Payne runs away from field
Glenbard West sophomore Lindsey Payne finished an impressive fifth at the 2014 Class 3A girls cross country meet despite stopping to put her shoe back on moments after the start.
In Saturday's first invitational of the new season, Payne took a big step toward an even better performance.
Payne didn't just win the Hornet-Red Devil Invitational against several of the state's top-ranked runners and teams at Hinsdale's Katherine Legge Memorial Park.
Her 3.0-mile time of 16:40.1 won by 39.8 seconds and challenged the 16:35 course record set last Oct. 9 by senior teammate Lindsay Graham on her way to the Class 3A individual state championship.
"I really surprised myself. I didn't think I was going to do that well. And our whole team just did awesome today," Payne said. "I went out really smart. I didn't go out hard and pulled away in the first mile. I just wanted to ensure that I had a lot of wiggle room at the finish."
The Hilltoppers' strong team performance was edged for the title 72-75 by Minooka, which put three runners among the top five.
Palatine was fourth with 125 points, 15 points behind third-place New Trier with senior standout Kelly O'Brien third in 17:27.1. Naperville Central, Wheaton Warrenville South, Neuqua Valley, Hinsdale Central and Metea Valley were fifth through ninth.
Three juniors - Naperville Central's Alana Austin, Metea Valley's Nicki Cast and WW South's Sara Atkins - were sixth through eighth. Hinsdale Central sophomores Grace McCabe and Reilly Revord were ninth and 10th.
The invite featured eight of the 13 top-ranked preseason teams. Palatine, Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central were second through fourth at state in 2014. The Hilltoppers won last year's invite but were second to Palatine in 2013, the year they won their only state title.
"I couldn't be more pleased with what the girls did. They sat in classes in 90-degree weather (without air conditioning this week) and ran out of their minds," Glenbard West coach Paul Hass said.
"I don't know how (Payne) did what she did. That's extremely impressive this time of year."
Unlike 2014 Payne is not juggling club soccer with her cross country training. At last year's invite Payne was third behind Hinsdale Central junior Alexa Haff in 16:52.72 and Graham.
Graham announced Saturday morning she will not run cross country, though she is recovered from injury. Haff, fourth at state, is injured and not expected to return until track season. The Hilltoppers still possess enough firepower to challenge for a fourth straight state trophy.
"This gives us a lot of confidence. We have a lot of depth and we'll be great no matter who's running or not," said 12th-place Glenbard West senior Grace Rogers. "I thought it was a great race for everyone."
O'Brien also is in a much better place after taking third at state and fourth at the invite in 2014.
"(Last year) I let the front pack go out too early whereas this time I was like no," O'Brien said. "I feel like now I want to see how good I can get. Today was going to be a learning process."
At state last year Austin was 69th and the No. 3 runner for the Redhawks' 10th-place state team.
"It really boosts my confidence," said Austin, two seconds shy of breaking 18:00. "I was really disappointed with my track season. I really want to try and get top 25 (all-state) this year."
Cast was 98th at state in her first cross country season, which she combined with diving.
"I did OK (at state), but I feel like this year could be a really good year for me," Cast said. "This race is one of the top for competitiveness. All of the top runners are here. I just tried to stick up with that top pack."
With an 18:05.1 and by 0.1 seconds, Cast edged Atkins, who was 27th at state for the ninth-place Tigers.
"I had three goals today - to get a team trophy (for top three), to break 18:00 and to be top 10," Atkins said. "It was a great mentality today. I stayed from the mile in that exact place I was until the finish. I'm really happy with how I did."