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Sports

Neuqua Places Third at Joliet Invite

Oswego sweeps Joliet Invite as program plans return to glory years.

It’s been quite a while since the Oswego High School cross country program has been respected.

Those days are about to change.

The Panthers swept the boys and girls championships at the 18th annual Steelmen Invite on Saturday in Channahon.

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The girls and boys teams each placed three runners in the top 10 to win the 16-team invite. The girls scored 46 points and the boys had 57 points.

“It’s been at least a decade since that’s happened here,” Oswego coach Dan Whipple said. “It’s been a long time. We’ve been trying really hard trying to get this program back to where it was in the 1970s and 80s.”

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Kelsey Hjorth left it all on the course, capturing the individual championship by finishing the three-mile race in 18:30.

“My goal was to try to get first today and beat everyone,” Hjorth said. “It really wasn’t about time, because I didn’t want to pace myself today.”

Alison Darby placed ninth and teammate Lauren Choi was next. Both were clocked in 19:37.

“It’s exciting for these guys and gals,” Whipple said. “You have to give the runners a lot of credit. They do all the work. They put in the time and they have been patient. They are getting their pride back.”

was missing two of its top three runners, but still took home a plaque for taking third with 97 points.

“We were missing some people on the varsity levels because of ACTs, so we knew we’d be a little bit down,” Neuqua girls coach Tim McCloskey said. “We got out a little poor. It was a little too fast for us early, but we charged well. We feel good about the day overall, our fitness level, but we know we have to run a little smarter.”

Stephanie Jackson was the top Wildcats finisher, placing seventh (19:32).

“It’s only the second race,” McCloskey said. “We’re still feeling things out, but we’re happy where we’re at and we’re going to keep pushing throughout the season.”

Plainfield Central took fourth with 102 points and featured two top 12 finishers in Emily Vihnanek (sixth in 19:28) and Grace Lawrence (11th in 19:41).

“We work really hard in practice so it’s good to be rewarded like this,” Lawrence said. “I’m just really excited for the season.”

“I got 21st last year, so it feels good to get back up there and get in shape again,” Vihnanek said. “It feels awesome to do so well and our team is doing so well.”

In the boys race, Oswego’s Caleb Beck (third in 15:41), Zach Kingsbury (fifth in 15:57) and Jared Konrady (ninth in 16:10) placed in the top 10.

“The goal was to pack up as a team and finish together,” Beck said. “Our goal every race is to get our top five guys as close together as we can. I’m very happy. I thought we all ran great races.”

Plainfield South was second with 69 points. Tyler Ryan took second in 15:40.

“I was looking to (run a personal best) today,” Ryan said. “I think I was a little off. I just need to work hard in practice and do better overall in my next race.”

Plainfield North’s Dan Wooldrige came in fourth in 15:53.

Minooka took sixth in the boys race, but did not feature its top seven runners. They participated in the Peoria Woodruff Invite at Detweiller Park in Peoria, home of the state meet.

 

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