The first to the finish invitational round-up

The cross country running scene down Route 29 is like no other venue in the state- it's special!

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RESULTS I VIDEOS I PHOTOS

Detweiller Park; Peoria IL-

Cross country is back in full and its essence was put on full display at historic Detweiller Park along highway route 29. The throngs of fans were waiting to see a full morning and into the early afternoon slate.

Class A-

Girls: The top-rated Winnebago team has been one of the most dominated teams in their classification in recent history. Some have wondered why didn't petition to compete up in 2A or 3A for this meet. For the Erb coaching staff, it's rather important to see their personnel in the true league. In other words, the season is very early, and building extreme team chemistry is important. Not to mention one of the Indian's key guns, senior Katie Erb had been nursing a foot injury.

The 'Bago's trio of Grace Erb, Marissa Roggensack, and Kaylee Woolery had a plan to run the first mile under control and turn the affair into a two-mile race. That plan seemed to work well as K. Erb led the charge and produced the lowest scoring number by winning in 17:48. Roggensack (5th) and Woolery (8th) finished in the top 10 respectively. Despite a nearly two-minute scoring spread, all five runners placed in the top 30 to tally 64 points. It was good enough to hold off #3 Tolono Unity who scored 89 points. Erica Woodard led the Rockets with a 10th place finish. Right behind her was Raegen Stringer in the 13th slot. The overall 56-second 1-5 split was more than good enough to outdistance #4 Eureka (117).

The race for first wasn't easy for Grace Erb who had to come from behind. Eureka senior Anna Perry took charge of things from the gun and hit the first mile in 5:40. The fast pace may have cost her a win or even a runner-up spot, she would take third place in 18:04. Freshman newcomer Elena Rybak of Father McGivney whose 17:56 appeared to be totally unexpected, took second. Kate Ahmari of Urbana University fourth with a time of 18:14. 

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Boys: Top-ranked Chicago Latin was ready for their first challenge of the season and they knew about a dozen teams were capable of making their task difficult. Led by Akili Parekh (Jr), Ryan Hardiman (Sr), and Benjamin Gibson (Fr), they would hold up their end of the bargain. 

The first mile was set by a blistering 4:39 by Miles Sheppard (Sr., Hamilton West Hancock). He was left to race solo but Parekh, Hardiman, and Gibson were within 10 seconds or so of one another 4:53-5:02. It's hard to overcome a team that can maintain three guys in the top 10 and two more in the top 60 of a 50-team field. Parekh (15:33), Hardiman (15:37), and Gibson (15:54) performed well. Stanford Olympia was able to fight on the strength of a 1:00 split. They held off Rockford Christian who had a solid pack display.

Shepard hit the tape in 14:58, winning by almost 30 seconds. He has proved that with some competition he is ready to bust out a serious time on his next visit to Detweiller. 

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Class 2A-

Girls: The individual race out shadowed the team battle and rightfully so. Even with the omission of Chicago Latin superstar Ava Parekh, there was enough for the admission (Detweiller Park is free). Right away, Elia Ton-That (Sr., Chicago Northside Prep) and Mia Kotler (Latin) got it going right away. Ton-That controlled the scenario and the opening mile in 5:26. 

Ton-That kept the hammer down coming through the second mile in 11:15. Winning is one thing but taking the overall "merge" crown is something every athlete quietly strives to do. Ton-That set the mark of 17:15. Kotler ran admirably in her Detweiller debut. She came home second in 17:30. Isabella Marsico (So., Lake Forest) again finished behind Kotler but still broke 18:00 with a 17:46.

The team title went to #3 Grayslake Central whose fourth-place finish from Bella Domier (So) in 18:00 led the gravy train. Three finishes in the top 20 were strong enough to offset the 31-second split from Dunlap. #2 Vernon Hills was close but the scoring split has to come down a bit.

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Boys: Morton came in a sleepwalk some say but remember the season is still young and what's important are the big invites and the post-season. In this first exam, the loaded Porters were ready to greet the 55-team field with a few head knocks. While Wilson Georges stayed hugged up with the leaders in the mid to high 4:40s, Morton's top-tier runners led by Josh Weeks (So) were content on maintaining their poise. The end result was a tight win against an upstart Belvidere North team that is better than most will give credit to. They placed two runners in the top two overall. Deerfield ran well also. All three teams can improve at the backend of their packs moving forward.

Wilson made it an easy one amid the heat and humidity as he hit the second mile in the low 9:40s and cruised through the finish line in 14:46. It was the fastest time of the day in a class merge. Yusuf Baig (Sr., Burlington Central) battled hard against Cooper Marrs (So., Riverside-Brookfield) for second 15:04-15:05. Evan Horgan (Jr., Belvidere North) top fourth over Paul Proteau (Sr., Riverside-Brookfield) 15:18 to 15:22.

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Class 3A-

Girls: #2 Naperville North maybe had a chip on their shoulders coming into the season. They were not given the top perch spot and the lack of their usual national attention. Head coach Dan Iverson has been here before in 20+ years at the helm. So he appreciates a little bit of doubt from others now and again. Early on, #3 Minooka had numbers- five in front of the Huskies at the mile, but as they also do, Naperville North made their move inside of the "Bermuda Triangle." It is where teams often run out of gas after going out too fast. 

Naperville Central showed poise and made their move as well during the second mile. The Redhawks have run well in their first two invites of the season and should not be overlooked. New Trier and Lyons Township both have a bonafide front runner. 

The race for first came down to Lucy Westlake (Sr., Naperville North) holding off Beatrix Gilson (Jr., New Trier) for the crown 17:31-17:33.

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Boys: #2 Hinsdale Central came to run their best and some in attendance may have wanted to see. They were in a tug of war from the gun with #3 New Trier mainly because their two stars Dan Watcke (Jr., Hinsdale Central) and Nick Falk (Sr., New Trier) were battling for the individual crown. Watcke took that one with a 14:50 to 14:50.6 barn burner. 

The team battle as you see below was a battle of the finishing packs. Waubonsie Valley is right there but they don't have a true front runner yet. Downers Grove North has Roy Llewellyn (Sr) and Neuqua Valley is still finding itself.