Girls cross country: Trophy time for Palatine
PEORIA - Palatine was on the outside looking in at last year's Class 3A girls cross country state meet.
The Pirates finished a distant fourth, one spot away from a state trophy.
But this year Palatine rose to the occasion, placing five girls in the top 37 to secure second place with 91 points at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
"Such a difference from a year ago," said Palatine coach Joe Parks of the Pirates' drive to a 14th state trophy. "I knew it could go either way, but the girls pulled it off and almost won the title."
Naperville North did pull it off, winning its second Class 3A title in three years and sixth overall with 73 points. Defending Class 3A champion Glenbard West (94) finished 3 points behind Palatine for third place. Hinsdale Central (137) took fourth followed by Lockport (175) and Schaumburg (218).
Glenbard West junior Lindsay Graham won the Class 3A individual title cruising across the line in an impressive 16:23, followed by Jacob senior Lauren Van Vlierbergen (16:48).
Palatine junior Kelly O'Brien continued her rise by securing third place in 16:55, followed by Hinsdale Central sophomore Alexa Haff (16:59) and Glenbard West freshman Lindsey Payne (17:00).
"I had a different focus today," said O'Brien, who won the Mid-Suburban League title before finishing second at the regionals and fifth at the sectionals.
O'Brien didn't back down in pushing the Pirates' attack which came from behind to secure third place.
"I'm so excited," said O'Brien of the Pirates' trophy charge. "We were kind of underdogs and we didn't know what would happen but everyone ran their best race."
Senior Amy Kieliszewski (17:18) supported the Pirates' charge by earning a state medal with a 22nd-place finish.
Kieliszewski had dreamed of state glory since attending the meet in sixth grade and on Saturday she made it a reality.
"Being so close last year fueled our drive," said Kieliszewski who has been pivotal member for Palatine this season. "We wanted a trophy and we came in knowing what we needed to do."
Senior Megan Beach (17:22), who moved up to the varsity this fall, continued the line by securing 26th place.
"Last year was a bitter pill to swallow because we had a really good team," said Beach of the Pirates' motivation. "We had a lot of great girls this year and we had faith in each other."
Junior Sam Lechowicz (17:32) and senior Kara Burton (17:37) closed the door for the Pirates taking 32nd and 37th place, respectively.
"It's a great feeling," added Parks of the one-year turnaround. "We all hooked up and stayed connected."
Schaumburg's Ali Gutt got off to rather suspicious start this season dealing with allergies but the Saxon senior rose to the occasion on Saturday.
Gutt (17:21) secured her first state medal with a 25th-place finish that lifted the Saxons to an impressive sixth-place finish with 218 points.
"It felt awesome," said Gutt, who finished 31st in 2013. "I didn't know how close I was. I knew I had to finish strong, and it worked."
Sophomore Ellie O'Connell (44th), senior Erin Falsey (54th) and senior Caroline Kurdej (55th) also supported the Saxons' second consecutive top-10 finish.
Barrington junior Lauren Conroy is no stranger to state glory after earning a state medal as a freshman.
But she struggled with injuries her sophomore season before regaining her form this year.
Conroy (17:14) closed hard on Saturday securing her second state medal with a 17th- place finish.
"There were a lot of doubts after last year," said Conroy of her bounce-back year. "But I knew I just had to relax and it feels great to finish like I know I could."
Prospect sophomore Brooke Wilson had her own doubts after struggling with an iron deficiency her freshman year.
The Knights sophomore capped a break-out season by securing her first state medal with a 24th-place finish.
"This year, I showed I have what it takes," said Wilson who punched her state run with a 17:19 finish. "It means a lot to me to come out here and show what I'm made of and finish strong."
Fremd had not participated at a state meet since 2006 but the Vikings showed they are back finishing 14th with 391 points.
Senior Ayako Higuchi (17:35) and senior Katie Escobar (17:38) led the Viking charge by taking 33rd and 40th place, respectively.
"Every single runner gave it their all today," Escobar said. "It felt awesome."
Hoffman Estates continued to make its mark finishing with a strong 16th place (405 points).
Junior Meagan Biddle (17:50) and senior Alondra Aguirre (17:52) gave the Hawks a solid 1-2 punch taking 53rd and 57th place, respectively.
"It was fun to bring it together today," said Aguirre who was paired with Biddle. "We have a strong bond and stuck together today."
Class 2A: Yorkville won its fourth consecutive Class 2A state title with 79 points followed by Lake Forest (165) and Dunlap (187).
Peoria Notre Dame junior Maryjeanne Gilbert ran the fastest girls time for the three classes winning the Class 2A individual title in a blazing 16:12.
St. Viator freshman Brianna Mastrodomenico (20:24) completed a strong freshman season in finishing at 182.
Class 1A: Christian Liberty Academy sophomore Bella Wolke made a huge leap in Class 1A.
Wolke finished 43rd as a freshman but the sophomore held close to the lead pack on Saturday and earned CLA's first state medal with a ninth-place finish.
"I wanted to get out fast but I may have went out a bit too fast," said Wolke, who crossed the line in 18:00. "I clung to my position in the top 25 and started picking people off. After not a very good turnout last year, it felt amazing to represent my school with a top ten finish."
"It's another step in the right direction for the program," said CLA coach Bradley Wells of Wolke's rise. "She ran aggressive this year and proved she could hang with the top runners."
St. Joseph Ogden earned the Class 1A title with 86 points followed by Urbana University (170) and Kewanne Wethersfield (189).
Effingham St. Anthony sophomore Anna Sophi Keller secured her second consecutive Class 1A title crossing the line in 16:27.