Boys cross country Class 3A regionals
Rolling Meadows
Where: Salk Creek Park
When: Saturday, 9:45 a.m.
Team race: Palatine and Hersey are the two best teams at the Rolling Meadows Regional and shouldn't have much trouble advancing. The last three spots will likely be filled by Barrington, Buffalo Grove and Prospect, although Fremd, Rolling Meadows, and Wheeling could all challenge for the fifth position.
Individual race: Hersey senior Kevin Havel is the favorite and his teammates, junior Erik Stanton and senior Billy Wisser, could both finish in the top five. Palatine senior Mat Smoody finished second to Havel last week and hopes a different strategy will have the Pirate finishing first. Palatine senior Kevin O'Brien and sophomore Chano Bernardo
What they're saying:
"All the big boys are going to be there. Palatine will be there, Schaumburg, Hersey, Barrington. We're hoping we can put something together as a team but the individual competition should be pretty tough as well." -- Fremd senior Nick Hurley
"Everyone is definitely going to have to run their best race. I think there will be three or four teams fighting for that last (qualifying) spot and I think if everyone shows up and runs their best race we'll have a pretty good shot." -- Rolling Meadows junior Kevin Clark
"I expect a great race. Everyone wants to get down to sectionals. So everyone is going to be racing to qualify." -- Hersey senior Kevin Havel
Lake Park
Where: Lake Park, East Campus
When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Team race: Schaumburg, Conant, Hoffman Estates and Lake Park are the favorites to advance while Maine West is one of four or five teams competing for the final advancing spot. The top teams will be looking to not only qualify for the Schaumburg sectional, but also to prove that they have what it takes to get through what appears to be one of the toughest sectionals in Illinois boys cross country history.
Individual race: Conant junior Jeff Thode wasn't happy with his performance last week at the Mid-Suburban League meet and hopes a slight change in strategy will help him finish first at Lake Park. Schaumburg senior Nathan Rutz, who finished six seconds ahead of Thode last Saturday, should join the front pack. Senior Alex Rummelhart will likely represent the Lancers in the top pack.
What they're saying:
"I think we should be all right. If we have a really good race, I think we can win it and go on to sectionals." - Hoffman Estates senior Chris Hoffman
"We're going to go over to Lake Park and it will be another race with us and Conant to see who can win the regional. Then we'll cross our fingers and see if both of us get out of the sectional." - Schaumburg coach Jim Macnider
"(It should be the) same competition (as the MSL meet), maybe better." -- Conant junior Jeff Thode
Fenwick
The Oak Park (Fenwick) Regional will start at 2 p.m. Saturday at Schiller Woods Forest Preserve in Schiller Park. Fenwick, Mather and Northside are expected to fill out the top three. Leyden's young but talented runners will compete with OPRF, St. Patrick and Morton for the final two qualifying spots. Eagles coach Brad Henning says all five runners need to finish in the top 30 for Leyden to advance.