Buraks run to all-state honors at final meet
HUNTLEY – The final IHSA State Girls Class 3A cross country meet was a success for multiple reasons for Huntley’s talented senior trio of runners Breanna Burak, Brittney Burak and Molly Allen.
On a chilly Saturday afternoon, both Burak twin sisters earned All-State Class 3A honors with 12th and 21st places, respectively at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Molly Allen, meanwhile, finished 43rd to conclude her cross country career. The Red Raiders finished 13th in team standings with 373 points.
“Our top three girls closed out their high school careers giving everything they had to finish their final race,” Huntley coach Matt Kaplan said. “Breanna and Brittney Burak both finished in the top 25 earning all-state. Allen finished 43rd overall as she moved up from over 100th place to 43rd place over the final two miles.
Breanna Burak finished with a time of 17:54.23 while Brittney Burak clocked an 18:04.77. Allen’s time was 18:37.27 for the three-mile course.
“It was a super-muddy course,” Brittany Burak said. “I was very happy how I finished. Having my sister also all-state was a special moment for us.”
Breanna will run at D-1 Illinois State University next fall while Brittney will compete at fellow Missouri Valley Conference team Indiana State.
“We didn’t plan on it to happen that way,” Breanna said with a smile. “I was able to maintain the close to the same spot,” Brittney Burak said of her state race. “It’s awesome to both be all-state.” A solid early start keyed the Burak sisters’ and led to the medal winning finish.
“We talked as a team about getting into position from the start to give ourselves the best chance at performing our best,” Kaplan said. “Breanna Burak and Brittney Burak positioned themselves in that top 30 group of girls early through the first mile and kept charging forward. Allen made up a ton of ground over the final two miles as well.”
“Breanna and Brittney could hear their names being yelled so they knew they were in position to earn all-state honors in Class 3A,” Kaplan added.
Other girls runners and their times as HHS had a full squad competing: 192. freshman Aspen Maldonado, 20:32.98; 195. freshman Gabby Sweeney, 20:35.56 and 196 was junior Ava Allison with a time of 20:35.89.
Highlights of the season: Breanna Burak included third place at the FVC meet, first at regional and third at sectional. Brittney was seventh at FVC, second at regional and ninth at sectional. Allen was 14th at FVC, fifth at regional and placed 13th at sectional.
Boys race
Sophomore Tommy Nitz finished in 55th place with a time of 15:49.44; junior Zach Zuzzio was 192nd in 16:45.25 and Ty Rasmussen concluded his career at state with a time of 17:38.81.
Kaplan commented on the boys effort.
“Nitz got out at the start in decent position and was about 50th through the first mile but wasn’t able to gain much ground on this talented Class 3A field of runners,” Kaplan said. “He was the top Fox Valley Conference performer on the day regardless of class. Zuzzio got to experience his first state meet and we’re proud of his effort. Rasmussen unfortunately caught a cold earlier in the week and was pretty weak from that illness. He got out there in his final cross country race and ran just as hard as he possibly could on the day. We are proud of Rasmussen for showing that determination to finish his season.”
Nitz won the FVC championship, was third at regional and fourth at sectional. Rasmussen was 10th at FVC, fifth at regional and 22nd at sectional. Zuzzio placed 14th at FVC, eighrh at regional and 37th at sectional.
