CROSS COUNTRY: Oak Lawn’s Eric Lindelsee finished in 15 minutes, 38 seconds — 23 seconds ahead of Shepard’s Abel Hernandez, to propel the Spartans to the boys South Suburban Red conference title. Shepard’s Lauren Loomis won the girls race to lift the Astros to the title.

Updated: October 15, 2011 10:09PM

Oak Lawn’s Eric Lindelsee and Shepard’s Lauren Loomis proved they were the class of South Suburban Red cross country Saturday, each winning a conference title in dominating fashion while leading their teams to conference crowns.

Oak Lawn rolled to the team title in the boys race at Conkey Woods in Palos Heights, scoring 32 points to top Shepard (51) and Eisenhower (90).

Lindelsee finished in 15 minutes, 38 seconds — 23 seconds ahead of Shepard’s Abel Hernandez.

“My goal coming in was to get under 15 (minutes),” Lindelsee said. “With the wind, I knew there was no way that’d happen. So I just focused on getting first place. Our first goal all season was to win conference as a team. It’s very exciting.”

The Spartans claimed their first conference crown since 2008. Freshman Nick Minnella (16:22) backed Lindelsee with a fourth-place finish.

T.J. Michaels (7th, 16:31), Dan Powers (9th, 16:47) and Joe Probst (11th, 16:49) also contributed for Oak Lawn.

Richards’ Tim Geraghty (3rd, 16:11), Eisenhower’s Richie Wilson (5th, 16:28), Shepard’s Ryan Busch (6th, 16:29), Evergreen Park’s Brandon Ceh (8th, 16:41) and Reavis’ David Palac (10th, 16:48) were medalists.

In the girls race, Shepard won its first South Suburban Red title in thrilling fashion. The Astros and Argo tied with 35 points, Shepard winning on a tiebreaker as the difference-maker was Amy Miller (22:04), who finished 16th as Shepard’s sixth runner.

Loomis (18:50) topped Argo’s Alexandra Baczynski by 56 seconds for first place.

“I don’t plan on anything,” Loomis said. “It just happens. Our team is so great and I couldn’t do it without them. We’re all pulling each other.”

Alondra Delfin (4th, 20:03), Janet Ramos (5th, 20:24), Jackie Navarrete (11th, 21:06) and Katrina Tillman (14th, 21:32) contributed for Shepard.

Other medalists were Argo’s Brittany Green (3rd, 19:56), Iris Cruz (8th, 20:50) and Megan Jungel (10th, 21:04), Eisenhower’s Dalila Alcala (6th, 20:31), Oak Lawn’s Kasia Szczurek (7th, 20:40) and Reavis’ Maggie Wojtowicz (9th, 20:52).

Reavis (74) finished third.

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