Trojans qualify for 3A state meet

The Downers Grove North boys cross country team is going to the Class 3A state meet for the third year in a row.
The Trojans earned the fifth and final team qualifying spot at the Hinsdale Central Sectional Saturday, Oct. 31, at a rainy Katherine Legge Memorial Park.
Junior Alec Danner was fourth (15:16.49 for 3.0 miles).
The sophomore pack of Nick Chudzik (25th, 16:08.03), Jacob Ridderhoff (29th, 16:12.05) and Ryan Birkmeier (34th, 16:16.32) and freshman Matt Moravec (42nd, 16:25.85) rounded out the top five, followed by sophomore Sam McCool (53rd, 16:41.20) and senior Robby Prescott (73rd, 16:54.34).
The Trojans (134 points) finished 21 points ahead of sixth-place Plainfield South – the two teams expected to battle for the final qualifying spot. They also were just one point behind fourth-place Downers Grove South (133).
Plainfield South’s top-five finishers were 21-28-30-31-45 overall. At the Plainfield South Regional, Danner won the race but the Trojans (53) finished third behind the Cougars (43) and champion Downers South (33).
Three top-three trophy contenders took the top three places at sectionals – Sandburg (45), Hinsdale Central (65) and Lyons Township (74).
The 3A boys state race is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Peoria’s Detweiller Park. Awards are at 3 p.m.
The only other time that the Trojans have qualified for the state meet as a team in three consecutive years is 2002-04 under former head coach Will Kupisch.

3A boys team state meet field
Team qualifiers (25): DOWNERS GROVE NORTH, Buffalo Grove, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Hoffman Estates, Illiana Christian, Joliet Central, Lake Zurich, Lincoln-Way North, Lyons Township, Maine South, Marmion Academy, McHenry, Minooka, Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley, New Trier, O’Fallon, Plainfield North, Prospect, St. Charles East, Sandburg, Wheaton North, Whitney Young, York
Individual qualifiers (35 from 27 schools): Benet Academy, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, East Aurora, Glenbard West, Granite City, Highland Park, Huntley (3), Joliet West, Lake Forest, Lake Park, Lincoln-Way Central, Moline, Naperville North, Niles North (2), Northside, Oak Park-River Forest (2), Oswego, Oswego East, Plainfield South (3), St. Ignatius, Shepard (2), Stevenson, (East Moline) United (2), Warren, Wheeling