The rain never stopped, and neither did Sean Torpy.
The Sandburg senior raced to the individual championship Saturday at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional to lead the Eagles to the team title, 45-65 over the host Red Devils.
Hinsdale Central is the defending 3A state champs.
“Our main goal was getting to the front, especially early with the creek right after the first mile,” Torpy said. “Get our team up in front, like we always do, communicate. Grow from there and start establishing gaps.”
Torpy covered the muddy Katherine Legge Park course in 14 minutes, 57 seconds, four seconds clear of Lyons’ Danny Kilrea (second, 15:01) and Hinsdale Central All-Stater Blake Evertsen (third, 15:14).
“Sean was awesome,” Sandburg coach John O’Malley said. “The Lyons and Hinsdale kids are state contenders for the individual title. Sean was able to outrun them in the last half-mile, last 1,200 meters.”
Sean’s twin brother, Chris, was Sandburg’s second finisher, placing sixth in 15:25.
“We wanted to win. It was a big goal,” Chris Torpy said. “We knew how to execute, no matter how we are feeling. We want to take this one step at a time, so state wasn’t our focus this week.”
Sandburg’s top five finishers were all seniors, including Max Lehnhardt (eighth, 15:29), Brandon Lukas (12th, 15:35) and Tom Brennan (18th, 15:57), the latter who missed 12 days of running due to a hamstring injury.
Competing in less-than-ideal weather isn’t unusual for a cross country race, but the conditions Saturday were especially challenging.
“Honestly, you don’t really think about it during the race,” Chris Torpy said. “Other than the creek, we’re not used to doing that.
“Once you get going, your mind is totally in the race. I was getting water in my eyes and stuff kicked up in my face. You don’t notice it until after when you look at yourself.”
The negative for Sandburg was a hamstring injury to Dylan Jacobs, one of the Eagles’ top runners.
“Sectional is about getting the right teams out and being healthy and ready to go for state,” O’Malley said. “Running through a creek didn’t turn out to be the best thing for us.”
Shepard junior Caleb Washington (13th, 15:36) was one of seven individual runners to advance to the state meet and was the top Southland individual qualifier.
“I actually had a lot of fun. I know that sounds kind of weird,” Washington said of the soggy course. “Other guys, they kind of struggle in these conditions. Me, I get out here. I know what I have to do, so I just fight through it.”
More Top Picks Dash Cam
Washington will be joined downstate by teammate Paul Milkus (22nd, 16:01), fourth among the individual qualifiers.
In the girls race, Karlee Stortz placed sixth (18:21) and Morgan Bollinger 11th (18:37) to help Lockport tie Lyons for second behind Hinsdale Central.
“Very muddy, very wet, but our girls like that kind of stuff. They thrive in it,” Lockport coach Erin Truesdale said.
“Our team loves the mud. We embrace it,” Stortz said.
Normal Sectional: Illiana Christian and Lincoln-Way North finished third and fourth, respectively, to advance to the 3A boys state meet. Illiana’s Colin DeYoung, a 2A All-Stater last year, finished second (15:26).
2A highlights: Marist’s girls claimed the fifth and final state-qualifying spot at the Wheaton Academy Sectional to earn the program’s first team berth in Peoria.
Marist’s top five were Maryclare Leonard (ninth), Jill Borza (14th), Bridget McDermott (33rd), Catherine Viz (37th) and Carlin McNulty (42nd).
1A highlights: A first-time regional and sectional champ last year, Chicago Christian completed the same sweep Saturday by winning the girls Lisle Sectional, 53-96 over Westmont.
Chicago Christian’s first five were April van Ryn (second, 20:18), Allie Boss (fifth, 20:46), Jill Van Dyke (12th, 21:31), Cassidy VandeKamp (13th, 21:39) and Sarah Claud (21st, 22:09).
Tim Tierney is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.