Nick Strayer’s second straight individual title at the annual Lyons Township High School Mike Kuharic Invitational was even sweeter Saturday. For Strayer, it’s his senior year and next-to-last home cross country race prior to the Class 3A regionals.
And this time fellow LTHS senior standout Cillian Henning was a close second.
“The crowd always feels a lot better when you’re home,” Strayer said. “You have a great turnout and it’s great to see teachers or people who don’t normally come to meets. It’s always extra special when it’s a home cross country meet.”
The Lions, ranked No. 9 pre-season in 3A by both ILXCTF.com and MileSplit IL, edged No. 12/23 West Aurora 76-80 for the team title.
No. 15/14 and defending 2A state champion Riverside-Brookfield (108 points) was third in its first significant test after moving to 3A this season. The Bulldogs were among the three teams in the field to earn top-20 pre-season rankings.
Strayer (15:24.0) and Henning (15:24.6) were roughly seven seconds ahead of the third-place finisher on the 5-kilometer (3.11 miles) course.
Lyons Julianne Melby leads the pack of Lions runners during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston / Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Jack O’Brien and West Aurora’s Samuel Rocio sprint to the finish line during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston / Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons’ Benjamin Wuggazer during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston / Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Maria Dalton during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston / Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Julianne Melby makes a turn on the course during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston / Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Brady Norman heads to the finish line during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston / Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Gianna Gelb heads to the finish line during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, September 2, 2023 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston / Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
RBHS senior Cooper Marrs was fourth (15:44.7).
RBHS senior Jack O’Brien (14th, 16:23.2) and junior Brady Norman (15th, 16:29.2) and LTHS juniors Ben Wuggazer (17th, 16:31.6) and Tate Pavelka (19th, 16:32.2) all cracked the top 20.
RBHS junior Diego Lopez-Molina (35th, 17:06.0) and senior Will Kallas (41st, 17:20.1) and LTHS sophomore Patrick Collins (37th, 17:10.8) and senior Mak Washchuk (39th, 17:15.8) placed among the top 50.
Other finishers were LTHS senior Brendan Whelton (58th, 17:53.8) and RBHS junior Asa Kahle (62nd, 17:55.6) and senior Evan McMullen (73rd, 18:12.2).
In 2022, Strayer (15:32.44) came from behind and edged Marrs (15:34.94) for the title. Henning was fourth (16:03.95).
On Saturday, the Lions’ returning 3A all-staters were among five frontrunners at two miles before pulling away just before three miles.
“We raced it out. [Henning] passed me with about 400 to go and I got him right at the 3-mile mark,” Strayer said. “It’s always fun racing him to the line.”
In the girls race, No. 7/9 LTHS girls (55 points) finished second to No. 4/5 Downers Grove North (26) with No. 20/20 Sandburg third (71). RBHS (317) was 12th.
LTHS seniors Julianne Melby (19:09.7) and Anna Bylsma (19:39.9) were fifth and eighth respectively. Seniors Madison Findley (12th, 19:49.4) and Lauren Bohringer (16th, 19:58.2) and junior Leigh Ferrell (19th, 20:12.6) also were top-20, followed by seniors Kristina Findley (33rd, 20:56.1) and Kelly Makovic (47th, 21:42.5).
RBHS junior Gianna Gelb was 39th (21:15.1), followed by seniors Maria Dalton (62nd, 22:27.3), Lily Kocourek (71st, 22:47.0) and Maia Nelson (74th, 23:09.8) and sophomores Rebecca Dosek (80th, 23:24.3) and Abby Ford (90th, 25:08.8) and Elli Barsotti (106th, 26:31.1).
RBHS and LTHS compete Saturday in the First to the Finish Invitational at Peoria’s Detweiller Park, the annual course for the state meet. The boys field includes No. 1-ranked Downers Grove North and defending state champion Plainfield South.
