Emma Moravec qualifies for 3A state meet

Downers Grove North junior Emma Moravec qualified individually for the Class 3A girls cross country state meet at the Hinsdale Central Sectional Saturday, Oct. 31, at Katherine Legge Memorial Park.
Despite an inspired team performance, the Trojans were sixth (189 points), one place and 47 points behind fifth-place Benet Academy for the last team-qualifying spot. The Trojans were trying to advance to state as a team for the third straight year.
Moravec was 21st (18:51.3 for 3.0 miles) to earn the seventh and last qualifying spot for individuals not among the five advancing teams. Moravec edged the next individual candidate by 1.8 seconds, Morton senior Sahian Lopez (22nd, 18:53.1).
Senior Grace Maletich was 26th (18:58.2) and the 11th individual candidate, followed by senior Kaitlyn Bonfield (32nd, 19:17.2), junior Zoe Covey (36th, 19:24.3), sophomore Claire Kovarik (76th, 20:41.7) and juniors Gina Kowalewicz (79th, 20:47.5) and Mary Laffey (97th, 21:29.6).
Benet’s top-five finishers were 5-9-27-50-51 overall. Also advancing were sectional champion Hinsdale Central (65), Lockport (84), Lyons Township (84) and Downers Grove South (131).
At the Plainfield South Sectional Oct. 24, Downers North finished fourth (87 points) behind Lockport (37), Downers South (66) and Benet (78).
The 3A girls state race is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Peoria’s Detweiller Park. Awards are at 3 p.m.

Girls 3A state meet field
3A girls state meet
Team qualifiers (26): Barrington, Batavia, Benet Academy, Downers Grove South, Edwardsville, Geneva,
GLENBARD WEST, Grant, HINSDALE CENTRAL, Lake Forest, Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East, Lockport, Lyons Township, Maine South, Metea Valley, Minooka, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley, New Trier, O’Fallon, Oswego, Palatine, Stevenson, Wheaton Warrenville South, York
Individual qualifiers:
Individuals (35 from 27 schools): DOWNERS GROVE NORTH, Conant, Crystal Lake South, Elk Grove, Evanston, Harlem, Hoffman Estates, Joliet West (2), Lake Zurich, Lane, Libertyvlle, Lincoln-Way North (2), Loyola Academy, Mother McAuley (2), Naperville Central, Niles West, Northside, Oak Park-River Forest, Pekin, Plainfield North (3), Plainfield South (2), Prospect, Rock Island (2), St. Charles North (2), St. Ignatius, Schaumburg, Shepard