Fillies fond of forward thinking

Last season was a banner year for Barrington running. The Fillies took second at the Class AA girls cross country state meet and followed it up by winning the state title in the Class AA track and field meet.

Senior Samantha Learch, senior Molly Glantz, and junior Rebecca Tracy were key members of the Fillies cross country and track team, and all three return this season.

So what is Barrington going to do for an encore?

"We've talked about that and you take each year a little bit differently," said Barrington coach Debbie Revolta of her team's challenge. "It's a different group of kids, so it's a different combination. You have to take each year differently and not look to last year, even though other people will look to that and key off that. We can't do that."

"We have to look to the Hinsdale Centrals and other teams to make ourselves better. There is no looking back. This is a new year."

Barrington lost Danielle Locascio, who finished 39th at the state cross country meet, and Valery Taylor to graduation. But Learch (21st at state), Glantz (51st at state), and Tracy (54th at state) return and will key the Fillies' run.

Learch, Glantz, and Tracy also were members of last spring's 3,200 relay team that took first at the Class AA state track meet in May.

Senior Kala Bingham made all-conference for the 2006 Mid-Suburban League champions and will join sophomore Melissa Brindise to form a solid nucleus.

Barrington's 2003 state champion cross country team set the bar; now the 2007 team is looking raise it.

"They want to leave their mark here," added Revolta of her squad. "They want to be a part of that elite group."

"They go back and look at what the 2003 team did and they want to match that or do better."

But Barrington will have plenty of competition including from conference foes such as Palatine and Prospect.

Palatine finished eighth at last year's state meet, it was the 20th time the Pirates have finished in the top 10.

Palatine also won its 11th sectional title by upsetting MSL champion Barrington. The Pirates were third in the MSL.

Senior Colleen Standridge and junior Tory Wright will lead the Pirates this season. Standridge and Wright joined sophomore Ruth Allen in winning a third-place medal in the 3,200 relay at the state meet.

Juniors Emma Maslanka and Olivia Gregorio, and sophomores Anusha Narayanan and Johanna Dibuz will add to the Pirates' charge.

"Colleen and Tory have really taken over the leadership," said Palatine coach Steve Currins. "I love this team. They are dedicated hard workers, enthusiastic, and goal oriented."

Up and coming Prospect finished 21st at the Class AA state meet last season, and the Knights finished fourth in the MSL.

This year the Knights are looking to climb the ladder and are in good position with the return of sophomore Annette White who finished second at the MSL meet and 28th at the state meet as a freshman.

The Knights also return all-conference runners such as senior Lucy Taylor (10th) and senior Emma Partridge (16th).

Senior Jenny Sojka , Alex Moxley, and Claire Hollis will combine with sophomores Emily Salzman, Kasey Krum, and Jeanette Wochinski to give Prospect depth.

Hollis, Taylor, and Salzman were part of the 3,200 relay team that won a sixth-place medal at the state track meet. White finished fourth in the 3,200 at the state track meet.

"This will be our strongest team ever," said Prospect coach Dave Wurster. "It is the best team up front, and the best team depth-wise. We have a nice blend of veterans, young varsity, and youth which has created a great team atmosphere."

Hersey, another young team, is also looking to move up. Last year the Huskies won the MSL East division title and finished fifth at the MSL meet.

Juniors Meghan Gojney (third) and Georgia Wiard (ninth) joined sophomore Sarah Reynolds (13th) in making all-conference, and they're back to pace a Huskies team that qualified for state last season.

Audrina Smelser, Lauren Frisbie, Kristen Mullen-Muhr, and Wendy Wingeard will add depth to the Huskies' attack.

"We have outstanding senior leaders and worked hard this summer," said Hersey coach Jim Miks. "The work and enthusiasm will make good things happen."

Fremd finished 10th at the state meet last season. MSL champion and sectional champion Chelsea Bolton has graduated, but the Vikings' cupboard is not bare.

Senior Many Udelhofen (15th), junior Alexis McAdams (17th), and sophomore Aylla Lashaway (25th) were all-conference selections. That trio will be joined Margaret Weber, Roxanne Miller, and Kelsey Burrell to form a solid nucleus.

"With the loss of Chelsea and other leaders, we're relatively young and inexperienced," said Fremd coach Mark Anderson. "But don't sell this group short -- they're a hard-working, mentored group that knows how to compete in the tough MSL."

Individually Wheeling senior Amber Stack and Conant junior Kalli Dalton will return.

Stack won the state title in 2004 as a freshman and followed it up by taking fourth place (in 2005) and 25th (in 2006). The senior will be seeking her fourth all-state honor this season.

Dalton finished fifth at state in 2005 and took seventh place last season. Dalton also finished fourth in the 1,600 at the state track meet last spring.

Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, and Hoffman Estates all have programs on the upswing.

Erin Cleary and Erin McGrath will look to continue their strong track season and lead Buffalo Grove.

Sarah Ahn, Sonia Khan, Amy Schwent, Gaby Duenas, Kathy Kenley, and Hannah Worman form a solid nucleus for Hoffman Estates, while Emily Gallup and Ann Marie Hand will lead Schaumburg.

Rolling Meadows and Elk Grove will also be competing in the rugged MSL.

St. Viator juniors Amanda Kompanowski and Maggie O'Malley both qualified for the state meet as freshmen and will be looking for a return trip to Peoria this year.

The pair of juniors will lead St. Viator in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

Leyden junior Jaime Johnson qualified for state last year and will lead the Eagles in the West Suburban Gold conference.

Maine West's Lizzie Meier just missed qualifying for state last season and will lead the Warriors in the Central Suburban North.