Above Photo: Sandburg's Boys team dominates the 3A Boys race at the Peoria Central Invitational on Saturday only scoring 26 points (Photo: Tom Novak, Sandburg HS)

By Michael Newman

mike@dyestat.com

The first weekend of October is usually the weekend for final teams to tune up before the importance of conference meets and the state series. That is when the titles mean the most. The weather cooperated again with cooler than normal conditions meaning faster than normal times. Here is a look at some of the meets that took place across the state last weekend.

You can read the recap of the Wheaton North Falcon Classic here.

TFX Meet Central Results

Peoria Central Invitational

For the first time in the history of the oldest of the Peoria Detweiller Park Invitational meets, the format of the meet changed from just two races to four splitting up the classes. It paid off for the smaller schools in that they were able to get into the spotlight. It did not matter to #1 Sandburg how the races were split up. They were going to dominate just the same.

The #2 team in the nation showed why they should be the top ranked team in the nation with a strong performance in easily winning the 3A race. The Eagles placed six runners in the first eleven to score 26 points. Those six runners ran under 15 minutes on the course. That makes nine runners for the school that have runner under 15 minutes on the Detweiller Park course so far this season. They did that without their top two runners Sean Torpy and Dylan Jacobs who ran with the rest of the Sandburg team members at the St. Charles North Invitational.

#3 Lyons Township demonstrated why they should be nationally ranked with another strong performance placing second in this meet with 67 points. The Lions placed two in the top ten led by Vince Zona (3^rd) and Danny Kilrea (7^th). Their team ran a 39 second split on their top five. #2 Neuqua Valley was without their #1 runner Connor Horn who was rested for the meet over a minor injury concern. The Wildcats ran their typical tight pack scoring 97 points to place third. The team had only a ten second split on their first five led by Jake McEneaney’s 15^th place finish. #12 Hoffman Estates scored 165 points to place fourth while #16 Huntley placed fifth with 177 points. Keagan Smith (Huntley HS) was in a class by himself winning the individual race (14:26) eleven seconds ahead of second place Max Lehnhardt (Sandburg HS, Orland Park).

There has been anticipation of when #17 Prospect would move some of their talented freshmen up to the varsity. Prospect did not disappoint in the 3A Girls race putting four runners in the first eleven to easily win the team championship. Brooke Wilson threw her hat in the ring as an individual to watch at state as she ran 16:51 to win the race by 49 seconds ahead of Meagan Biddle (Hoffman Estates HS). Freshman Marissa Valentini (Prospect HS) was a second behind Biddle in third. #22 Downers Grove South, behind Katie Stapleton’s 4^th place finish, finished second with 93 points. #10 Oswego received top ten finishes by Isabelle Christiansen (6^th) and Grace Pagone (7^th) to place third with 118 points. Huntley (149 points) and Plainfield North (167 points) rounded out the top five.

One of the most impressive performances of the weekend came in the 1A/2A Girls race from Maryjeanne Gilbert (Notre Dame HS, Peoria). The defending 2A champion ran a solo 16:34 to win the race by 80 seconds ahead of Aly Goff (Springfield HS). Unheard of at the beginning of the season, #16 Carmel Catholic continues to impress as evidenced by their win in this meet. Freshman Zella Stockhausen placed 13^th to lead her team to a 49 second five runner split and a 110-113 win ahead of #9 Peoria Notre Dame. #25 Morton, behind Meagan Moreno’s fifth place finish, was next in third with 130 points. #13 Normal University scored 150 points to place fourth followed by #18 Springfield (184 points) in fifth.

#5 Normal University showed that their ranking was justified in winning the 1A/2A Boys team title with 119 points. They were led by Jack Franklin’s individual win. Franklin ran 14:54 to win the race by six seconds ahead of Metamora’s Jake Gillum. #24 Peoria Notre Dame, led by Victor Fortin’s 3^rd place finish, ran their best race of the year so far in scoring 153 points to place second. #8 Springfield, with #1 runner Heath Warren who did not run, ran a 32 second split on their top five to place third overall with 177 points. #12 Rock Island Alleman (193 points) and #13 Fenwick (204 points) finished fourth and fifth.

