Devils hunt for state berth

Updated: October 25, 2011 6:02PM

Favorite Jack Feldman was expected to win the Class 3A Lyons Regional Saturday in Western Springs.

But Hinsdale Central accomplished something it couldn’t do last season by winning the regional title when Ted Lyons and Ryan Somerfield finished in the top eight.

The trio propelled the Devils to the top in the nine-team regional with 40 points to beat Downers Grove North (51). Lyons won last year’s regional title over Hinsdale Central.

After finishing 14th in last year’s state meet, the Devils will try to advance to state with a top five spot at the Lockport Sectional at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dellwood Park.

Somerfield said it may have helped Hinsdale Central by running at Lyons’ South campus course for the second consecutive weekend. The Devils were second there Oct. 15 in the West Suburban Silver meet.

“It was beautiful weather. We knew were we needed to be at certain points of the race,” said Somerfield, a junior. “Our strategy for the regional Saturday was that we wanted to maintain a pack for the first 1 1/2 to two miles. After that, make it a race and finish strong.”

Feldman (15:15.64) beat Downers South’s Harrison Miles (15:23.31) for the individual title.

Lyons (sixth, 15:35), Somerfield (eighth, 15:38), Neil Pedersen (12th, 15:55) and Ted Owen (13th, 15:56) were the rest of the Devils’ scorers.

Lyons was the team’s biggest surprise after placing 28th in the conference meet one week earlier. His finish didn’t even count considering he as Hinsdale Central’s sixth runner across.

In another possible boost, the Devils will be running at Dellwood Park for the second time this season after finishing third at the Lockport Invitational Oct. 1. Feldman was fourth that day among individuals.

“We are fortunate to have a runner like Jack,” Somerfield said. “He’s both an influential captain of the team and up front, he takes care of the pace for the rest of us.”

GIRLS: The Lockport Sectional should feature another showdown between last year’s top two finishers in the state meet. Defending champion Ariel Michalek of Oswego East will meet state runner-up Jill Hardies of Hinsdale Central, who won the regional in 17:30.

The Devils (97) took fourth as a team with Rebecca Marcotte (18th, 19:03), Susan Spencer (23rd, 19:22), Becky Ventura (25th, 19:34) and Katie Gelman (30th, 20:03).

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