Defending NJCAA champion College of DuPage competed in its season opener at Lewis University on Friday and the Chaps finished eighth.
 
Tim O'Leary led the Chaps, finishing 37^th in the 6,000-meter race held on the Lewis course. He ran 21 minutes, 11.8 seconds, averaging 5:41 per mile over the 3.6-mile conversion course.
 
"Happy to see that we had our four top runners all within about 90 seconds of each other,'' head coach Robert Cervenka said. "We've got an entirely new group this year and we're encourgaged with our first effort.''
 
The women competed with three runners. Leading the way was Carmen Solis, who ran the 4,000-meter course in 17:43.1, a 7:08 per mile average.
 
"Carmen ran well,'' Cervenka said. "We'll build up our numbers on our team as the month progresses.''
 
COD competes Saturday at the Aurora Classic, held at the home site of this year's Region 4 race at the Northwestern Medicine Cross Country course in Geneva.
 
Lewis Flyers Flame Challenge
Friday, Sept. 1
Lewis University Course
Men | 6,000 m
Team: (top five and COD): Illinois-Chicago 18, Lewis 49, Olivet Nazarene 71, Indiana Tech 138, St. Xavier 150, Chaparrals 219.
Chaparrals
37. Tim O'Leary 21:11.8
70. Connor Vine 22:19.4
71. John Buchanan 22:21.3
75. Patrick Hohe 22:50.8
81. Connor Sisco 24:04.5
84. Matt Fitzgerald 26.08
 
Women | 4,000 m
Team: (top five): Northwestern 15, Lewis 65, Illinois-Chicago 67, Olivet Nazarene 131, Purdue Northwest 161, Chaparrals (competed with three runners)
Chaparrals
52. Carmen Solis 17:43.1
67. Alexandra Abood 20:11.8
73. Bianca Nunez 22:47.1