Trying to clear that sectional hurdle
The 2007 season ended with many area teams getting edged out in sectionals for a chance to advance on to the state meets. The 2A Belvidere and 3A Schaumburg sectionals, easily the toughest sectionals in the state, ended the season for many talented teams.
Another sectional was added for Class 3A teams, but the competition doesn't get any easier. The Geneva Vikings were one of the teams that fell short of advancing to the state meet. The Vikings placed second in the St. Charles East regional, and then sixth in the Schaumburg sectional.
Geneva returns five of its top seven from that team, and with Wheaton North losing its entire top seven to graduation, the Vikings hope to be in the mix when the 2008 state series begins.
Junior Kevin Sparks, seniors Andrew Nelson, Greg Adelman and Drew Hickey, and sophomore Kevin McDowell are all fresh off solid track seasons. Senior Chris Higgins has traded in soccer for cross country this fall after running a leg on the Vikings 3,200 relay team that finished third in the state last year.
The Vikings are currently ranked fifth in the state by Dyestat.com (formerly Illinois Prep Top Times), and coach Bob Thomson is looking for his squad to use the experience of last year's sectional disappointment to their advantage.
"The Schaumburg sectional was probably the toughest sectional in the state last year, so it was really frustrating because 15 of the top 20 teams in the state probably didn't advance to the state meet," Thomson said. "But I think that experience has helped them become more confident in their abilities. This year they have the mind-set that they can make it regardless of who they run against."
Batavia was another team that fell victim to the Schaumburg sectional a year ago after finishing fourth in the St. Charles East regional. Seniors Drew Schmitt, Stephen Jurgens, Al Lowe and Robbie Blotter return for the Bulldogs and only four seconds separated them at the regional. Seniors Tim Dexheimer and David Schmitt, junior Tyler Schlussmann and sophomore Matt Lash should provide depth.
St. Charles North survived the Schaumburg sectional last year, finishing third on its way to placing sixth in the state meet - the third straight year the North Stars posted a top 10 finish at state. The North Stars will be either looking to reload or rebuild after losing their top three runners from last year due to graduation. Seniors Todd Vankerhoff (76th at state) and Steve Miller (138th at state) and juniors Brad Wheeler (113th at state), Peter Johnson and Kyle Zankowski will look to carry the torch for the North Stars.
Marmion lost Josh Stein to graduation, but the Cadets return the other six of their top seven. Senior T.J. Hefferman is coming off a solid track season and finished 12th last year in the East Aurora regional in a time of 15:01. Fellow seniors Oscar Aguinaga and Mike Weiler, juniors Matt Wenzel and Zack Young, and sophomore Bennett Marsh return.
St. Charles East was seventh in the St. Charles East regional a year ago and will be looking to rebuild after losing four of its top seven to graduation. Senior Nicholas Cramer and juniors Jacob Osborne and Bradley LeDuc return for the Saints.
West Aurora finished 10th in the East Aurora sectional last year and return all seven runners from that team. The Blackhawks will be led by senior Phil Lindgren, who was the Blackhawks' top distance runner during the track season and was 37th in the regional last year in a time of 15:45. Seniors Steve Acuff, Andy Peters, Nick Petingalo, Rafael Vizcaino and Vince Morris, and sophomore Steve Loran give the Blackhawks an experienced top seven this year.
Kaneland fell victim to the Belvidere sectional in Class 2A a year ago, finishing sixth after placing third in the Rock Falls regional a week earlier. The Knights head into the 2008 season with six of the top seven from that team returning and are currently ranked fifth in the state by Dyestat.com.
The Knights haven't enjoyed much success in cross country in recent years, but with no seniors in their returning six, the program has been rebuilt and should be good for some time.
Coach Chad Clarey isn't about to let the heightened expectations detour his team's focus.
"The preseason ranking is based on how we did last year in the toughest Class 2A sectional in the state, but you can't really rank cross country teams," Clarey said. "Our main focus is on getting healthy and improving each week. I think that's our responsibility as coaches to do that (reduce pressure). It's not pressure we're going to build ourselves up to. We haven't been to the state meet, so we have to make that opportunity ourselves."
Only 60 seconds separated the returning six a year ago, and running in a strong pack remains the focus for the Knights in 2008.
"That's (running in a pack) something we focus on everyday," Clarey said. "We work hard at making sure we have a strong pack that runs together."
Returning for the Knights will be juniors Matt Ruesche, Edgar Valle, Dominic Furco and Logan Markuson, and sophomores Trevor Holm and Grant Alef. Senior Paul Davies returns healthy and junior Tyler Howland and freshman Clayton Brundige could add depth to the top seven.
Aurora Central Catholic was third in the Class 2A Princeton regional, but also became a victim of the Belvidere sectional last year. The Chargers will return five of their top seven from that team.
Seniors Max Gilbert and Garrett McCarthy, juniors Dan Kottkamp, John Jochum and John Cisneros, and sophomores Jimmy Spencer and Nolan McCue will compete for the top seven spots.
Coach Troy Kerber is looking for his team to improve after gaining experience by moving from Class A to 2A.
"We're looking for considerable improvement this year to say the least," Kerber said. "Last year we entered into uncharted waters, but now we know that we can compete and compete well."
Aurora Christian might end up being the surprise team of Class 1A. The Eagles finished second in the Seneca regional and seventh in the Aurora Christian sectional last year and return four of their top seven.
Senior Dylan Melody and juniors Nate McNamara, Spencer Johnson and Sean Culp return. Senior Michael Berger, sophomore Zach Wade and freshmen Sam Schuette, Nikos Jimenez and Jarred Osika have joined the team to provide depth.
Coach Priscilla Copple said this is her largest team she's coached in 19 years and she's anxiously waiting to see her young team run a race.
"We have a very strong freshmen group this year, which might be the strongest group I've ever had," Copple said. "I'm so excited about this season for the boys. We have so much talent coming in and we're so deep. I'd like to think we have a good chance at making the top five."