DGN at Peoria Notre Dame Invite roundup

Facing two of the top-five rated teams in Class 3A, the Downers Grove North girls cross country team turned in its best effort of the season to finish third at Peoria Notre Dame’s Richard Spring Invitational at Peoria’s Detweiller Park, the annual course for the state meet, Saturday, Sept. 20.

The Trojans (168 points) only finished behind defending Class 3A state champion and top-rated Glenbard West (70) and Palatine (80), fourth at state in 2013. St. Charles East (197) and Schaumburg (223) were fourth and fifth.

Sophomore Emma Moravec finished 16th (18:05.1 for 3.0 miles) followed by a strong pack of juniors Kaitlyn Bonfield (31st, 18:27.6) and Ashley Johnson (34th, 18:28.9), Angela Budach (37th, 18:30.6) and Grace Maletich (50th, 18:41.2). All five runners earned individual medals for finishing among the top 60.

Teams were allowed 10 runners in the varsity race. Seniors Zayna Jan (101st, 19:20.6) and Jenna Murphy (124th, 19:38.9), sophomore Zoe Covey (128th, 19:42.5), freshman Katie Cantlin (145th, 19:53.0) and junior Maci Schaub (146th, 19:53.5) also competed for the varsity.

This was the Trojans' highest finish at the invite since they were third in 2010 (127 points) and the team eventually took 10th at the state meet. The 2013 Trojans were 21st at state.

In the frosh-soph girls race, sophomore Gina Kowalewicz earned an individual medal by taking 38th (20:13.8), followed by sophomore Meghan Kelly (60th, 20:41.6), freshman Carli Nehls (68th, 20:51.4) and sophomores Lauren Isenman (72nd, 20:54.2) Abby Pfeiffer (107th, 21:15.8) and Brigid Miller (108th, 21:16.4). No team scores were kept.

Senior Rachel Krusenoski was third in the Open girls race in 19:41, one second from second place and eight from first. There were no official results, but medals were awarded to the top 15. Junior Fiona Kelly was 17th (20:44), three seconds from 15th place, followed by seniors Shannon Kennedy (28th, 21:05) and Alex Hohnsen (38th, 21:15).

-- by Bill Stone