Cross country: Glenbard West has some fun

Junior Rory Cavan and his Glenbard West boys cross country teammates received special encouragement before the Class 3A Wheaton North regional Saturday at St. James Farm Forest Preserve.

Mike Lederhouse, a 2012 graduate, was a state qualifier, two-time track all-stater and All-American for Georgetown University who achieved a sub-four-minute mile. He was in town from Michigan and addressed the Hilltoppers beforehand.

"He said just have some fun and he reinforced the fact that we're making some of the alumni proud," Cavan said.

Cavan then added to the Hilltoppers' postseason history by winning the regional title in 14:44.9 for 2.95 miles. Wheaton Warrenville South sophomore Billy Hauenstein was second in 14:50.7.

Glenbard West sophomore Katelynne Hart and senior Lindsey Payne, 1-2 at 2016 3A state, took the top two girls spots in 16:21.2 and 16:56.4.

"It's definitely a really nice feeling. Just a really great day and this course is so fun," Cavan said. "The opportunity to break a race open and really kind of let yourself go is kind of fun."

Returning to St. James after the DuPage Valley Conference meet Monday, WW South swept the team titles with Glenbard West second.

Also advancing as teams to the Lake Park sectional next weekend with top-six finishes were both York and Glenbard North teams, the Wheaton North boys and the Glenbard East girls. Wheaton North, Willowbrook and Glenbard East also advanced individuals in the other respective races.

Top-five sectional teams and top-seven finishers not among those teams advance to state Nov. 4.

"It's regionals. Our first goal was just to run well and move on to the sectional, always looking ahead," said WW South coach Chris Kuntz. "The kids ran great."

WW South junior Sean Maison, Glenbard West junior Stephen Moody and York senior Sean MacGregor were third through fifth to also earn boys all-regional honors.

Cavan broke free after a slight lead over Moody and MacGregor at 2 miles in 9:57.

"Rory said as soon as he finished that was the first time he was running in front the whole race," Glenbard West coach Kyle Nugent said. "Each week he's becoming stronger and more confident."

The WW South, Glenbard West, York and Wheaton North boys are heavily favored to advance from Lake Park to state with New Trier. Wheaton North last qualified in 2015 and Glenbard West in 2014.

WW South beat Glenbard West 45-57. Junior Scott Maison and sophomore Jacob Kluckhohn were 8-9 for the Tigers and David Zeller and John Keys were 15th and 20th.

"We really packed up today. That's something we've been trying to focus on," Kluckhohn said. "We had a little bit of a disappointing DVC. We came back here and really put it together."

The Hilltoppers, who rested usual No. 3 finisher Will O'Brien, added Cam Benes in 12th and Ian Repking and Luke Malek 14-15.

"We've been a little inconsistent all season, but it feels like it's coming together now. The goal hasn't changed," Nugent said.

Wheaton North junior Connor Zydek and senior Joey Simon finished 10-11 with Nick Garza 16th. Seniors Kevin Riley and Justin Ostrem ran at 2015 state with three others alternates.

"We certainly want to get down there," Zydek said. "We're struggling to have all of our guys fire on all cylinders on the same day. We're trying to all line it up for sectionals."

York senior Tim Stevenson was seventh and Ethan Kern and Jackson Bode finished 17-18. Glenbard North's Marat Schatz was 19th.

Bode joined MacGregor and Stevenson among the leaders for the first mile.

"I kind of said we should do that today, build our confidence," MacGregor said. "We're still doing some pretty tough workouts. To build up to state is what really matters for us right now."

On the girls side, WW South, Glenbard West and York are expected to get out at Lake Park with Glenbard East in the hunt for fifth.

Hart, favored to defend her title, opened with splits of 5:28 and 5:33, and Payne and junior Katie Hohe completed a 1-2-3 Hilltoppers' finish. WW South freshman Sam Poglitsch and York junior Sarah May also were all-regional in fourth and fifth.

"We love this course. It's just really scenic and pretty," Hart said. "I've talked about going out a little bit slower. Just my splits were a little more even today."

The Tigers put six in the top 10 and all seven in the top 12. It's the Tigers' first regional title since 2014 and ends the Hilltoppers' four-year streak.

"This is not an easy regional. The end result was to run the best race that we could and if that manifests itself into a win, that's great," WW South coach Rob Harvey said. "We ran a much, much better race than (Monday)."

Mia Rucoba, Haley Ansiel, Laurel Moneysmith, Kaitlyn Nenninger and Becca Hauenstein were sixth through 10th. Sarah Kulkarni was 12th.

"Even if the order switches every week, we push each other a lot," Ansiel said. "When I saw Kaitlyn at the 2-mile, I decided to go get her and pulled my teammates along with me."

Glenbard West's No. 4-5 finishers were Chloe Connolly and Abby Hoffman in 18th and 20th. Hohe missed last postseason with mononucleosis.

"(WW South) ran really, really well," Glenbard West coach Paul Hass said. "You can't say enough about our top 3 to go 1-2-3 in a regional. Katie Hohe just ran a really smart race."

"Super exciting to be able to run state series," Hohe added.

In 2016 May missed all-regional by one place. She was sixth most of Saturday before a late surge.

"Last year I was so close that it really just pushed me that last 400," May said. "Just having that in the back of my mind really motivated me to go."

Glenbard East senior Katie Schaefer, coming off her first Upstate Eight Conference Valley championship, was 14th with Cailyn Biegalski 16th. More mileage and improved footwork has Schaefer running her best.

"I was rolling heel to toe. I had to switch so I was on the ball of my foot. As soon as I got that down, my time started dropping," Schaefer said. "I'm ready to just go and give it everything I've got (at sectionals)."

Willowbrook junior Victoria Palma, 10th at the West Suburban Conference Gold Division meet, advanced individually with 11th.

"I was seeded No. 21 but I was dreaming super big (top 10)," Palma said. "This is definitely the best race of my life."