DGN at Locktoberfest Invitational roundup

Senior Ryan Clevenger continued the succession of Downers Grove North individual champions at the Locktoberfest Invitational Saturday, Oct. 2, at Dellwood Park in Lockport.

Clevenger covered the 5,000-meter (3.1-mile) course in 15:45 to win by 11 seconds over Buffalo Grove junior Kevin Salvano (15:56), who was 12th at the 2013 Class 3A state meet.

Clevenger was a blur leading the race from the gun!

Sophomore Alec Danner was 12th (16:15) to also earn a top-25 medal and chocolate covered caramel apple. Danner was the top finisher among sophomores in the race and one of only two sophomores in the top 25.

Senior Joe Carter was 31st (16:41), six seconds shy of 25th, followed by seniors Zac Christensen (42nd, 16:49), Jack Diamond (63rd, 17:07), junior Robby Prescott (106th, 17:35) and senior Jack McGinnis (143rd, 18:07).

The Trojans (147 points) finished fourth, just one point behind third-place Glenbard West (146).

Clevenger added to the two individual titles by graduated Zack Smith, the 2013 winner in 15:42 by 11 seconds and 2012 champion in 15:37 by 17 seconds. In 2013, Clevenger was sixth (16:05) and Salvano 12th (16:20).

Neuqua Valley (77) and Lyons Township (116) were first and second Saturday and Naperville North (166) was fifth. Defending 3A state champion Hinsdale Central only competed in the frosh-soph and open races.

Glenbard West’s top-five finishers were 7-14-18-51-57. On Thursday, the Trojans lost their dual with the Hilltoppers 16-45 but used the dual as a tempo workouts.

The frosh-soph team (128 points) also was fourth, seven points behind third-place Hinsdale Central (121). Neuqua Valley (47) and Lyons Township (70) again claimed the top two spots.

Sophomores Drew Pyburn (17:48) and Tristan Jahn (17-50) were 14th and 15th to earn medals and apples.

Freshman Nick Chudzik was a frustrating 26th (18:01), one second from 25th, but was the eighth-highest freshman in that race. Freshman Jacob Ridderhoff (34th, 18:08) and sophomore Zach Goliszewski (39th, 18:15) also were in the top 40, followed by freshmen Ryan Birkmeier (82nd, 19:00) and Reilly Britt (89th, 19:05).

The open team was 10th (298 points). Juniors Ryan Cantlin (15:55) and Nick Torres (15:56) were 58th and 59th, followed by freshman Sam McCool (89th, 19:21), sophomores Rocco Manzo (110th, 19:33), Collin Leger (137th, 19:53) and Devin Johnson (153rd, 20:09) and freshman Tyler Mertes (168th, 20:26).

Medal/Apple winners Ryan Clevenger (sr), Tristan Jahn (so), Alec Danner (so), and Drew Pyburn (so).  And the photobomb by Spencer Casey (so)!

Complete results will be available at raceresultsplus.com.

--by Bill Stone

Senior Jack McGinnis bringing it up the final hill.

Drew Pyburn (so) demonstrating some great running form driving up the first big Dellwood Park hill.

Nick Chudzik with Jefferson Jr. High teammates!