Downers Grove area teams thrive at regionals

Junior Benjamin Silver of Downers Grove North was the first to finish at Oct. 24's Lyons Township Regional held at the school.

He completed the three-mile course in 16 minutes, 3 seconds.

His efforts and that of his teammates led the Trojans to a third-place finish (63 points) in this boys cross country competition and a spot in Oct. 31's Class 3A Lockport Sectional at Dellwood Park. Downers Grove South (74) also heads to Lockport after finishing fourth.

Other North finishers included Andrew Montague (11th-16:51), Brian Llamas (12th-16:51), Andrew Stawartz (17th-17:04), Mitchell Penninger (22nd-17:16), Joshua Williams (24th-17:21) and Matther Sarver (26th-17:41).

Senior Bobby Castillo was sixth for the Mustangs (16:31) and Jeff Lester was ninth (16:41). Also competing were Spencer Zidarich (13th-16:52), Eric Bernard (19th-17:10), Bobby Mueller (27th-17:43), Harrison Miles (37th-18:37) and Steve Husby (38th-18:44).

Both North and South girls teams head to sectional competition after also making it out of the Lyons Township Regional.

North was second with 47, just 10 points behind the victorious hosts. South was fourth (112).

Juniors Samantha Fry and Gabriella Effrein led the way for the Trojans with Fry placing third (18:56) and Effrein taking fourth (19:10).

Gabrielle Hesslau was eighth for North (19:24) and following her were teammates Allison Proffitt (14th-19:49), Dana Rotz (18th-20:04), Jillian Kothanek (19th-20:06) and Jessica Bates (20th-20:06).

Top runner for South was Jacquelyn Thate (16th-19:59) and also competing were Casey Harms (22nd-20:16), Rebecca Stearns (23rd-20:23), Amy Rotunno (25th-20:37), Cara Drennan (26th-20:40), Allison Tusek (29th-21:01) and Maddie Cahill (30th-21:03).

The girls race at the Lockport Sectional starts at 10:45 a.m. Oct. 31 followed by the boys' event at 11:45 a.m.

The Broncos' girls team finished third at the Fenton Regional and advances to the Class 2A Belvidere Sectional on Oct. 31.

Montini, which finished with 86 points, was led by sophomore Ericka Laviste (19:44) who finished fourth. Also competing for the Broncos were Theresa Connelly (19:48), Claire Smego (21:10), Kelly Boyd (21:20), Stephanie Kaefer (21:48), Theresa Weber (22:15) and Daniella Elias (22:31).

Heading to Belvidere for the boys team is senior Michael Rigor, who finished 26th in 18:14 at Fenton.

The boys race at Belvidere starts at 10 a.m. followed by the girls at 11 a.m.