Girls cross country: Naperville North wins another state title

PEORIA - Lindsay Payne had to settle for being Class 3A girls cross country runner-up for a second straight year on Saturday at Detwiller Park.

But the Glenbard West reigning state-champion 2-miler in track and field was far from unhappy.

Payne was beaten only by her freshman teammate Katelynne Hart. It marked the third time in the last five years a Glenbard West girl has won the largest-class individual title.

Madeline Perez and Lindsey Graham won championships for the Hilltoppers in 2012 and 2014.

"I think we knew we were going to go out pretty fast," said Hart, who was timed in 16 minutes, 31 seconds to the 16:34 Payne posted. "We were just trying to stay with the (lead) pack the rest of the race. Going uphill, we knew it was going to be the last race of the season. We just pushed it."

Last fall Payne was second to Naperville North's Judy Pendergast, the only female athlete in state history to break 16 minutes.

"I'm not disappointed at all," Payne said. "I finally broke out of the funk I have been in this season. I am so happy for Katelynne."

"Those girls have worked so hard all season," Glenbard West coach Paul Hass added. "They executed the race plan. They ran it perfectly."

In an equally compelling team race Naperville North exorcised its ghosts from last season.

The Huskies, behind top-three runners Sarah Schmitt, Hannah Ricci and Alex Morris defeated Yorkville 111-130.

But the Huskies' seventh championship in program history was connected to Claire Hamilton and Gabby Champion.

"Every place counted," said Hamilton, a four-time state participant who was the fourth counting runner for Naperville North. "This is really special this year because we lost so many girls (to graduation)."

"I did my best to stay with as many girls as I could," said Champion, the fifth runner for the Huskies. "The last mile I tried to pass many girls."

Minooka, which finished third with 134 points, upended Naperville North for the state title last season.

Sarah May, a sophomore at York, was the final local all-state performer after finishing 21st.

Wheaton Warrenville South was 14th as Sara Atkins' bid for a top-25 berth missed by three slots.

There was tremendous separation between the second level of teams from the dominant top three.

Downers Grove South, Neuqua Valley, Metea Valley and Glenbard West were respectively fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth.

Hinsdale Central rounded out the local programs in 13th place.

Abby Schlenker had the best finish among area Class 2A athletes. The Glenbard South senior became only the second athlete in program history to qualify for state all four years.

"I didn't know about it until (coach Mark) Tacchi told me about today," Schlenker said.