3A-
[Girls]
The most balanced female race was right here. However, there was no doubt who the individual favorite was. Scout Storms (Jr., Barrington) did not leave anything to chance, getting to the front of the herd immediately and running a tempo. The first mile was in 5:26 and close to 10 seconds before Julie Piot (Sr., Naperville North).
Storms was running so smoothly, occasionally checking her position at corner breaks. She was acutely aware of her surroundings and position; she would later say: "I had a couple of people yelling out splits and stuff."
Storms maintained her dozen second lead through the second mile in 11:01. Piot was still on an island, and her teammates were equally separated. #7 Barrington was leading big, and it would be a surprise if the Fillies could pull off the victory. Storms brought home the victory in a PB 16:52- her first time under the 17:00 barrier. Piot was 12 seconds better than Danielle Jensen (Sr., McHenry) in 17:21.
Barrington and Storms rode all with major hardware as the Fillies blew out the heavily favored Huskies of Naperville North 52-129. All five scorers were in the top 25. This could be a dangerous team and vying for a state trophy come November.
[Boys]
#1 Downers Grove North is a nationally ranked team that came into this season with lofty goals. Aside from winning the state championship and perhaps earning national championship respect, taking home the FTTF team title would be an early season major accomplishment.
The vaulted Trojans pack was already in position at the first half mile. Race favorite Camyn Viger (Sr., Plainfield South) and other prerace standouts were also nestled in. Viger and a pack of school runners hit the first mile in 4:50. Among the crafty runners nestled was Ben Crane (Jr., New Trier)
By the second mile, the Trojans had the victory in hand, barring a complete catastrophe in the last stanza. The individual race winner could be two players: Viger and Crane. They crossed the second mile in 9:45 and off in the wind.
Downers Grove North did not disappoint. The young men in purple roared home in third through fifth placements by the feet of Ryan Eddington (Sr), Caden Weber (Sr), and Grant Schroder (Jr). They ran 14:35, 14:35, and 14:36 respectively. Fourth man Philip Cupial (So) broke 15:00 at 13th place, and the closer Zachary Bender (Sr) was 17th in 15:04.
Viger is super dangerous regarding a finishing kick, especially when someone is near him. He booked it home and maintained his title from a year ago with almost an identical time in 14:23. Crane earns a nice consolation prize with a time of 14:25.