Lincoln-Way West’s Evan Mitchell knows what it’s like to be in a class by himself.
West is in Class 2A for cross country, but Mitchell outdid most of the 3A individuals in an elite field at the recent Lockport Invitational.
It didn’t come as a surprise when Mitchell finished eighth (16:08) out of 203 runners at hilly Dellwood Park. The junior standout was 33rd in the 2A state meet last season, best among Southland runners not from Illiana Christian.
“Those hills in Dellwood, it kills you,” he said. “I took it a little faster than usual. I wanted to get that sectional, state feel to it.”
Mitchell got that feeling from Buffalo Grove’s Kevin Salvano, the individual champion who was fifth in 3A last year. The Lockport field also included Neuqua Valley and Glenbard West, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the team scoring at the 2014 state meet.
Mitchell outraced everyone Saturday at the Jimmy Daniels/Olympian Run Invitational. He placed first (15:54.7), ahead of Marist’s Matt Wagner (16:09.6) at Rich Central.
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Mitchell has to do without the camaraderie of fellow 2014 state qualifier Mitch Feehan, who’s out for the season because of a stress fracture.
A leg injury kept Mitchell from being healthy last year at the SouthWest Suburban Red meet, where he finished eighth.
“I’ll try to win it this year,” he said of Saturday’s meet at Turtlehead Lake Forest Preserve.
Lincoln-Way West will be in the 2A Crete-Monee Regional on Oct. 24. Then, it’s the Normal Sectional on Oct. 31 to get a spot at the state final.
“State, I feel like it’s going to be redemption because last year I got 33rd and missed on All-State,” Mitchell said. “Top 10 is the goal.”
At the top: Sandburg climbed to No. 1 in the national high school rankings released last week by Mile Split USA.
With a split squad, Sandburg won both the Peoria Invitational and the St. Charles North Invitational on Oct. 3. The Eagles then took a Saturday off going into the SouthWest Suburban Blue meet this Saturday at Dellwood Park in Lockport.
The deep team has been led by twins Chris and Sean Torpy, Tom Brennan, Martin Skucas, Max Lehnhardt, Brandon Lukas, Dylan Jacobs, Dan Laskero, David Gleisner and Paul Sieczkowski.
“It’s been an exciting season,” coach John O’Malley said.
Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey dropped to No. 2 in the poll.
Conference chase: One of the biggest days of the season for many teams will be Saturday with conference meets.
On the boys side, Lincoln-Way North hopes to run down defending SouthWest Red champion Lincoln-Way Central at Turtlehead Lake. Shepard wants to reclaim the South Suburban Red title from Oak Lawn.
Leo senior Sirlaurence King, a two-time 1A state qualifier, will be a runner to watch against 3A powers Loyola and St. Ignatius in the Catholic League meet at Lewis University.
In girls meets, North’s Carly Marchal will chase a second individual title and Central will go for another team championship in the SouthWest Red. Lockport (SouthWest Blue) and Lemont (South Suburban Blue) are favored to retain their titles.
Attention-getters: Individuals who have moved up the Southland ladder this season include three juniors — Thornton’s Harry Osborne, Reavis’ John Behling and Brother Rice’s Joe Sweeney.
Osborne clocked 16:06 for fourth place in the big school Championship Division of the Tinley Park Invitational. Osborne is having cross country success at a school known more for its track tradition.
Behling was fifth at the Reavis Invitational and sixth at the Tinley Park Championship race. Sweeney ran 16:08 for seventh at the Wheaton Academy Classic.
Tim Tierney is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.