Boys' cross country takes fourth at state

November 9, 2009

The boys' cross country team at state. Senior Albert Ciolek not pictured. (Photo courtesy of Greg Netols)
The boys’ cross country team at state. Senior Albert Ciolek not pictured. (Photo courtesy of Greg Netols)

By Mike Hammersley
Copy Editor
The boys’ cross country team, after placing fourth at the state meet this weekend, can honestly say they gave it their all.
Seniors Chris Spudic, who finished fifth individually, and Albert Ciolek, who finished 48th, both threw up after the meet due to exhaustion or dehydration.
Ciolek’s condition was more serious, because during his last stretch he “didn’t really know what happened.”  He couldn’t see or focus for around 20 minutes after finishing and was dehydrated.  He couldn’t get any fluids in his body because they would come back up immediately, so Ciolek was hooked up to an IV shortly after the race.
“Usually you collapse because of not drinking enough before the race,” Ciolek said.  “But I did drink enough, so I don’t know why that happened.”
The team will have to race again this Sunday, when the team competes in the Nike Cross Midwest Regional, where they will run for a spot in the national meet.
Ciolek especially will be ready to run next weekend, since the state meet left a bad taste in his mouth.
“I think I could have run better,” Ciolek said.  “But I really couldn’t have done any more since I basically died at the end.”