Record effort from Jacobs' Van Vlierbergen

Jacobs senior Lauren Van Vlierbergen made the most of her first race at Busse Woods in the Class 3A Schaumburg girls cross country sectional, while Palatine continued to dominate from start to finish.

Van Vlierbergen battled Palatine junior Kelly O'Brien for over 2 miles before flashing great closing speed in the final 800 meters to run away with the sectional title in a course-record 17:07.

Defending Schaumburg sectional champion Lauren Opatrny of McHenry took second in 17:30, followed by Barrington sophomore Lauren Conroy (17:32), Palatine senior Amy Kieliszewski (17:36) and O'Brien (17:37).

Van Vlierbergen easily eclipsed the record of 17:20 held by Barrington's Christina Fiduccia (2003) and Prospect's Brooke Wolfe (2010).

“It was pretty flat, like a track,” said Van Vlierbergen of her first impression of Busse Woods. She won the Class 3A 800 title last spring and offered a glimpse of that speed in closing the race. “I just wanted to run as hard as I could in the final stretch.”

Van Vlierbergen finished fourth in Class 3A last season, and Saturday's performance put her on the short list for state contenders at next weekend's Class 3A race.

“That is obviously the goal for her,” said Jacobs coach Kevin Christian. “She looked slightly unsure in the middle, but when she made her move there was no doubt. She's ready to go.”

Palatine came into the meet with a full head of steam after winning the Mid-Suburban League title and regional title, and the Pirates continued their assault on a cool and partly cloudy Saturday running to third consecutive sectional title with 52 points.

“It was a very strong run and I feel like we're coming on,” said Palatine coach Joe Parks of a Pirates effort that included five runners in the top 18. “We wanted to get up there and mix it up, getting our spots early, and then just compete.”

Schaumburg looked pretty good too; the Saxons placed five runners in the top 25 in securing second place with 79 points, followed by Fremd (178 points), with Hoffman Estates and Lake Zurich tying for fourth place with 196 points.

All five teams advance to the Class 3A state meet on Nov. 8 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

Kieliszewski and O'Brien gave Palatine a nice 1-2 punch in setting the tone. Senior Megan Beach (18:00), junior Sam Lechowicz (18:01), and senior Kara Burton (18:06) closed the door by taking 14th , 16th, 18th place to seal the deal.

“It's so exciting securing the sectional championship,” said Kieliszewski of the Pirates' 18th overall sectional title. “Some of these girls have never qualified for state, so we're ecstatic for them.”

O'Brien led the charge early, going neck-and-neck with Van Vlierbergen for over 2 miles before the Pirates' back pack took its position and held steady.

Now the Pirates are in position for a possible state trophy in a strong field that will include defending Class 3A champion Glenbard West along with Hinsdale Central, and Naperville North.

“We're definitely feeling confident and we're ready to go out there and show what we can do,” said Kieliszewski.

Senior Ali Gutt (17:45) led Schaumburg in seventh place. She was followed by senior Erin Falsey (17:56), who rebounded from a subpar conference meet in securing an impressive 11th place.

“Our goal again was just to work together,” said Gutt who used a strong finishing kick. “We gave it our all.”

Freshman Lauren Kubinski (18:10), sophomore Ellie O'Connell (18:16), and sophomore Valerie Schackelton (18:19) came on strong finishing in 20th, 21st, and 25th for the Saxons.

“Everybody worked the second mile today, it was awesome,” said Schaumburg coach Courtney Smith. “The girls came here and did what they were supposed to do.”

Fremd also made a nice charge. Senior Ayako Higuchi (17:48), senior Katie Escobar (18:08), and senior Anita Grudzien (18:22) led the front pack, taking 8th, 19th, and 27th place. But it was junior Nora Finegan (19:07, 60th) and senior Jess Peterson (19:35) who made the difference in cementing the Vikings' finish.

“Our 1-2-3 runners have been strong over the last month,” said Fremd coach Joe Marcin, whose team finished third in the MSL. “We've just been waiting patiently for our fourth and fifth to come around and they did on the most important day. Today was the right day.”

Hoffman Estates earned a second consecutive state berth. Junior Meagan Biddle (17:58) set the tone with a 13th place finish; she was supported by senior Alondra Aguirre (18:34, 35th).

“I was just thinking we have to make it to state as a team,” said Biddle of her leading performance. “It was for the seniors.”

Senior Yazmin Nunez (18:54, 49th), junior Reena Prahbu (18:55, 50th), and sophomore Carly Dagen (19:08, 61st) then strung it together in the Hawks' back pack.

“We ran our ‘A' team race today,” said Hoffman Estates coach Kirk Macnider. “It was a team effort; the girls found each other and ran with a purpose.”

Barrington junior Lauren Conroy her late-season surge by flashing an impressive closing kick.

“I knew in the last 400 I had to kick,” said Conroy. “It was matter of believing you could do it.”

Joining Van Vlierbergen, Opatrny, and Conroy as individual state qualifiers were Prospect sophomore Brooke Wilson (17:38, 6th), Highland Park junior Charlotte Nawor (17:54, 9th), Grant junior Madison Romig (17:56, 10th), and Crystal Lake South senior Kiley Britten (17:57, 12th).