St. Charles North Invitational

Sandburg also made a splash in this meet winning the Boys team championship with 67 points. Sean Torpy and Dylan Jacobs pulled away from Prairie Ridge’s Filip Pajak in the end to go 1-2 in the race. Torpy ran 15:06 to set a new course record on the new layout at Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve. Jacobs was two seconds back followed by Pajak another three seconds behind. #11 St. Charles East ran a 25 second split on their first five to finish second with 77 points behind top ten finishes by Michael Gerkin (8^th) and Mark Sciurba (9^th). #20 Marmion Academy scored 97 points to place third behind top finishes by Michael Ronzone (5^th) and Andrew Burroughs (6^th).

#3 Batavia, led by the 4^th place finish by Emma Stephens) placed their top four in the top fourteen to win the Girls team championship with 69 points. #5 Lyons Township, without top five runner Hannah Dutler, finished second with 99 points led by Sarah Barcelona’s eighth place finish. #14 Hinsdale Central received top ten finishes by Reilly Revord (6^th) and Grace McCabe (9^th) to finish third with 129 points. They were eight points ahead of #13 Geneva. McKenzie Altmayer led Geneva winning the individual race (17:44) by eight seconds ahead of Caitlin Shepard (Lake Zurich HS).

Locktoberfest Invitational

The Boys only meet had no surprises up front. Kevin Salvano (Buffalo Grove HS) navigated the tough hills of Dellwood Park to win the individual race (15:34) ten seconds ahead of Clayton Mendez (Whitney Young HS, Chicago). It was Mendez’s team, however, that was on top at the end. The #13 Dolphins placed four runners in the first nineteen to win the team championship with 73 points. Sam Wischewsky also was in the top ten (5^th) to help the Chicago Public league team. The split on five runners for Whitney Young was 58 seconds. #7 Buffalo Grove had Salvano and Tom Cleary (7^th) in the top ten to pace second with 88 points. Neuqua Valley placed third with their “JV” team led by Matt Milostan’s 6^th place finish. #10 Downers Grove North (136 points) and Plainfield North (139 points) finished fourth and fifth.

Pat Savage Invitational @ Niles West

Irwin Loud (Oak Park-River Forest HS) opened up a lead early and did not look back winning the Boys Varsity race (14:46) by 27 seconds ahead of Paolo Tiongson (Loyola Academy, Wilmette HS). Walmer Saavedra (Lindblom Academy HS) was another second back in third. Loud’s teammates also did not disappoint. The #6 Huskies placed five runners in the first seventeen to easily win the team championship with 46 points. Loyola Academy (115 points) was four points ahead of Oswego East in second place.

Kate Jacobs (Woodstock HS) pulled away after the first mile to win the Girls race in 18:18. Hailey Hansen (Trinity HS, River Forest) had a strong final mile to finish second (18:37) just one second ahead of third place Emma Dzwierzynski (Evanston Township HS). Oswego East was helped by a fifty second split on their first five led by the 16^th place finish by Abby Cain won the Girls championship with 131 points. 2A #11 Montini Catholic placed second (141 points) with Emma Makowski (4^th), Gianna Salzbrunn (5^th), and Lauren Denemark (8^th) in the top ten. Evanston Township finished third with 148 points.

Pat Hartland Invitational @ Fox River Park, Wilmot WI

Vivian Overbeck (Vernon Hills HS) won the individual race while #4 Vernon Hills put five runners in the top twelve to easily win the team championship with 32 points. Overbeck’s winning time of 18:25 was 24 seconds ahead of second place Kortney Schardt (Lakes HS, Lake Villa). Lakes placed second with 64 points ahead of #15 Grayslake Central, #24 Prairie Ridge, and #20 Richmond-Burton.

In a great individual race featuring two all-state runners, it was Jack Aho (Grayslake Central HS) that came away victorious. The junior ran 15:17 to win by 16 seconds ahead of second place Dustin Macuiba (Warren Township, Gurnee). #2 Grayslake Central placed five runners in the first thirteen to easily win the team championship with 33 points. #10 Crystal Lake Central, paced by top ten finishes by Weston Sterchi (5^th) and Cole Barkocy (6^th), finished second (80 points). Warren Township was one point behind in third.

