," DeVinney said. "If we can get a fifth we'll contend for the varsity city title."

While anything can happen, at this point it looks like both Lane Tech and Mather will be chasing Whitney Young and Northside Prep.

The Mustangs will be led by Kittaka, senior Lena Guerriero and juniors Carmen Abelson, Anna Parks and Ani Zotti. Northside was the only North Side team to advance to sectionals as a team.