Some preseason rankings had Reavis senior Santiago Chavez as a serious contender to win the Class 3A individual boys cross country championship.
His time to prove it comes on Nov. 7 at the IHSA state meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
Chavez breezed through the Lyons Sectional on Oct. 31 with a 14:42.46 on the 5,000-meter course, well ahead of Downers Grove North’s Stephen Cox at 14:54.90. He is the first sectional champ in program history.
The Louisville commit said he is not thinking about the rankings or expectations as he heads to Peoria.
“I feel there is some pressure because people expect you to come out and win,” Chavez said. “But I don’t really pay attention to that.”
He is no stranger to the state meet, and last year finished 21st to earn all-state honors.
“You have to stay patient in the first and second mile and go out hard and finish strong in that last mile,” he said.
Lyons boys grabbed the seventh and final state-qualifying berth.
In the girls division, at Lyons, Sandburg junior Ella Giblin was the top local finisher in fourth with an 18:08.77. The Eagles finished fifth to advance to state as a team.
Nazareth took second in the Class 2A Kaneland Sectional. Junior Kathleen Hardy led the Roadrunners with an 18:13.45, good for sixth place.
Knights win first sectional
Chicago Christian won the first sectional boys soccer title in program history on Oct. 30, beating IC Catholic 2-0 in Class 1A action at St. Francis.
Simon Chrobak and Dylan Lenarz scored for the Knights (18-8) and Crew Maloni added an assist to send the team to the Nov. 2 supersectional against Cristo Rey St. Martin at Benedictine.
Volleyball champs
After regional action, girls volleyball national powers Marist and Mother McAuley were still on a collision course at the Class 4A Argo Sectional on Nov. 5 in Summit.
Marist and McAuley each won regionals on Oct. 29, while St. Laurence and Lyons also claimed titles in Class 4A.
Evergreen Park, De La Salle, Nazareth and Hancock were Class 3A champs, while Horizon-McKinley and Acero-Soto won 2A regionals.
College football report
Mount Carmel graduate Joey Thompson caught five passes for 110 yards in St. Xavier’s 44-22 home win over Judson on Oct. 31 in a Mid-States Football Association Midwest League game.
The Cougars (5-4, 3-0) visit Marian (Indiana) at 12:05 p.m. Nov. 7 in Indianapolis.
Chicago State earned its second win of the year, 80-17 over National Christian College Athletic Association member Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 31 at SeatGeek Stadium as Tre’ Hartell rushed for four touchdowns.
The Cougars (2-7) host Virginia University of Lynchburg at noon Nov. 14 at SeatGeek Stadium.
Fire back in Bridgeview
The Chicago Fire wrap up the MLS season hosting Columbus on Decision Day at 3 p.m. on Nov. 7 at SeatGeek Stadium. The Fire, who normally play at Soldier Field, will also likely host MLS playoff games in Bridgeview because of conflicts with the Chicago Bears.
The Fire (16-10-7) tied Orlando City 2-2 on Oct. 28 and beat Colorado, 4-2, on Oct. 31.