Sophomore Daniel Plunkett was the only Pleasant Plains High School cross country runner to advance to the State finals in Peoria on Saturday, November 5th.
Plunkett was ranked 25th going into the race. Daniel set off at a brisk pace on a chilly morning as he raced through the mile marker in four minutes and fifty-six seconds. During the second mile, Daniel forged ahead and joined the lead pack, blending into a sea of jerseys. The pack of runners sped into the North Loop, which put them out of sight from most spectators.
A matter of minutes later, the lead pack surged around a tree and back onto the main course, as they chased the lead runner from Monticello. Plunkett was in 22nd place as he ran through the 2-mile marker in a personal best of ten minutes and eleven seconds. He made one final loop of Peoria’s Detweiller Park, in pursuit of his first state medal. Finishing uphill, Plunkett maintained 23rd place to the finish line. “I went through two miles in a personal record, and just tried to sprint the last mile. It was the worst mile of my life,” said Plunkett.
Daniel, who was overjoyed by his finish, didn’t even return to the campsite to retrieve his warm-up clothes. An hour later, Daniel Plunkett strode across the stage and received his medal. He was one of three sophomore medalists. “My goal was to get a medal this year, and I did that. Next year we have a team goal of making it to state, and doing really well,” Daniel said after getting his medal.
Coach Ruggless was proud of everybody’s performances this season. She is looking forward to next year when the high school team will receive two more great additions, David Plunkett (Daniel’s brother), and Tyler Johnson, the reigning IESA State Champion.
George Wayda
-The Cardinal
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