In the past, the Plainfield East High School boys cross country team had a hard time with the heat.
Not the temperature outside, but the competition and the mental hurdle that goes with it.
The Bengals survived temperatures approaching 90 and a quality field to win its first invitational championship at the Plainfield Central Invite Saturday in Plainfield.
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The Bengals placed three runners in the top 10 and finished with 52 points. Plainfield East is in its third season of varsity competition.
Joseph Suarez (fifth place in 16:34), Collin Warke (eighth in 16:50) and Jake Runnion (10th in 16:59) led the Bengals to their record-setting performance.
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Lincoln-Way East finished second (101 points) and Lockport was third (104).
Individually, Lockport’s Thomas Razo was first, covering the three-mile course in 16:03.
A heat index in the low 90s took a toll as a number of runners were taken away from the meet by ambulance. Most of those were for dehydration.
Among them were Plainfield Central’s top finisher, Brad Anderson (16th place in 17:14).
Plainfield Central’s John Principato took 18th in 17:16.
In the girls race, Lockport was first with 42 points.
Westmont was second with 78 and the host Wildcats placed third with 98 points.
The top local finisher was Emily Vihnanek of Plainfield Central. The junior took lucky 13th in 20:45.
“I wanted to finish in the top 10,” Vihnanek said. “I was close. I took 13th. But, we stayed together because Grace (Lawrence) and Nicky (Pease) were right behind me. I’d rather have them with me than finishing alone.”
Pease was 17th in 20:51 and Lawrence placed 18th in 21:04.
“We see the benefits of running in a back,” Lawrence said. “Our top five placed in the top 30 and we’ve never done that.”
Joliet West took seventh with 186 points. The Tigers’ top finisher was Hailey Salazar, who ran a 21:29 to take 24th.
