Boys cross country: East’s Gabe Heck headlines All-City team

By DENNIS SEMRAU | The Capital Times | dsemrau@madison.com | Posted: Monday, November 2, 2009 4:15 pm

WIAA Division 1 state runner-up and city champion Gabe Heck of Madison East headlined the annual All-City boys cross country team that was honored last month following the city meet at the Yahara Running Course.

For the second year in a row, a program honoring the Boys' All-City team was held Oct. 9 at the Pizza Oven in Monona following the meet. The celebration was made possible by a generous donation from Don Becker of Becker Law Offices.

Joining Heck as a repeat selection on the team were La Follette senior Abdou Seye and West junior Sam Hacker. The Big Eight Conference champion and city meet runner-up, Seye became ill during the Division 1 state meet and finished last before collapsing and being hospitalized. Hacker was the first underclassman to finish at the Division 1 state meet, placing seventh.

Madison Edgewood senior Matt McKenna, the Southern Badger Conference and Platteville Sectional champion, was also accorded All-City first team honors after earning honorable mention recognition as a junior. McKenna was fifth at the WIAA Division 2 state meet last Saturday.

Rounding out the rest of the All-City team were: La Follette junior Thor Laack-Veeder, Memorial junior Jordan Carlson and West junior Charlie Thompson. Laack-Veeder placed 19th to lead the Lancers to a 13th-place finish at the Division 1 state meet, while Carlson was 57th to help the Spartans finish sixth in their first trip to state since 1994.

Memorial junior Aaron Heiliger received honorable mention recognition for the second straight year. Memorial senior Benji Hansen and La Follette junior Kyle Staven also earned honorable mention honors.

City coaches selected a Spirit of Cross Country Award winner for each team: Honored were East junior Roberto Ogelman; Edgewood senior Will Tobe; La Follette junior Mike Mirnier; Memorial senior Aaron Frey; and West sophomore Jacob Carrel.

ALL-CITY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM

First team: Gabe Heck, sr., East; Abdou Seye, sr., La Follette; Matt McKenna, sr., Edgewood; Sam Hacker, jr., West; Thor Laack-Veeder, jr., La Follette; Jordan Carlson, jr., Memorial; Charlie Thompson, jr., West.

Honorable mention: Aaron Heiliger, sr., Memorial; Benji Hansen, sr., Memorial; Kyle Staven, jr., La Follette.

Spirit of Cross Country Award winners: East - Roberto Ogelman, jr.; Edgewood - Will Tobe, sr.; La Follette - Mike Mirnier, jr.; Memorial - Aaron Frey, sr.; West - Jacob Carrel, so.