Lincoln-Way Central’s boys cross country team continued its strong start to the season with a third-place finish at the Lyon High School Invitational on September 6.
According to reports, the Knights, ranked No. 18 in the state, faced a competitive 23-team field that included No. 3 Downers Grove South and No. 6 Hersey. Despite the challenging competition, Lincoln-Way Central demonstrated balance and depth across its lineup, indicating potential to match or exceed last year’s performance.
Senior Bryce Counihan delivered one of the day’s top performances by finishing in second place. His effort set the tone for the Knights’ “pack running” strategy, which kept the team competitive in the scoring ranks.
Junior Gavin Hoff also distinguished himself by earning Runner of the Week honors after improving his time by 1 minute and 15 seconds from his performance at the same meet in 2024. Coaches highlighted his improvement as evidence of the program’s developing depth.
Earlier this month, Lincoln-Way Central also secured third place out of 23 teams at the First to the Finish Invitational in Peoria, a meet often seen as a preview of postseason contenders. With multiple top-three finishes in September, Lincoln-Way Central appears poised to remain a significant presence in Illinois cross country as the season progresses.
