Aubert 2nd, C-G wins at Wauconda

Despite putting forth one her strongest efforts, Crystal Lake South's Kristina Aubert couldn't catch up to Warren's Heather Olson on Saturday at the Wauconda cross country invitational held at the Lakewood Forest Preserve.

Aubert's time of 18:48.77 was good enough to finish in second place. The Gators eventually placed eighth overall with a score of 275.

"Right before the second mile or right at it (Olson) just took off and I had nothing in me to go with her," Aubert said. "I just wish the pace of the race was a little better. It was jumbled up in there and it just wasn't good. I wanted top four or to beat my time from last year and I got second."

Cary-Grove had three runners place in the top 20, which was good enough to help the Trojans place first overall in the team rankings with 150 points. Madeline Aufmann finished in seventh place with a time of 19:29.84 for the Trojans, while Hillary Young finished in 12th place and Molly Macinnes took 18th.

"I think I ran smart because I didn't go out really fast and when I found my pace I worked it up during the race," Aufmann said. "I am really happy with the way our team finished. We have three strong runners. Cary-Grove is usually known for its depth and we definitely have it this year."

Following just two spots behind the Trojans was Dundee-Crown. Having two runners place in the top 20, the Chargers placed fourth overall in the team rankings. Kelsey Sieler finished in 10th place with a time of 19:43.55. Claira Himmel also raced well finishing 19th overall with a time of 20:16.62.

Haley Loprieno was the lone runner to place in the Top 20 from Huntley. Her time of 20:06.41 was good enough to finish 13th.

In the boys varsity race, Huntley's Todd Farbiak was almost disqualified because he was originally following a group of lead runners that went off course, but because of help from former teammate Kyle Disantis, Farbiak was able to continue on the course and place fifth. All runners that went off course were disqualified. With a score of 420, the Red Raiders were able to place overall in 13th place.

"I was actually with the lead pack and we were supposed to go around the loop one more time and they actually all cut," Farbiak said. "Kyle told me to turn and go the right way and they came around and got disqualified and we all just kept going the right way we were supposed to. Throughout the rest of the race, I just kept my pace going and it feels good to finish where I did."

With 160 points, Cary-Grove finished overall in third place. Lang Donald and Jeff Boivin helped propel the Trojans by placing in the Top 20. Donald placed 17th and his teammate Boivin finished in 19th.

Girls

At Lake Park: Host Lake Park won the event with 75 points. Lancers' junior Lindsay Flannagan led from start to finish in capturing the individual title, with a time of 17:54, and the Lancers had 5 runners finish in the top 28.

Freshman Alyssa Schneider (18:40) and junior Sam Salinas (18:43) gave Bartlett a powerful 1-2 punch finishing in 7th and 8th place leading the Hawks (161 points) to a fifth place finish.

"We both pushed each other," said Salinas who finished in 7th place last week at the St. Charles East Invite. "I took the first mile out fast, Alyssa caught up in the second mile, and the third mile we worked together."

"I like running with Sam, she's really good at pushing the pace," added Schneider with duo offering the Hawks an optimistic future.

Burlington Central wins Westmont Invitational: Occupying five places amongst the Top 11 at the Westmont Invitational, Burlington Central walked away with championship honors scoring a total 34 points as a team.

Maggie Gannon and Marcelle Turk led the Rockets, finishing third and fourth respectively at 19:32 and 19:34. Emily Zipoy came in sixth place with a time of 20:26, while Katie Puccio (20:49) and Lili Castillo (20:51) finished No. 10 and No. 11.

Vanessa Perez was another Top 20 finisher (19th) with a time of 21:29.

Boys

Burlington Central third at Westmont Invitational: Behind a solid run from team leader Ryan Phebus who placed eighth overall, Burlington Central took third place honors home from the Westmont Invitational with 93 team points.

Kevin Meyer finished 13th at 17:35 and Ryan Kohls came in 25th with a time of 18:08.

Yorkville won the invite with 15 points, and Wheaton Academy took second with 86 points.

At Lake Park: Streamwood's Neal Klein finished seventh in the Lake Park Invitational with a time of 15:39. Naperville North won the team title with 32 points. The Huskies' Kyle Gibson was the individual winner in a time of 15:02.