Jose Reyes — a long-time Major League shortstop currently playing for the New York Mets — is a good baseball name.
Jose Reyes, as it turns out, is a pretty good runner’s name, too.
The Highland Park junior is starting to make a name for himself. Reyes raced to a fourth-place performance at the Libertyville Invite on Sept. 16. He covered the three-mile layout at Adler Park in 16:29.3.
Three of his teammates — seniors Nate Amster (7th, 16:39.9), Fitz Laurie (8th, 16:40.0) and Alec Glazier (10th, 16:48.2) — also ended up in the top 10 to help the Giants (67 points) to a runner-up finish. HP’s fifth man was Jordy Mazza (38th).
Prospect took first with 41 points, while New Trier (5th, 122 points) followed in Libertyville (3rd, 106) and Chicago Jones (4th, 115).
Lake Forest, which placed 10th (230 points) in the 13-team event, also has an emerging star in sophomore Nathan Schmitt. He ran a 16:26.3 for second place. Alex Tam of Libertyville was the winner (16:00.1).
LF’s No. 2 runner was Ben Rosa (36th).
NT was led by senior Alex Kogen (15th, 16:56.7) and senior Jordan Meyer (18th, 17:04.8).
Meanwhile, on the girls side, New Trier worked its way to a runner-up finish (51 points) behind Lockport (43). Highland Park placed eighth in the 17-team field.
Senior Savannah Noethlich led the Trevians, taking fifth in 19:50.2. She was followed in by teammates Elizabeth Finnigan (8th, 19:55.6), Olivia Bhote (11th, 19:56.9), Madeline Dieffenbacher (13th, 19:59.2), Leah Ulrich (14th, 19:59.8), Emma Braband (15th, 20:01.6) and Caroline Trukenbrod (16th, 20:01.7).
HP was led by sophomore Stephanie Kriss (9th, 19:55.9). Fellow sophomore Jillian Butler ended up 41st in 20:53.6, while teammate Kaitlyn Twadell was 49th (21:41.4).
Warren Invite
— Sparked by senior Matt Jortberg, freshman Will Kelly and senior Jordan Theriault, Glenbrook South claimed runner-up honors (110 points) in the Warren Invite on Sept. 16.
Jortberg cruised the three-mile course in Gurnee in 15:32.4 to place seventh overall. Kelly took 12th (15:52.2), while Theriault came in 15th (15:56.7).
GBS’s other scorers Joey Pauletto (32nd) and Charlie Schultz (44th).
Mundelein won the race with 60 points.
Glenbrook North finished 10th (279 points) in the 18-team meet. Mike Lee was the team’s top finisher (34th).
In the girls race, Glenbrook South place fifth (127 points) among 20 teams. Glenbrook North finished seventh (206 points), while Fremd took first place (64 points).
GBS was led by sophomore Kate Jortberg (3rd, 18:13.4) and senior Kayleigh Pitterman (4th, 18:21.5). Junior Lauren Hayes was 28th (19:38.9). The other scorers were Emily Noone (45th) and Lila Frick (48th).
Freshman Natalie Sandlow was GBN’s standout. She finished seventh in 18:49.5. Teammate Maya Epstein came in 34th (19:49.6).
Wauconda Invite
— Sophomore Kate Jortberg and senior Kayleigh Pitterman proved to be a terrific tandem.
The duo sparked the Glenbrook South girls cross country team to a third-place finish at the Wauconda Invite on Sept. 9. Jortberg completed the three-mile layout at Matthews Middle School in Island Lake in 18:11.0 to earn runner-up honors to Wheaton Warrenville South’s Maria Rucoba (17:39.5).
Pitterman was clocked in 18:32.2 to place fourth overall.
GBS tallied 128 points to finish behind Wheaton Warrenville South (29) and Geneva (70) in the team standings.
GBS’s other scorers were Lauren Hayes (32nd), Gigi Walsh (53rd) and Megan Kennedy (56th).
In the boys race, Lake Forest sophomore Nathan Schmitt was a standout. He came sixth in a time of 15:18.5.
The Scouts took fifth in the 14-team event with a 152 points.
LF’s other scorers were sophomore Ben Rosa (21st, 16:13.8), senior Eric Krieg (36th, 16:44.8), junior Elijah Fietsam (36th, 16:45.3) and Joshua Lane (55th).
First to Finish Invite
— Patrick Norrick of New Trier raced to a fifth-place finish in the First to Finish Invite at Peoria’s Detweiller Park on Sept. 9.
Norrick was one 11 runners to under 15 minutes (14:53.9). Danny Kilrea of Lyons took first in 14:02.3.
New Trier finished eighth (326 points) in the 47-team field. Highland Park came in 16th (471), while Downers Grove North claimed the title with 139 points.
HP had three runners finish in the top 42: Fitz Laurie (34th, 15:27.5), Jose Reyes (38th, 15:32.9) and Alec Glazier (42nd, 15:36.6).
Ford Baker was NT’s No. 2 runner (51st, 15:42.6).
In the girls race, New Trier (399 points) ended up 14th in a field of 38 teams. Junior Caroline Trukenbrod finished 50th in 18:51.7.
HP was led by sophomores Stephanie Kriss (42nd, 18:41.6) and Jillian Butler (44th, 18.45.5). The Giants placed 20th (604 points).
Hinsdale Invite
— New Trier’s Patrick Norrick and Lake Forest’s Brett Chody were two of the standouts in the Hinsdale Hornet-Red Devil Invitational on Sept. 2.
In the boys race, Norrick, a senior, raced to a third-place finish (15:13.5) on the Katherine Legge Park course.
New Trier finished fourth in the team standings with 145 points. Highland Park ended up eighth with 232 points, while Neuqua Valley took the title with 42 points.
NT’s top five also included junior Ford Baker (29th, 16:02.0), senior John Izzo (35th, 16:13.2), junior Graeme Lane (38th, 16:15.0) and junior Charles Forbes (45th, 16:23.1).
Jose Reyes led the way for Highland Park. The junior came in 19th in a time of 15:50.5.
The Giants also received solid work from senior Alec Glazier (23rd, 15:51.8) and senior Fitz Laurie (30th, 16:06.0).
Meanwhile, Chody, who missed last spring’s track and field season due to an injury, placed sixth overall in the girls race. The senior cruised the three miles in 18:13.7.
LF placed 12th in the team standings with 316 points.
New Trier and Highland Park also competed in the meet. Led by junior Leah Ulrich (20th, 19:18.8), NT came in fifth with 137 points.
The Trevians had four other runners finish in the top 34: junior Elizabeth Finnigan (24th, 19:22.0), senior Savannah Noethlich (27th, 19:26.9), sophomore Bridget Forbes (32nd, 19:32.2) and junior Caroline Trukenbrod (34th, 19:39.4).
Highland Park wound up in 11th place (311). The Giants were paced by sophomore Stepanie Kriss (10th, 18:45.5). Sophomore Jillian Butler was 53rd (20:13.6).
Hinsdale Central edged Glenbard West 84-86 to win the team title.