Downers North, Chicago Lane Win Harvey Braus Invite Titles

Downers Grove North ran away from the completion on the girls side, while Chicago Lane narrowly won the boys race (Jorge Espinosa photo)

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PHOTOS I VIDEOS I RESULTS 

Roselle, IL-

One team has been here before, while another has not. The short and abbreviated 49th Annual Harvey Braus Invitational hosted by Lake Park saw the Downers North girls and Chicago Lane boys win varsity team titles, respectively.

Meet officials moved the varsity girls' and boys' races to an earlier time slot to offer the premier performers a best-case scenario in competing. The invitational was called halfway through because the heat index reached dangerous levels. It was 85F with a real feel over 90F. 

Girls-

Top-ranked 3A Downers Grove North deployed the same race tactic for the second consecutive invitational appearance. The Trojans top five scorers opened conservatively under 6:00 for the first mile. There didn't appear to be any concern despite sitting in a distant fourth place. Meanwhile, #2 York, an arch-rival of the Trojans, tallied 41 points through the opening circuit compared to 141 for DGN.

In the mix was a short-handed #5 Prospect, 2A #3 Chicago St. Ignatius, and #15 Glenbard West. Simultaneously, the individual race was turning into a good one. Veronica Znajda (Sr., Prospect), Annika Swan (Jr., St. Ignatius), and outstanding newcomer Karlin Janowski (Fr., York) were well ahead of the field in 5:37.

On coach Tim McDonald's order, the Trojans began to move in the second mile. Alayna Todnem (Sr) and Lily Eddington (Jr) led the charge. They began mowing down the field, eventually moving the squad into first place. Znajda, Swan, and Janowski continued to open the gap on the field, passing the checkpoint in 11:34.

The final verdict was the same as last week: the Trojans slid home first among the 21 teams. Janowski pulled away in the final 150m for the victory in 16:53. 

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Boys-

Coming into the fray, #11 Wheaton-Warrenville South was the team to beat. They were missing one of their top five runners but were still top-heavy. From the gun, seniors Josiah Narayanan and Aiden Noel were out ahead of the class and rolling, hitting the first mile in 4:46. Tommy Nitz (Sr., Huntley) tried to hang in there in 4:51. 

The team battle began between Wheaton South and Chicago Lane Tech. Lane had no low sticks up front, but it had a tight pack. Instead of three runners for the Tigers, all five runners were in the top 25, and the score was 68-77. 

The second mile presented a more precise picture of the race. Narayanan began asserting himself, passing the post in 9:47, six seconds before Noel. Lane's pack looked formable, with a 31-second spread, and if they could hold up, they may win the title.

Narayanan breezed home with the win in a meet record 14:31. Noel ran well, coming home in 14:44, ahead of Nitz, who clocked 14:56. Aidan Murphy (Sr., Wheaton North) and Greyson Ellensohn (Sr., St. Charles East) closed out the top five in 14:59 and 15:18.

The youthful team from Addison Street and Western Avenue in Chicago showed resolve throughout the race and rewarded themselves with a hard-fought victory. Led by sophomore Cole Magac in ninth place, it produced a 48-second scoring split. This is how championships are won.