Koziol wins open race, Hernandez runs season-best time

MAPLE PARK — The Rochelle Hub and Lady Hub cross country teams competed in the annual Larry Eddington Invitational at Kaneland High School on Saturday afternoon. Hub senior Luis Hernandez ran the fastest time for the RTHS runners, clocking in with a time of 16:58.20 to finish 71st out of 156 athletes in the varsity race.

Four Hubs compete in the open race on Saturday, with sophomore Declan McGee taking 10th out of 80 runners to lead the Rochelle group. McGee finished with a time of 17:48.60, while sophomore Levi Waddle took 40th with a time of 20:13.50. Juniors Cash Budde and Christopher Beckman finished 70th and 71st with respective times of 23:04.60 and 24:22.50 for the Hubs.

The Lady Hubs placed third out of 11 competing schools in the open race. Sophomore Annaliese Koziol led the Rochelle group, finishing first out of 122 runners with a time of 20:41.40 while sophomore Rose Luxton finished 25th with a time of 24:49.60. Sophomore Mary Chadwick and junior Brisa Zepeda took 32nd and 35th with respective times of 25:07.30 and 25:15.80 for the Lady Hubs.

Other notable finishers for the Lady Hubs include freshman Vivian Worthington (46th in 25:55.80), junior Bridgett Ramirez (71st in 27:15.30), sophomore Bella Biggs (100th in 29:39.60) and freshman Magaly Belmonte (121st in 37:11.70). Rochelle will travel for the Byron Invitational on Wednesday afternoon before hitting the road for the annual Rock River Run in Sterling.