DGN at Silver Meet roundup

Downers Grove North sophomore Emma Moravec and junior Angela Budach earned varsity girls cross country all-conference medalist honors for the first time at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Silver Meet Saturday, Oct. 18, at Proviso West.

Moravec (10th, 19:11.55) and Budach (13th, 19:36.21) were the only two finishers among the top 13 not from defending Class 3A state champion Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central – the top two rated teams in 3A.

Only top-16 finishers earn all-conference medals. Moravec and Budach were 18th and 33rd, in last year’s varsity race.

Junior Grace Maletich, who was 17th (19:46.07), 1.79 seconds from 16th, and Kaitlyn Bonfield (20th, 20:06.45) were all-conference the past two years. Junior first-year runner Ashley Johnson was 22nd (20:08.01) and seniors Zayna Jan (20:37.90) and Jenna Murphy (21:07.39) were 33rd and 36th.

The Trojans (82 points) were a strong third behind overall co-champions Glenbard West (20) and Hinsdale Central (52), followed by York (100), Lyons Township (125) and Oak Park-River Forest (145). They also were third in the final overall standings after a 4-2 dual record.   

Sophomores

Zoe Covey became the Downers Grove North girls cross country team’s first conference champion on the sophomore level when she prevailed at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet.

Covey, a first-year cross country runner, covered the 3.04 miles in 20:31.94 to win by 15.91 seconds over Hinsdale Central’s Molly Caveney (20:47.85). The sophomore level was added to the Silver Meet in 1995.

Gina Kowalewicz (15th, 21:32.35) and freshman Madison Venckus (16th, 21:33.61) earned the last two top-16 ribbons with Venckus having an 8.56-second cushion over the 17th finisher. Brigid Miller was 19th (21:47.12) with Abby Pfeiffer (29th, 22:05.27), Meghan Kelly (32nd, 22:23.84), Emma Rotz (33rd, 22:29.24), Lauren Isenman (43rd, 23:03.55), Becky Donnelly (44th, 23:04.83) and Mary Laffey (46th, 23:07.76) also among the top 50.

The Trojans (78 points) finished fourth, just three points behind third-place Hinsdale Central, and tied for fourth with Glenbard West in the final overall standings. Lyons Township (39) captured its third straight overall title, the last two outright.

Junior varsity

The Downers Grove North junior varsity finished fifth (147 points) at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet and fifth in the final overall standings.

Junior Maci Schaub was 18th (21:06.25 for 3.04 miles) and 5.10 seconds from the last of the top 16 ribbons. Schaub was 13th in the 2013 Silver Meet on the sophomore level.

The Trojans’ other top-10 finishers were junior Fiona Kelly (31st, 21:46.67), seniors Alex Hohnsen (45th, 22:16.08), Olivia Matheu (55th, 22:23.51), Shannon Kennedy (56th, 22:24.00), Sydney Wagner (71st, 22:59.95), Claire Schneider (77th, 23:14.23) and Rachel Krusenoski (78th, 23:14.96) and juniors Arianna Calleja (81st, 23:19.12) and Ana Scarlati (96th, 23:37.47).

Glenbard West (32) earned a share of its first overall JV conference title since 1979 with second-place Hinsdale Central (46), followed by Lyons Township (50), York (89), the Trojans and Oak Park-River Forest (171).

Freshmen
 
The Downers Grove North freshman team finished second at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet with its top-five finishers all earning top-16 ribbons.

Carli Nehls (21:54.50) and Grace Puc (22:01.32) were fifth and sixth, Allison Padovani (9th, 22:09.09) also placed among the top 10 and Claire Kovarik (22:28.75) and Isabella Scarlati (22:34.53) were 12th and 14th. Destiny Ortiz (36th, 24:56.35), Morgan Bentel (39th, 25:25.18), Fiona Murray (46th, 26:57.43) and Fiona Kartsounes (47th, 27:08.34) also placed among the top 50.

The Trojans (46 points) finished behind Lyons Township (25) and well ahead of York (76), Oak Park-River Forest (96) and Proviso West (142) – the only five teams to enter the race. The freshman champion is determined only by Saturday’s results.

--by Bill Stone