Girls cross country: Palatine nets 12th-place national finish

Palatine's girls cross team definitely exceeded expectations this fall, especially considering they only returned three varsity runners, putting the lineup in constant flux throughout the summer.

But Pirates responded in a big way, capping their season on Saturday with a 12th-place finish in the 22-team field at the Nike Cross Nationals at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore.

"It's crazy," said Palatine senior Kara Burton who along with senior Amy Kieliszewski and junior Kelly O'Brien were the three returing varsity members. "In the summer we were talking and we just wanted to make it to the state meet.

"To end here running against the best in the nation is something we didn't imagine."

Fayetteville Manlius (N.Y.) took first with 70 points, winning its eighth national championship in nine years.

Kenai, Alaska senior Allie Ostrander won the individual title in 17:19.

Class 3A Illinois state champion Naperville North finished fourth with 198 points.

Palatine won the Mid-Suburban League title, Schaumburg sectional title, and finished second at the Class 3A state meet.

Palatine continued to roll in the post season by taking third at the Nike Cross National Midwest regional before completing its run on Saturday.

O'Brien, who took third in Class 3A, led her team's charge by taking 69th place in 18:53, followed by Kieliszewski (79th, 18:59). Junior Sam Lechowicz (19:23), Burton (19:31), and freshman Lauryn Simons (19:43) rounded out Palatine's top five. Sophomore Anna Buckstaff (20:09) and senior Megan Beach (20:16) also contributed.

"Overall we did well in a tough field," said Palatine club coach Fred Miller. "Everyone fought hard."

"I think we started to gain confidence after the conference race," added Burton. "This was all new to us and there were so many good teams and the fields was so much faster, but we had so much fun."

McHenry senior Jesse Reiser, the Class 3A boys state champion, finished sixth crossing the line in 15:26 in the boys championship race.

Lake Zurich sophomore Matt Pereira, who finished third in Class 3A, finished in 30th place (15:53).

Fayetteville Manlius, New York boys team made it clean sweep by claiming the NXN boys title with 111 points. North Spokane, Wash., senior Tanner Anderson won the individual title in 15:11.