Girls cross country: Sectional scouting, Northwest
Scouting girls cross country
Class 3A Waukegan sectionalWhere: Waukegan Sports Park
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.
What to know: The top five teams and top seven runners from non-qualifying teams advance to the Class 3A state meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Nov. 5.
Quick look: This year's sectional offers a new location and a new host. The Schaumburg sectional at Busse Woods was a staple for area runners for an extended period. This year Waukegan will be the host, and Waukegan Sports Park will be the location. The course is not as spectator-friendly as Busse Woods, but will offer area runners a challenge.
Team outlook: Prospect, Hersey, and Palatine will be vying for the sectional title. Mid-Suburban League champion Prospect has a bit of motivation after finishing sixth at last year's sectional and not advancing to the state meet. Senior Brooke Wilson will lead the effort; she's the defending Schaumburg sectional champion and is also a two-time MSL champion. Sophomore Marissa Valentini and sophomore Jenna Baltes have also ran very well for the Knights this season. Senior Molly Leeney, junior Mikayla Olsen, and senior Aileen White give Prospect plenty of depth. Prospect finished second at the Hoffman Estates regional, but should be ready for a good run on Saturday. Hersey will be looking to qualify for its first state meet since 2009. The Huskies finished third in the MSL and won the Hoffman Estates regional. Hersey seniors Sarah Harden and Hailey Bowes should be running up front on Saturday, and sophomore Teagan Beckley had a strong regional run. Hersey will then lean on a trio of freshmen - Katie Fredian, Erin Barton and Aubrey Hasley - to power the back pack. Palatine has qualified for the state meet for 16 consecutive seasons, but the Pirates entered this season with plenty of questions marks. Palatine has erased any doubt the past two weeks, finishing second in the MSL and winning the Grant regional title. Senior Danya Lloyd has made a big splash in her first season of cross country, finishing fourth in the MSL and then taking second at the Grant regional. Sophomore twins Liz and Kate Lechowicz have also made their mark in their first year of cross country, while junior Lauryn Simons, senior Izzeh Stankiewicz and senior Anna Buckstaff will push the back pack with the Pirates targeting a sectional title. Stevenson may also be in the mix for a victory. The Patriots won the North Suburban Conference championship and also won the Libertyville regional title. Junior Isabelle Sparreo will pace the Patriots' attack. There will be several teams pushing for a top-five finish including Barrington, Grant, Schaumburg, Lake Forest, Libertyville and Fremd.
Top runnersBrooke Wilson, Prospect: Wilson finished third in Class 3A last season and has had no letdown this season in winning the MSL and Hoffman Estates regional titles. The Knights senior is a big-day runner and is primed for a big finish this season.
Joceyln Long, Barrington: Long finished fifth in Class 3A last season and is also positioned well to excel. The Fillies junior took second in the MSL and won the Grant regional title. She battled Wilson for 2 miles at the MSL meet; this week she will be looking to hang on a bit longer.
Maddie Marasco, Schaumburg: The Saxon junior has elevated her game this season, finishing third in the MSL and second at the Hoffman Estates regional. She was neck-and-neck with Wilson and Long at the 2-mile mark in the MSL race and is running with confidence. Marasco finished 16th in Class 3A last season and has continued to improve this season.
Brett Chody, Lake Forest: The Scouts junior finished second in the North Suburban and followed that up with a title at the Libertyville regional. She has had a steady year and should be among the leaders on Saturday.
Melissa Manetsch, Libertyville: The Wildcats junior has missed a chunk of the season due to injuries. But when she has run, she has looked impressive, including winning the North Suburban League title. Manetsch missed the regionals due to an illness, but if she is healthy she could be a wildcard.
Other top runners: Hersey: Sarah Harden, Hailey Bowes, Teagan Beckley; Prospect: Marissa Valentini, Jenna Baltes, Molly Leeney; Fremd: Linda Varella; Schaumburg: Lauren Kubinski, Rachel Vaccaro; Conant: Sydney Davis; Wheeling: Yailenen Leon; Palatine: Danya Lloyd, Liz Lechowicz, Kate Lechowicz; Barrington: Alyssa Norris; Grant: Danielle Osmon, Eva Cardy; Cary-Grove: Allison Drage; Crystal Lake South: Caitlin Bruzzini; Stevenson: Isabella Sparreo, Kendall Roberts, Gabriela Jagielo; Lake Forest: Emma Milburn; Highland Park Kaitlyn Twadell; Lake Zurich: Emily Burns, Melody Multra; Dundee-Crown: Sylvia Waz.
Other sectionalsAt Niles West: Elk Grove senior Emily Stegmeier started her season conservatively while recovering from a hip injury, but the Grenadiers senior has come on strong the last two weekends, taking eighth in the MSL and then finishing fifth at the Lake Park regional. Leyden sophomore Jazmin Santoyo and senior Jasmine Salvador also advanced as individuals from the Lake Park regional. Maine West sophomore Sarah Magnoni advanced as an individual from the Loyola regional.
At Fenton (Class 2A): St. Viator Sophomore Payton McDonnell took 11th at her school's regional, pacing the Lions to a third-place finish with the team advancing to the Fenton sectional.
At Lisle (Class 1A): Christian Liberty Academy senior Isabella Wolke has earned two consecutive Class 1A state medals, finishing 9th in 2014 and 15th in 2015. Wolke is aiming for a third this year and started her postseason strong with a second-place finish at the Lisle regional. Also advancing individually for the Chargers were freshman Sephora Ducrozet (third place) and sophomore Emma Wolke (11th place).
- Michael Eaken