Girls cross country: Hersey's group effort leads to regional victory

Hersey's girls cross country team got back on track at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates regional.

The Huskies set the tone early and finished strong in rolling to the title with 46 points on a picture-perfect autumn morning at Busse Woods.

Senior Sarah Harden (17:27) and senior Hailey Bowes (17:46) finished 3-4 in powering Hersey to its first regional title since 1997.

"We didn't really come here to win, but to work on our 1-5 split," said Hersey coach Danielle Freeman of an effort that placed five runners in the top 19. "It gives us a good boost of confidence heading into sectionals. We are in a good spot."

Mid-Suburban League champion Prospect took second with 57 points, followed by Schaumburg (75 points), Fremd (81 points), Hoffman Estates (129 points), and Glenbrook North (166 points).

The top six teams advance to the Waukegan sectional, with a start time of 10 a.m. next Saturday at the Waukegan Sports Park.

Prospect's Brooke Wilson took control midway through the final mile in capturing the individual title in 17:06. Next came Schaumburg junior Maddie Marasco (17:10).

"The plan was to start pushing at the 2½-mile mark," said Wilson, who captured her second consecutive MSL title last weekend on the same course. "I'm feeling a bit more rested and relaxed this year, and hopefully I'll keep improving."

Hersey definitely looked better on Saturday, after finishing third at the MSL race. Harden jumped to an early lead and was followed by Bowes who cracked the top five.

"I knew the race would go out a bit slower this week and then speed up," said Harden, "so I wanted to got out fast and keep an even split."

Sophomore Teagan Beckley (18:11) was not too far off pace in securing sixth place. The sophomore used a fast start and didn't back down as the race progressed in helping key the attack.

"I felt a lot better this week," said Beckley who finished 12th at the MSL race. "We have put in the work and now it's just a matter of closing the gap."

Freshman Erin Barton (18:40) and freshman Katie Fredian (18:46) kept things moving for Hersey by securing 14th and 19th place.

"We have been working on that pack all season," said Harden.

Prospect's Wilson was followed by sophomore teammates Marissa Valentini (18:23, 8th) and Jenna Baltes (18:33, 10th). Junior Mikayla Olsen (18:44) and senior Molly Leeney (18:54) added 17th and 21st place for the Knights.

"We came in with a bit more cautious race plan from the get-go," said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute. "Ultimately the goal is to run our best race next weekend and hope for another weekend after that."

Marasco provided Schaumburg with a jolt with her second-place performance. The Saxons junior ran in the top pack all race before easing into a second-place finish.

Schaumburg junior Lauren Kubinski (18:19) produced a seventh-place finish, followed by junior Rachel Vaccaro (11th place, 18:35) and freshman Katie Smith (24th place, 18:57).

"I'm feeling much more confident this season," said Marasco, who finished third in the MSL. "I think the team did what it needed to do today."

Linda Varela (17:56) gave Fremd a big lift with a fifth-place finish. The Vikings senior is coming back from bronchitis and ran her best race since early in the season.

"It felt really good today, I feel like I'm back," said Varela, "This race gives our team a much-needed boost in confidence."

Junior Nupur Pokharkar (15th, 18:42), freshman Marisa Ban (16th, 18:44), freshman Rebecca Markham (22nd, 18:55), and sophomore Jordyn Iannuzzelli (23rd, 18:56) led the Vikings' pack.

Junior Vanessa Peinado (18:45) and junior Allison Schroeder (18:47) finished 18th and 20th in helping Hoffman Estates to a fifth-place finish. The Hawks will advance to their 11th consecutive sectional meet.

"The team is coming together and they ran as a team," said Hoffman Estates coach Kirk Macnider.

Individual qualifiers include Conant senior Sydney Davis (9th place, 18:25), Wheeling junior Yailene Leon (13th place, 18:39), Rolling Meadow sophomore Elizabeth Clark (28th place), Conant senior Michelle Meister (35th place), and Conant sophomore Jessica Meister (39th place).

Grant regional: Palatine was a big winner, as the Pirates placed five runners in the top 12 to finish with 38 points, well ahead of runner-up Grant (76) and third-place Barrington (80).

Senior Danya Lloyd's second-place finish in 18:21 led the way. Next came Liz Lechowicz (sixth, 18:36), Kate Lechowicz (seventh, 18:52), Lauryn Simons (11th, 19:14) and Izzeh Stankiewicz (12th, 19:19).

Barrington junior Jocelyn Long was the fastest runner, finishing comfortably in front in 17:58. Next came Alyssa Norris (9th), Eve Hoeltgen (20th), Isabella Fier (19:58) and Shelby Petersen (26th).

The other team qualifiers were Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove and McHenry.

Lake Park regional: Elk Grove senior Emily Stegmeier was the top individual sectional qualifier, placing fifth overall in 17:49.

Glenbard West (34) edged Wheaton Warrenville South (36) in the team race.

St. Viator regional: Sophomore Payton McDonnell came up with an 11th-place finish to help the Lions place third in the Class 2A regional they hosted, earning them a team spot in the sectional.

Northside won the meet with 19 points, followed by Mather (60) and St. Viator (99).

Contributing to the Lions' total were Claire Bottcher (17th), Madelyn Fitzpatrick (21st), Julia Hornberger (24th) and Megan Lifka (26th).