Runners don’t expect to run in temperatures in the 80s this late in the season, but cross country is all about overcoming the course and conditions.

Saturday morning in the Pat Savage Invitational at Niles West, Montini senior Sydney Gertsen rolled to first place in the individual competition with a time of 17:29.39.

Deerfield outdistanced St. Viator 63-104 for the Red Division team title. Vernon Hills edged Montini 121-125 for third place in the Red Division followed by Lakes (148 points) in fifth, Wauconda (187) in seventh, and Fenton (206) in ninth.

“I’m happy, my goal was to stick with the lead pack for the first mile and then pull away,” said Gertsen, who placed sixth in Class 1A last year. “We’re definitely looking better than last year, and this was Ashlynn (Lindt’s) second rac

See Full Page