Cross country: Harper takes aim at postseason success
Sporting the region's best men's and women's cross country teams, top-ranked Harper College will run with a target on its back Saturday in the regional cross country meet at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.
The races are scheduled to start at 10 a.m..
Harper coach Jim Macnider is used to this kind of attention, though - especially with the men's team. Winners of the last six NJCAA Division III titles, the Hawks might be even better than last year's group, according to Macnider.
"The team has been running well every week," said Macnider.
Especially against junior college competition, where the Hawks have been perfect. That includes a victory over Division I downstate program Danville.
Macnider credits his team's cumulative IQ for some of the success.
"They are smart - they run intelligently," he said.
The men's team has been relient on freshmen, including Barrington alums Scott Williams and Ryan Ziolkowski. Joe Swiech (Wheeling) is another top performer along with Robert Douglas; Eddie Lamas (Schaumburg) is a returning All-American and sophomore Kurtis Monahan (Barrington) is also contributing.
Macnider said one concern for the group was improving the gap between the fifth and sixth runners.
The women's team has plenty of starpower back from last season but has been challenged in other ways.
Last fall at nationals, Allie Gutt (Schaumburg) finished second and she's kept up the pace this fall.
"She has been running extremely well," Macnider said.
Overall, health has been a problem for the Hawks in the regular season. But more recently the outlook has improved.
"Everyone is starting to get healthy," Macnider said.
Sophmore Dianne Barajas (Schaumburg) has had injury problems in the past but could be a factor down the stretch as the Hawks attempt to grab their first national title under Macnider. Another sophomore to watch could be Katie Thevara.
Anita Grudzien (Fremd) leads a group of freshman that includes Natalie Cook and Bree Bogucki.