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2010 YMSXC Alumni
November 25, 2014
Each year we recognize the graduating Yorkville High School seniors who ran cross country and also participated in Yorkville Middle School's cross country program. We consider these runners to be our All-Time Greats. They committed to run on one of the most competitive teams in the state, and whether they were the fastest runner on the team or the slowest they deserve to be recognized for their commitment.
Jake Hoffert, YMSXC Class of 2010
Jake joined cross country in middle school along with his twin brother Luke in seventh grade. The twins weren't too enthused about the sport, but their parents convinced them to try it out after they received a recruiting letter from Coach Miller. It worked out pretty well for them. Jake did not run Endurance Camp before his seventh grade season so he started out running a 14:57 for the first two-mile time trial. By the end of the season he was the team's #2 runner and ran a P.R. of 11:39 at Sectionals during the team's first year in the IESA. In eighth grade Jake became the team's first All-State runner with his sixth-place finish at State in a time of 10:50. Jake currently holds team records at the old Belvidere Central Invite course, Tiger Trails, and our old home course at Hoover.
In high school Jake went on to become one of the top runners in the state of Illinois, and became Yorkville's only individual state champion in cross country. The team earned three trophies in four years during Jake's time on the team including two state championships. Jake set a P.R. of 14:30 for three miles, which eclipsed the two mile time he ran at the start of seventh grade. During his junior year of track, Jake ran in the 3A state finals for the 1600 and finished fifth with a time of 4:11 in one of the most competitive fields in years. Jake has committed to run cross country and track at Bradley University in Peoria where he plans to study engineering.
Luke Hoffert, YMSXC Class of 2010
Luke almost always ran step-for-step with his brother, and he was the middle school's number three runner during his seventh grade season in which he ran a P.R. of 12:13 at Sectionals. In eighth grade Luke set the team's course record at our original course at Harris Park. Luke was sick the day of the state meet in eighth grade and lost a shoe during the race, as well. Luke still managed to run an 11:30, but that wasn't enough to join his brother on the medal stand. Luke's P.R. of 11:13 in eighth grade would have been enough to make All-State that year.
Once in high school, Luke really hit his stride. In cross country he finished second to Jake at state, running a P.R. of 14:31 to make the Hoffert twins the only pair of siblings to finish 1-2 in cross country state history. In track his junior year, Luke made his mark in the 3200m run. He finished in fourth with a time of 9:12. Luke turned down a lot of bigger schools to accept a scholarship at Bradley University and he should see a lot of success there over the next four years.
Olivia Reese, YMSXC Class of 2010
Olivia joined cross country in eighth grade and was the team's top runner a number of times during the season. Olivia holds the team course record at our original home course at Harris Park and had a P.R. of 13:04, which she set at state.
Olivia never got to run at cross country state in high school, but she has three state championship medals for her three years as an alternate at state and set a P.R. of 20:42 at the West Aurora Blackhawk Stampede. In track Olivia gravitated toward pole vault, and she has worked hard in the off-season to make a push for a state qualification this year.
Rachel Strobel, YMSXC Class of 2010
Rachel also joined cross country in eighth grade, and it was one of a number of different activities she was participated in. Rachel set a P.R. of 14:47 at a home meet at the Hoover Center, and was one of our alternates the first year the girls team qualified for state in 2010.
In high school, Rachel was a captain on the Scholastic Bowl team, an officer for the National Honors Society, the treasurer and vice president of the Key Club, as well as a member of the Robotics and Spanish Clubs. Rachel also nearly earned a perfect score on her ACT. Despite everything else going on in high school, Rachel stuck with cross country for all four years. Rachel set a P.R. of 23:44 at the First to the Finish Invite in Peoria her senior year, and she is the perfect example of the athletes we like to recognize for sticking with cross country in high school.
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