Girls cross country: Prospect's Wilson finishes strong in fifth
PEORIA - The Class 3A girls cross country state meet at Detweiller Park proved to be a grind for Prospect senior Brooke Wilson.
She face some uncertainty entering the race's latter stages at Detweiller Park, but those thoughts soon were erased by the strong final mile she delivered.
Wilson grinded to a fifth-place finish, crossing the line in 16:49 to secure her third consecutive state medal and second top-five finish.
"There was a bit of doubt in the second mile," said Wilson of the tight field. "But I wanted to stay up with that second group. I was hoping for a faster time, but it was still a good effort and a testament to mental strength."
Glenbard West freshman Katelynn Hart ran to the Class 3A title in 16:31. She was followed by junior teammate Lindsay Payne (16:34). Minooka junior Emily Shelton (16:42) and senior Mackenzie Callahan (16:48) placed third and fourth.
Naperville North placed three runners in the top 19 in securing the Class 3A state title with 111 points, followed by Yorkville (130 points) and defending Class 3A champion Minooka (134).
Downers Grove South (245 points) and Lyons (248 points) rounded out the top five.
Wilson added to her long list of accomplishments on Saturday. The Knights senior already was a two-time defending Mid-Suburban League champion.
"She has come in with a continuing goal to get better every year," said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute of his senior star. "She said it was a race that tested her mentally, but she battled throughout the entire race. She is really special."
Naperville North senior Sarah Schmitt (16:51) took sixth place followed by Barrington junior Jocelyn Long (16:55) and Schaumburg junior Maddie Marasco (16:56).
Long, who finished fifth in Class 3A last season, cruised through the first mile in the lead. She continued to be the frontrunner heading into the back loop.
"I definitely wanted to get out fast and didn't want to have any second thoughts about not going for it," said Long of her quick early pace. "I definitely wanted to push it the entire race. The last part I wanted to give it everything I had. I'm still happy with my effort - I gave it all I had."
Marasco also had a fine season and the Saxons junior completed it with her second state medal.
"It was amazing to get all-state," Marasco said. "It was a comfortable first mile, and at the end I wanted to give it all I had. I felt more confident this season, being able to run faster times."
Palatine senior Danya Lloyd (17:18) made the most of her only season in cross country: She secured a state medal with a 22nd-place finish.
"It means the world to me, and I owe it all to my coaches and my team," said Lloyd, who steadily improved in the postseason, taking fourth in the MSL and fourth at the sectional prior to her state effort. "Around conference I started to believe I could do more than I thought."
Fremd senior Linda Varela (17:21) ended her season on a high note by earning a state medal with a 24th-place finish. She'd missed a chunk of the season due to an illness but came back in time for a big state finish.
"I didn't even know if I would make it to state," said Varela. "I was really happy I was able to return strong. I just was determined to stick with my position. The last 800 I really was nervous and knew I had to move."
Hersey senior Hailey Bowes (17:23) finished a strong season by taking 27th place, and senior teammate Sarah Harden (17:34) was 37th in helping the Huskies to a 10th-place team finish.
Elk Grove senior Emily Stegmeier (17:41) ran to 45th place.
Palatine earned a 12th place team finish, with Schaumburg taking 22nd.
• St. Viator sophomore Payton McDonnell (19:25) ran to a 126th-place finish in Class 2A.
• Christian Liberty Academy senior Isabella Wolke (18:46) finished 45th in Class 1A, with freshman teammate Sephora Ducrozet (19:42) taking 95th place.