Girls cross country: Scouting Lake County

NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE

LAKE ZURICH

Coach: Randal Dunbar (first season)

Last season: 10th in sectionals, fourth in regionals, third in NSC

Returning runners: seniors Emily Burns, Jillian Baffa; sophomore Haley Burk

Newcomers: freshmen Kristin Loftus, Sarah Richards

Noteworthy: The Bears lost a huge group to graduation. Randal Dunbar takes over from longtime coach Ian Silverman, who guided Lake Zurich's program for the past 19 seasons. Emily Burns and Haley Burk were fourth and eighth, respectively, in the NSC meet last year.

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Alison Reifenberg (first season)

Last season: seventh in sectionals, second in regionals, second in NSC

Returning runners: seniors Payton Golwas, Sydney Donovan, Alex Houser; juniors Margaret Buchert, Grace Kraft; sophomore Annalese Chudy

Newcomers: freshmen Brielle Rochester, Bree Ponchak, Katie Meyer

Noteworthy: The Wildcats graduated their top-five, including state qualifiers Melissa Manetsch and Nora Tucker. Coach Alison Reifenberg replaces Bill Etnyre after he spent six seasons at the helm.

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Carsyn Rodriguez (second season)

Last season: 17th in sectionals, fifth in regionals, fourth in NSC

Returning runners: seniors Andrea Cordova, Leslye Rodriguez, Clarissa Wienckowski, Beth Clow, Abby Ambrose, Anne Corbin; juniors Jeanelle Jimenez, Claire Schoenfield, Emily Bauman; sophomores Hope Peterson, Sucely Marcos, Kat Wiechering

Newcomers: freshman Jordyn Miller

Noteworthy: The Mustangs return their top seven, including four seniors. Andrea Cordova was 12th in the NSC meet last year.

STEVENSON

Coach: Maureen Connolly (sixth season)

Last season: 15th in Class 3A, third in sectionals, first in regionals, first in NSC

Returning runners: seniors Natalie Sorenson, Kendall Roberts, Alyssa Collins; juniors Caimin Xi, Michelle Yu; sophomores Helena Ebeling, Emily Fejes, Emma Finnegan

Newcomers: juniors Karolina Rutyna, Grace McGhee, Lisa Silverstein; sophomores Jenna McCullough, Kate Murphy, Kendall Goldenson; freshman Alivia Alton

Noteworthy: The Patriots graduated four of their top seven, including Isabelle Sparreo (Purdue) and Natalie Sparreo (Illinois State). Natalie Sorenson (third in NSC meet) was the team's No. 2 runner last year at state. The Patriots are seeking their fourth straight trip downstate. Kendall Roberts (sixth in NSC) and Caimin Xi (11th in NSC) also ran at state.

WARREN

Coach: Brett Heimstead (eighth season)

Last season: 18th in sectionals, sixth in regionals, sixth in NSC

Returning runners: senior Ashley Kachurik; juniors Hailey Smith, Madi Juenger, Morgan Liebau; sophomores Taylor Latza, Nikki Harrison

Newcomers: sophomore Zoe Wagner; freshmen Raina Rice, Athena McGinn

Noteworthy: All-conference runners Ashley Kachurik and Taylor Latza return. Coach Brett Heimstead is using a "purpose-focused" approach to the season, saying "everyone on the team will need to work together to achieve their goals as they strive to get better every day."

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY CONFERENCE

ANTIOCH

Coach: Chris Bailey (10th season)

Last season: ninth in regionals, fifth in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Natalie Hill (11th in NLCC), Izzy Mateja; juniors Natalie Svarc; sophomore Chloe Hampson

Newcomers: junior Tiana Fox

Noteworthy: Natalie Hill placed 11th in the NLCC meet and was a sectional qualifier. She and three others from last season's top seven return.

GRANT

Coach: Jeff Durlak (12th season)

Last season: 12th in sectionals, fifth in regionals, second in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Danielle Osmon, Eva Cardy (third in NLCC), Jana Nehila; juniors Eliza Scoggin (sixth in NLCC), Drue Polka, Taylor Bushman

Newcomers: freshmen Aly Negovetich, Laura Bishop

Noteworthy: Freshman Aly Negovetich should make an impact on a Bulldogs team that already boasts seniors Danielle Osmon (all-state as a sophomore) and Eva Cardy (26th at state in 2016).

