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Check out the exciting highlight reel of the boys varsity race
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In 2015, senior Jonathan Davis of Oakwood was on top of the Illinois cross country food chain despite competing as a Class A runner. He was the defending state champion and earned stripes on the national scene, competing at the Footlocker National Championship in 2014. In other words, classifications did not matter at the Richard Spring Invitational hosted by Peoria Notre Dame High School.
Coming into the meet, the theme was billed "Goliath vs. Goliath" with #1 Sandburg vs. #2 Naperville North. The top-rated Eagles won handily, tallying 51 points- a 30-point victory.
The real story was Davis. Before the meet, the favored Davis talked of breaking 14:00s and eventually taking down his idol and the legendary Craig Virgin's record of 13:50.6. Winning the individual title here against stiff 3A competition would go a long way for Davis' future quests.
Davis led the first mile in approximately 4:39 with several standouts in tow: Sean Torpy (Sr., Sandburg), Irwin Loud (Jr., Oak Park-River Forest), and Matt Pereira (Jr., Lake Zurich).
The pace stayed true through two miles in 9:34 as Davis took on whoever was left in the battle. He pulled away from Loud with less than 400m to go, unleashing a devastating kick that brought him home in 14:10. The story's moral from Detweiller Park is that Davis' dreams are close to becoming a reality.