WAUCONDA – Just how good Crystal Lake Central’s boys cross country team can be remains to be seen, although Saturday’s Wauconda Invitational offered a very favorable review.

The Tigers won the meet by 38 points – without their top runner, Alex Baker, who would have been an individual favorite in the race.

That Baker was out of the lineup to take the ACT exam did not faze the Tigers one bit. Junior Ryan Pitner finished 11th to lead Central to first place in the 22-team meet on the 3-mile course at Lakewood Forest Preserve. Mark Talarico was 17th and Adam Baker, Alex’s twin, was 19th.