It was a grizzly bear attack at the Mather 3 Invite on Tuesday afternoon (Griffin Forberg photo)
Chicago-
Mid-week cross country races typically don't generate much excitement on the energy meter.
Tuesday, October 1, hit differently.
Chicago Payton and Lane Tech boys are the city's pre-imminent programs and forerunners for the city in a few weeks.
Payton's nickname is the Grizzlies, and they are ranked #1 in the 2A classification. Lane, on the other hand, is a 3A school and ranked #14, switched their moniker from Indians to the Champions.
The Grizzles and the Champions are selective enrollment public schools with extremely high entrance standards. Fortunately, obtaining quality distance runners for both programs has gone well over the past several seasons.
Though the distance was only two miles, the race was supposed to provide a glimpse of what was coming.
The starter's pistol sounded, and the runners were off and running! Payton quickly established themselves as the team to beat.
At the first mile, the Grizzlies' quintet of Declan Slavin (Jr.), Tra'Monti Williams (Jr.), Gabe Cooper (Sr), Steven Jiang (So), and Vaughn Collier (Sr) hit the first mile in approximately 4:51. One of the top runners in the city, Jiberil Lesman (Sr., Chicago Lakeview), broke up the coalition.
Meanwhile, Lane Tech was nowhere to be seen. The Champions apparently took the day off and struggled, fighting Whitney Young, hoping to finish in second.
The Grizzles put on a clinic led by Slavin, who set a meet record 9:35, ahead of his teammate Williams by less than a second in 9:36. Payton put five runners in the top six to score 18 points. Lane was able to rally past the Dolphins 58-95.
The girls race featured 2A power Depaul College Prep. The Rams made quick work of the competition led by Emily Stecky (So), who led coast to coast, running 11:30 for the victory.
Depaul put five scorers among the top seven to score 19 points. Lane Tech took second with a score of 40 points. Ainsley Carter (So) was the Champions' first scorer with a fourth place finish in 12:01