Longoria moves up for Hornets

Updated: August 30, 2011 8:02PM

When you’ve lost six of your top seven runners from last year’s cross country team, at least one person is left to assume the top rung of the team’s roster.

That burden has fallen on Hinsdale South junior Matthew Longoria, who becomes the only returning veteran from a team that qualified for a Class 3A sectional last season.

But Longoria fell short of a state qualifying berth, which is something he hopes to change going into this season.

“My personal goal is to run well in (the West Suburban Gold) conference,” said Longoria, a Darien resident. “From there, qualify for State.”

Longoria’s last cross country race in 2010 didn’t fare well with a disappointing performance in the Lockport Sectional.

He was the only junior in last year’s lineup when the Hornets placed fourth in the Lyons Township Regional. The other six have graduated, including top runner and state qualifier Donald DeSalvo and even Longoria’s older brother, Eric, who was Hinsdale South’s third-best runner at the regional.

Matthew was the team’s No. 4 runner at the regional, finishing 21st in 16:12.

One of last year’s team members, Joel Lawrence, did not return to this year’s team. The rest of the lineup with the exception of Longoria will be making their varsity debuts in a major meet at 10 a.m. Saturday in the 31st annual Hornet-Red Devil Invitational at Katherine Legge Park in Hinsdale. The girls race will be held at 10:30 a.m.

“I definitely think (Saturday) is an important race,” Longoria said. “I have not raced in a cross country race over a year. I’d like to see how my training has come along.”

Hinsdale South will host two of its biggest meets in the regular season at Legge Park starting with a triangular with Downers Grove South and Morton Sept. 26 and the conference meet on Oct. 15.

In the offseason, Longoria trained once a week at Legge Park during his schedule of five-day-a-week practices with the team. One of the days was usually reserved for the ideal running surface of crushed gravel at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien.

Longoria said he put in a lot of miles in the offseason and went on “tempo runs,” an increased pace run.

Hinsdale South coach David Jackson will retire after the season after 33 years. Longoria said he knows that is important to many of his teammates.

“For us, it’s kind of a big year. We want to make (coach) proud with a good final year,” Longoria said. “All of us will return next year.”

Hornets boys cross country

Coach: David Jackson

Last year’s finish: Fourth at regional

Top returnee: Matthew Longoria, Jr.

Top newcomers: Martin Schmitt, Sr.; John Gieres, Jr.; Arthur Kielbik, Sr.; Mickhale Lamba, Sr.; Ryan Cusick, So.; Elias Magallanes, Jr.; Freddy Magallanes, So.; Samad Shareef, So.

Biggest meets: Hornet-Red Devil Invite, Saturday; Reavis Invite, Sept. 10; Minooka Invite, Sept. 17

Outlook: Longoria is the only returnee from last year’s top seven. The Hornets went 4-2 and placed third in the West Suburban Gold last season. Jackson will retire after this season, his 33rd year with the Hornets. The last time Hinsdale South advanced to the state meet was 2008.

Coach’s comment: “The Hornets will be rebuilding for the future with the hope to come close to heavily favored Morton and Downers Grove South.”

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