GRAYSLAKE CENTRAL

Coach: Jimmy Centella (10th season)

Last season: 11th in sectionals, fourth in regionals, third in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Maura Fitzgerald (seventh in NLCC), Mali Chiodi, Lauren Brunk, Greta Ruhlmann, Abby Tonkery

Newcomers: junior Ruth Baldwin

Noteworthy: The Rams return five experienced seniors, including two runners (Lauren Brunk and Mali Chiodi) who competed in the 2016 state meet when they placed fifth in Class 2A, and one runner (Greta Ruhlmann) who competed in the 2015 state meet when they placed ninth. Maura Fitzgerald shined last year as the team's No. 1 runner in her first season competing in cross country as a junior.

GRAYSLAKE NORTH

Coach: Anthony DeStephano (second season)

Last season: 10th in sectionals, fifth in regionals, fourth in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Caroline Riss; juniors Kelli Tosic, Gabriella Conceicao, Eden Hartigan, Madison Kubas, Kylie Stoneham; sophomore Ashlyn Castagna

Newcomers: sophomore Brooke Moran

Noteworthy: The Knights return state qualifiers Kelli Tosic (fourth in NLCC meet) and Caroline Riss (fifth in NLCC) and several experienced juniors, including Gabriella Conceicao (eighth in NLCC). First-year cross country runner Brooke Moran, a sophomore, will be a part of the top-seven pack.

LAKES

Coach: Keith West (15th season)

Last season: ninth in Class 2A, fourth at sectionals, second at regionals, first in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Megan Knuettel, Morgan Gillespie, Simone Lippmann, Hannah Grant, Rae Dwyer; junior Olivia Schmitt; sophomores Brooke Stromsland, Alex Bryant

Newcomers: none

Noteworthy: The defending NLCC champs are loaded again. They return all seven runners who were members of last year's ninth-place squad in Class 2A - Brooke Stromsland (fourth at state, second in NLCC meet), Olivia Schmitt (sixth in state in 800 meters last spring), Megan Knuettel, Alex Bryant, Morgan Gillespie, Hannah Grant and Simone Lippmann.

ROUND LAKE

Coach: Kevin Brady (14th season)

Last season: seventh in regionals, seventh in NLCC

Returning runners: senior Jahaira Gonzalez; juniors Fatima Giron, Alejandra Cortes, Jeny Martinez, Lizet Aguirre

Newcomers: senior Diane Flade; freshman Jenny Cortes

Noteworthy: Fatima Giron became the first girl in Round Lake history to qualify for the state meet last year, finishing eighth in the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional. She won the NLCC meet as a sophomore last year.

WAUCONDA

Coach: Emily Morzy (first season)

Last season: seventh in regionals, sixth in NLCC

Returning runners: seniors Dakota Thompson, Olivia Kuch, Kelly Kroegel; juniors Morgan Thompson, Karly Pikel

Newcomers: sophomores Emily Trela, Emma Schuett; freshmen Jessie Pakaski, Jessica Kolarov

Noteworthy: Emily Morzy takes over as head coach from Jeff Helberg. The Bulldogs have an experienced team led by all-conference senior Dakota Thompson (13th in NLCC meet last year).

CENTRAL SUBURBAN LEAGUE NORTH DIVISION

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Suzanne Curry (14th season)

Last season: third in Class 2A, second in sectionals, first in regionals, first in CSL North

Returning runners: seniors Leah Wilkowski, Ryan Schofield, Katie Wilkowski, Hannah Ray, Payton Makowskyj; junior Carly Sear

Newcomers: seniors Katelyn Dohler, Vivian Tsai, Ellie Zaczek; juniors Lily Blase, Brynn Ziemke

Noteworthy: The Cougars captured their fourth third-place trophy in five years last November. With the graduation of Lauren Katz (11th in Class 2A last year, University of Illinois), the team will be without a consistent front-runner, but they have six runners back from last year. Carly Sear just missed earning all-state honors (28th). Leah Wilkowski and Ryan Schofield placed 40th and 41st, respectively, at state, and Katie Wilkowski was 47th. Hannah Ray and Payton Makowskyj also ran downstate.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

CARMEL

Coach: Jim Halford (32nd season)

Last season: ninth at sectionals, third at regionals, second in ESCC

Returning runners: seniors Gabby Terselic, Bella Day, Lauren Harrison; juniors Ezzie Posner, Abby Kuderna, Mallory Machala; sophomores Brigid Hull, Carly Sasman, Alyssa Coe

Newcomers: senior Emilia Puszynski; sophomore Isabel Ashley; freshmen Maddie Ives, Charlotte Baude

Noteworthy: Coach Jim Halford has two good runners to lead his pack in Ezzie Posner and Brigid Hull, and he believes his top five can average times of 19 minutes flat.