Boys cross country: Hersey's 8th-place finish tops Cook teams at state
The powerful field lined up for the 77th IHSA boys Class 3A state cross country meet was not for the faint of heart Saturday afternoon on the 3-mile Detweiller Park course in Peoria.
In the end of the fabled race, it was Downers Grove North that rolled to the team title with 79 points to topple both runner-up Plainfield North with 125 points, and third-place Plainfield South with 134 points. Lyons edged O'Fallon 207-211 for fourth place.
Hersey was the top finishing area team with an eighth-place score of 329 points while Fremd outdistanced Barrington 351-365 for 12th place. Prospect placed 23rd in the huge 28-team field.
The Huskies were led by senior Zach Frayder, who just missed the all-state team with a 28th-place run. Senior teammates Liam Naughton (57th), and Rob Geissenberger (65th) rounded out Hersey's top three runners.
"They ran very well, and it's tough to perform under the pressure of state," said Hersey coach Kevin Young, whose team placed second at the Hoffman Estates sectional last weekend. "But this is the fourth time in the past six seasons we've been in the top 10 in the state, and we were the top finishing team in the MSL. These guys put their hearts on the line and they did what they could today. You had to run 14:43 this year to be all-state (top 25) and typically it's right around 15 flat."
Fremd's squad was led by a great ninth-place finish by junior Rory Gaan while Barrington's pack was led by junior teammates Ethan Scott (31st), and Joe Bregenzer (50th).
In the individual race, Hinsdale Central senior Aden Bandukwala made it back-to-back state titles with a winning time of 14:13.56 as he finished four seconds ahead of Plainfield South's Camyn Viger in the pressure-packed meet.
Qualifying for state out of the Hoffman Estates sectional, Jacobs teammates Matthew Andreano (53rd), and Andrew Beyer (60th) had solid races for the Golden Eagles. Palatine sophomore Alex Krieg placed 63rd as an individual runner while Vernon Hills senior Charlie Blackmer placed 71st.
In Class 2A boys, Marion won the team title 112-173 over Glenbard South while Lake County qualifiers Grayslake Central (325 points), and Lakes (414) placed 13th and 16th respectively.
The Rams got an outstanding second-place run from senior Trey Sato (14:21) while teammate Adan Cordova placed 38th. Lakes was led by Jackson Summy (62nd), and Payton Whitehead (70th). Carmel's Evan Hursthouse placed 69th.
"Trey ran great today with a time of 14:21 which is the second fastest time in school history, and he ran a smart race," said Grayslake Central coach Jimmy Centella, whose teams took 1st in 2015 and second in 2016. "We're going to miss him (Sato), he's one of the best runners in school history, and he has qualified for state in track and cross country all seven times so far."