Aces Cross Country Conference Sweep
ICJA Running Aces finished an incredible season this week with a Chicago Prep Conference sweep. In a field of seven teams, the team won the boys varsity, girls varsity, girls open and boys open races–a feat that has never been accomplished by any school in the 10-year history of the Conference meet.
The course at Schiller Woods in Des Plaines was flooded and slow, with sometimes as much as six-in. deep puddles. The runners even had to run around deer at some points. In spite of these conditions, eight team members powered through to set personal records: Noi Cohen, Sophie Fretzin, Tova Kahan, Adam Koenig, Samantha Levy, Gavi Levy, Simone Miller and Kelly Shapiro. Fifteen other runners ran the three-mile distance for the first time.
In the girls’ varsity race, ICJA girls took the top four spots. Congratulations Tzippy David, Meira Linzer, Tova Oliff, Abigail Koenig, Shira David, Rachel Schwartz and Pelah Cohen.
The boys varsity race was close, with ICJA finishing in first place by only one point. Congratulations Micah Cohen, Yonah Steinberg, Josh Goltz, Ethan Comrov, Meir Cohen, Jacob Miller, and Yaacov Rosenberg.
ICJA took first place in the girls open race and boys open race as well. According to Coach Ezra Jaffe, “This has been the hardest working team we have ever coached. It was a fantastic 61 days – as a base for a lifetime of good health and achievements.”
Coach Dana Hunter says, “I am proud of all the cross country runners. It is a pleasure to coach such dedicated, driven and focused students. This is an amazing accomplishment for our team and school.”
Congratulations to the entire team and to Coaches Jaffe and Hunter and and special assistant Randy Trubnick.