Wheaton Academy Warrior Classic

Sophomore Stephen Poorten (Sycamore HS) ran 15:28 to win the Boys race by ten seconds ahead of Tanner Chada (Aurora Christian HS). Poorten’s win led Sycamore to a 56-60 win ahead of host #14 Wheaton Academy. Elmwood Park was a strong third with 78 points. Abby Fioresi (Aurora Central Catholic HS) won the Girls race (19:09) by thirteen seconds ahead of Sabrina Elder (Belvidere North HS). Even without their #1 runner Jenna Lutzow, the #5 Belvidere North placed five runners in the top nine to easily win the team championship with 29 points. Wheaton Academy scored 81 points to place second four points ahead of Aurora Central Catholic.

Lisle Mane Event

2A #14 Rosary placed three runners in the top ten to win the Girls team championship with 65 points. They were led by the individual win by Madison Ronzone. Her time of 19:05 was 23 seconds ahead of second place Kayla Schiera (Sandwich HS). The battle for second was close. #19 Hampshire got a 3-4 finish from Sophia Oury and Marie Mayer to score 99 points to place second only two points ahead of third place 1A #13 Chicago Christian. Dundee Crown, led by top ten finishes by sophomores Anthony Hurgoi (5^th) and Joseph DeVita (9^th), won the Boys team championship with 51 points ahead of Romeoville and Hampshire. Jacob Oury (Hampshire HS) won the individual race running 16:18 on the 5k course.

LaSalle County Invitational

Rachel Hickey (LaSalle-Peru HS) ran 18:19 to win the individual race by three seconds ahead of Eva Bruno (Seneca HS). The two finished one minute ahead of the rest of the pack. 1A #7 Seneca placed four runners in the top seven to win the team championship with 34 points. #20 LaSalle-Peru was next with 61 points. La-Salle Peru’s Boys team placed six runners in the top ten to easily win the team championship with 25 points. Seamus McGettigan (Ottawa HS) ran 15:47 to win the individual race three seconds ahead of Thomas Lechtenberg (Ottawa Marquette Academy).

Elmwood-Brimfield Invitational

Host 1A #5 Elmwood-Brimfield held two of their top five runners down in the Frosh/Soph race. They still had enough to win the Boys team championship 79-80 over #11 El Paso-Gridley. Elmwood were helped by top ten finishes by Matt Osmulski (4^th) and Derek McCoy (7^th). Hunter Cobbley ran 15:55 to win the individual race by three seconds ahead of Rolando Aguilar (Kewanee HS).

1A #15 Eureka had finishes by Mercer Mack (5^th) and Emma Argo (6^th) to lead them to the team championship with 60 points. #6 Annawan-Wethersfield placed second with 69 points. They were without their #1 runner Kristie Ramsey in this race. Wethersfield’s Olivia Framinski won the individual race (18:50) seven seconds ahead of Maya Stovall (Macomb HS).

Jacksonville Invitational

In this flight meet where only the top six scores in flights were counted in the scoring, 2A #3 Rochester came out on top but just barely in the Girls competition. The Rockets won four of the seven flights to score 8 points for the win just one point ahead of second place #10 Chatham-Glenwood. Highland scored 23 points to place third. Keep an eye on Rochester freshmen Katherine Petty who is emerging as one of the top 2A runners this season. She won the championship flight in convincing fashion. Her 16:42 time over the 2.9 mile course was 33 seconds faster than second place Adrienne Brauer (Petersburg PORTA HS). Shelby Siltman (Olympia HS, Stanford) ran 17:27 to finish third.

2A #9 Chatham-Glenwood was just as dominating in the Boys meet. They scored 7 points to win the team championship winning five of the seven flight races. Jerseyville scored 19 points to finish second four points ahead of third place Taylorville. Ben Flowers (Jersey HS) ran 14:37 to win the Boys championship race. A pack of three finished eleven seconds behind Flowers led by Pleasant Plains’ Tyler Johnson who ran 14:46. Cory Landon (Carlinville HS) and Landon Skelly (Chatham-Glenwood HS) finished third and fourth both crossing the line in 14:47.