Connor Burns, the sixth-ranked athlete on the most recent MileSplit50 national poll, traveled to Illinois on Saturday to compete at the Richard Spring Invitational at Detweiller Park and...came away with some thoughts.
"Got out good. Little slow at the mile," he said. "I picked up at the back-stretch, whatever. Felt a little sapped in the last mile. I kind of toughed it out."
But Burns ultimately picked up the win in the end, crossing the line in 14:22.20 for three miles, which stands among the top 100 performances all-time at Illinois' state championship course.
After this weekend's Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, which features arguably the country's fastest 3-mile course in California, Burns' performance is No. 31 in the country for the distance.
While Burns said he didn't have the entire course figured out -- he noted he was gassed "a little bit" -- the effort will lead into the rest of his season, with planned outings at the Gans Creek Classic next week in Columbia, Missouri, and another at the Chile Pepper Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Burns' state championships in Missouri are set for November.
"State meet course back home is a lot hillier," he said. "I came here to run flat and fast. I looked forward to coming home and having fun on that course."
The Top 86-100 Results In Detweiller Park History86 14:21.50Charlie Kern IL Elmhurst (York) 2018 Peoria Invitational 1st F Oct 1, 2016 87 14:21.64 Garrett Sweatt IL Edwardsville (H.S.) 2012 Peoria Central Invitational 2nd F Oct 1, 2011 88 14:21.70 Jake Allen IL Naperville (North) 2020 IHSA Cross Country State Championship 3rd F Nov 9, 2019 89 14:22.00 Grant Nykaza IL Beecher 2013 Illinois State Cross Country Championships 1st F Nov 3, 2012 89 14:22.00 Tim Broe IL East Peoria 1995 Illinois State Cross Country Championships 1st F Nov 6, 1993 89 14:22.00 Mark Schierer IL Metamora 1988 Illinois State Cross Country Championships 1st F Nov 7, 1987 89 14:22.00 Jesse Reiser IL McHenry 2015 IHSA Cross Country State Championship 2nd F Nov 9, 2013 89 14:22.00 Donald Sage IL Elmhurst (York) 2000 Illinois State Cross Country Championships 2nd F Nov 8, 1997 89 14:22.00 Clayton Mendez IL Chicago (Whitney Young) 2018 IHSA Cross Country State Championship 2nd F Nov 4, 2017 89 14:22.00 Charlie Kern IL Elmhurst (York) 2018 IHSA Cross Country State Championship 2nd F Nov 7, 2015 89 14:22.00 Chris Derrick IL Naperville (Neuqua Valley) 2008 Illinois State Cross Country Championships 3rd F Nov 4, 2006 89 14:22.00 Matt Pereira IL Lake Zurich 2017 IHSA Cross Country State Championship 3rd F Nov 8, 2014 98 14:22.20 Jim Knudsen IL Lockport (Twp.) 1982 Illinois State Cross Country Championships 1st F Nov 7, 1981 98 14:22.20 Kevin Salvano IL Buffalo Grove 2016 First to the Finish Invitational 1st F Sep 12, 2015 100 14:22.60 Tom Brady IL Park Ridge (Maine South) 2019 Peoria Invitational 2nd F Sep 29, 2018
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