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Invite win shows Glenbard West a force to be reckoned with

The fortunes of the girls cross country program at Glenbard West have changed dramatically in recent years.

The defending Class 3A champion won its third invitational of the young season in what is annually a dress rehearsal come November: the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational.

Lindsay Graham was runner-up to host Notre Dame junior Maryjeanne Gilbert to lead the Hilltoppers' charge at Detweiller Park, the state finals site.

"I think it's one of the deepest meets in the state of Illinois," Glenbard West coach Paul Hass said. "I can remember a time when we were happy to finish in the top 20. To win it two times in the last three years in kind of surreal."

The Hilltoppers held off Palatine to win the team title at Notre Dame.

Glenbard West lost state-record-holder Madeline Perez to graduation, but the team is once again deemed the best in the state behind Graham, Lisa Luczak, Grace Rogers, Kathryn Kenwood, Janie Nabholz and Megan Ozog.

Freshman Lindsey Payne is also expected to be a major factor as the season unfolds as well.

Rogers, Kenwood and Nabholz finished between ninth and 14th last weekend in Peoria.

Luczak missed the race with a nagging injury.

"We made the right decision in holding (Luczak) out," Hass said.

The Hilltoppers' depth and balance once again carried the day.

"The pack-running mentality has really helped us," Hass said. "That's what I have been most pleased with."

Graham has assumed the anchor role that Perez fulfilled the last three years.

"She is running so well for us," Hass said of Graham, who was timed in 16 minutes, 51 seconds last weekend. "She showed that she is one of the top contenders to be top five in the state."

Two days before, Graham set a new course record - breaking the mark Perez set as a junior - on the Hilltoppers' home course.

Don't forget the Huskies:

The Naperville North girls are also poised to make their customary charge behind their state-seasoned lineup.

The Huskies will make their annual trip to the Twin Cities this weekend to compete in an all-star field in St. Paul, Minn.

"We will compete with some of the top teams in the country," Naperville North coach Dan Iverson said. "It's always a good experience."

The Huskies were without senior standout Elly DeTurris at their last major competition, the Peoria Woodruff Invitational at Detweiller Park.

"We learned some things about ourselves in regard to Elly not running," Iverson said. "We will be better because of it."

DeTurris headlines six returning members of the Huskies' reigning state runner-up contingent.

Iverson also has the luxury of a talented freshman class.

Natalie Dunnett and Sarah Schmitt are two freshmen who have already cracked the starting lineup this fall.

Small school, big hopes:

Montini has made the state grade in Class 2A cross country the last four years.

Pete Connelly was expecting a new-look team after losing his top two runners to graduation.

But the Broncos have surprised behind the all-junior triumvirate of Gianna Salzbrunn, Emma Makowski and Lauren Denemark.

"We're improving consistently," Connelly said. "It's a good sign that we're getting better after each workout. We're going to be pretty decent by the end of the season."

A building team:

The West Suburban Silver was the class of the boys state meet with Hinsdale Central edging Downers Grove North for the team title.

Glenbard West fell short of qualifying, sending Paul Christian as its lone representative.

But the Hilltoppers are climbing the polls after winning for the second time this year at Kaneland.

The Glenbard West 42-point victory over Crystal Lake Central followed a season-opening win at the Fenton Early Bird.

Chris Buechner and Christian finished in consecutive spots at Kaneland to lead the Hilltoppers with their third- and fourth-place results.

Jake Jaskowiak, Kalen Yaeger, Chris Buechner and Eric Neumann are the Hilltoppers' other starters.

Coach Kyle Nugent feels senior Ben Hecht, who missed the invitational, could be the ultimate difference for Glenbard West.

"He is a guy who could be anywhere from our No. 1 to our No. 4," the Hilltoppers' coach said. "I saw some stuff from (Hecht) this summer that leads me to think he could be our best runner."

Hinsdale Central and York figure to prominently feature in not only the conference race but also the state series as well.

There is barely a respite in the West Suburban Silver clashes.

"Schools like York, Downers Grove (North), Lyons (Twp.) - they have been at the front of state for a while," Nugent said. "There is no Thursdays (dual-meet days) that you can take off in our conference."

The Silver schools' talent forces coaches to make necessary adjustments.

"Our conference is so good," Nugent said. "When you have to race those teams every week, it makes you better. For the time in a while, I feel like we can hang with the better teams in the conference."

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