Trojans excel in season opener

Even under control, the Downers Grove North boys cross country team was difficult to stop in the 2014 season opener Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Senior Ryan Clevenger and sophomore Alec Danner finished first and second and the Trojans put their five finishers among the top 11 to win their five-team EIU Showdown home invite at Greene Valley Forest Preserve with just 28 points. Jacobs (55 points) was second, followed by Plainfield North (73), followed by Shepard (101) and Burlington Central (105).

Clevenger covered the 3.0 miles in 15:30 even with the Trojans running the first two miles controlled before he broke away and ran the last mile in roughly 5:10.

Danner (15:40), who pulled out second place by one second, senior Joe Carter (6th, 15:55) both ran lifetime bests. Seniors Zac Christensen (16:04) and Jack Diamond (16:16) were eighth and 10th. Senior Bruce Tamlin was 14th (16:40), and junior Bradley Wilcoxen and senior Dillon Murphy were 23rd and 24th in 17:15.

Clevenger ran 25 seconds faster than the 2013 season opener at Greene Valley, when he was second to graduated Zack Smith’s 15:53 and the Trojans again ran the opening two miles at a controlled pace.

This opener was rescheduled to Wednesday because of Monday’s high temperatures and humidity.

On the frosh-soph level, the Trojans were second with 43 points. Plainfield North (21) put its top five among the top nine to prevail. Shepard (66) was third, followed by Jacobs (114) and Burlington Central (154).

Freshman Nick Chudzik (3rd, 17:21) and sophomores Andrew Marek (6th, 17:39) and Brett Pyburn (7th, 17:40) finished among the top seven, and sophomore Zach Goliszewski was 12th (17:54). Freshman Jacob Ridderhoff (17th, 18:32), sophomore Donny Knapp (19th, 18:37) and freshmen Ryan Birkmeier (21st, 18:43), Jack Langan (24th, 19:03) and Tyler Mertes (25th, 19:06) also finished among the top 25.

Chudzik pulled out third with eight seconds to spare. He only was beaten by Plainfield North freshman Ben Otstott (16:35), who would have finished 14th in the varsity race, and sophomore James Suchy (17:14).

Pictured above:  Coach Angie Ochoa (Shepard Girls), Coach Jill Blondell (DGN Boys), Coach John Sipple (DGN Boys), Coach Eric Buhot (DGN Boys), Coach Kevin Christian (Jacobs Girls & Boys), Andy Derks (Plainfield North Boys), Vince Neil (Burlington Central Girls & Boys)