By Eric Hofmann

Dellwood Park in Lockport was the site of this weekend’s premier boys meet in Illinois.  Locktoberfest lived up to its billing on the coldest weekend of the fall so far.  The forty-degree temperatures were what one might expect for a sectional meet next month.  Additionally, rain over the previous day had flooded a field near the start in some spots, meaning racers would get their feet wet early on.  The rain did subside for the varsity race at 9:40 a.m.  The course incorporates varied terrain – grass fields, gravel trails, and steep hills – unlike any other in Illinios.

A large pack stuck together in the opening mile with sever race favorites near the front including Ryan Clevenger (Downers Grove North), Peter Johnsrud (Oswego), Connor Horn (Lyons) and Kevin Salvano (Buffalo Grove).  Team-wise, Neuqua Valley, Lyons, and Lincoln-Way Central all had multiple competitors in the top fifteen, with Lyons looking to have the closest one through five spread.

Clevenger opened up a lead as the race progressed.  He stated it was his intent to run the first kilometer with the group, as so many go out hard at the start, and move ahead from there.  Clevenger’s mile split time was just about 5:00 before coming to the toughest sections of the course.  Being heavily favored, Clevenger was confident, but getting a win today was important to him after consecutive seconds at Minooka and Peoria in recent weeks.  He made himself familiar with the course beforehand and made a point to extend his lead by dropping his contenders on the up-hills, referred to by him and his teammates as “The Zach Smith Move.”

Behind Clevenger, Johnsrud took control of the second position, putting a gap on Salvano, Horn, Connor Madell – the top runner for Lyons, and Chris Buechner (Glenbard West HS)).

Clevenger cruised to an eleven second win in a time of 15:45.  Salvano, who had run smartly through, put on a late charge to take second, followed by Madell, Horn, and Johnsrud, who had faded in the late stages.  In additional to Salvano, Naperville North’s Jonathan Klaiber also put in strong finish to take sixth.

Neuqua Valley took the team win fairly comfortably, with seventy-seven team points.  Next best was Lyons with 116. 

Now in October, Locktoberfest was one of the final few big regular season contests before the championship season begins.  Some will have a final tune-up next week, while others, like Clevenger will now turn the focus towards conference meets in two weeks.