Dramatic finish favors Grant over Cary-Grove
There was a lot of drama between the Cary-Grove and Grant girls cross country squads as they headed down the stretch of the 3-mile race Saturday morning in the Wauconda Invitational.
The Trojans gave the Bulldogs all they could handle on the damp Lakewood Forest Preserve course, but it was Grant capturing the championship of the 15-team meet by an 88-96 score over runner-up Cary-Grove.
Warren edged Crystal Lake South 103-104 for third place, while Lake Zurich placed fifth with 130 points.
Most of the teams did not have their full lineup intact for the meet on the ACT examination day. Cary-Grove was missing No. 2 runner Talia Duzey.
The 47-degree temperatures for the meet felt much more like what runners would experience in late October. But that was just fine with the Bulldogs, as they put four runners in the top 15.
Junior Madison Romig was Grant's top runner in 10th place followed by the sophomore trio of teammates Brooke Drabek (13th), Rachael Temple (14th) and Lauren Troemel (15th).
“We knew it was going to be really close,” Grant coach Jeff Durlak said. “Our first four ran outstanding — within 17 seconds of each other — so we had an awesome group up front. We were resting Kaleigh Bauer today, so (Roxanne) Temple (44th) ran great for a freshman. She filled in huge today.”
It was also a huge day for Cary-Grove senior Morgan Schultz, who had a breakthrough meet by winning her first invitational meet with a time of 18:07.9.
“Morgan looked really good,” C-G coach Mark Anderson said. “We went into this meet knowing that she could actually win it.”
Lakes junior Kortney Schardt (18:17.1) continued to shine, placing second, after she took first place on the same course at the Lake County meet just 10 days ago.
“With about 800 meters to go, I decided I wanted to kick and I didn't stop from there,” said Schultz, who is only a second-year cross country runner. “We performed really well. We went with a positive attitude, even though we didn't have everybody today.”
Cary-Grove was missing two of its top seven runners. The Trojans' pack also featured a 20th from junior Sarah Riley, 21st from sophomore Linnea Yokup and 25th from sophomore Sara Caesar.
“Grant clearly won, but I was very happy with their showing today,” said Anderson, who also got a 34th-place run from senior Magalie Baker.”
Warren's push for third place was led by senior Becky Haight's fourth-place finish with great pack-running support from teammates Emily Jahn (23rd), Sammi Jo Nixon (27th), Michelle Klimt (28th) and Elizabeth Abundes (29th).
“I loved what we did today. We ran a team race, and Haight was in the top five,” said Warren coach Brett Heimstead, who has five seniors in his top seven. “They were running just where we need them to be, just like in practice. They have really good senior leadership.”
Crystal Lake South just missed out on third place, but the Gators had a great team effort with senior Kiley Britten (fifth) and sophomore Caitlin Bruzzini (seventh) setting the tone for their pack. CLS also got a 17th-place run from junior Andie Kobrick and 24th from junior Jenny Luken.
“They ran really well. Our top three have just been rock-solid, and they're just hard workers,” said CLS coach Ken Greenfield. “I thought the girls ran well, and that was probably the best meet I've seen (senior) Katie Davis run since her freshman year.”
Lake Zurich was without three to four of its top runners. Caitlin Shepard (eighth) and Nicole Syverson (ninth) were impressive for the Bears.
“It was a good race. They ran well, for sure, and we're just getting our legs as a team,” said Lake Zurich coach Ian Silverman. “We've got to run in the cold sometimes, and it is usually cold at sectionals.”
Huntley was led by freshman Chloe Smith in 19th place, while senior Kelsey Loar was Mundelein's top runner in 31st place. Senior Brooke Wilt added a 32nd-place finish for the Blue Devils, while Lluvia Chavarria was Round Lake's top runner in 35th.
Lakes coach Keith West has been impressed with the maturity of Schardt.
“I'm really happy with how Kortney did,” West said. “Every time she runs, she improves on one area of her racing. It was a face pace, her stride was powerful, and she looked very strong.”