Flanagan, Lake Park edge Prospect at Fenton

Lake Park's Lindsay Flanagan is off to a blistering start to the 2008 girls cross country season.

On Wednesday the senior set the Lake Park course record in finishing the 3-mile course in a blazing 16:56.4.

Flanagan came back on Saturday to take first and set a course record at the 28th annual Fenton Earlybird Invitational leading Lake Park to the title with 72 points.

Flanagan's time of 17:37 crushed the mark of 18:14 set by Conant's Kalli Dalton in 2007.

The senior finished 1:08 ahead of second place Annette White of Prospect, who came in at 18:45.

"I'm so excited," said Flanagan who finished 10th in Class 3A last year. "I just want to keep improving so by the time I get to state, I'd really like to break the state record."

Lake Park had four runners in the top 14 to take first for the third straight year, followed by Prospect (81 points), Downers Grove South (86 points), Downers Grove North (137 points), and Conant (153 points).

"Obviously she is running very, very well at this point," said Lake Park coach Harvey Braus of Flanagan. "She is well ahead of where she was last year at this point, but we still have things to work on with her. As good as she is, she can still improve."

Lake Park returned five runners from the team that place 10th in Class 3A last season, and the Lancers look very strong even though they were missing number two runner Tricia Ehrhardt, who out with an injury.

Junior Elizabeth Riggio (19:19) and senior Juliet Vogel (19:20) took 8th and 9th place, with Junior Ashley Prochazka (19:33) taking 14th place.

Junior Colleen Briscoe (20:39) completed the Lancers' scoring by taking 40th.

"They're very confident, they've been through it and they know what to expect," added Braus of his veteran team. "The main thing for us, just like any team, is we have to keep everybody healthy and keeping working hard through the end of the season."

White battled a group of five runners and broke free at the end to secure second place in front of Fenwick's Margaret Connelly (18:45) and St. Ignatius Alec Brumfield (18:47) leading Prospect to second place.

"I really wanted to get second and I didn't want to give it up right at the end," said White of her final burst. "There was a pack of girls behind me so I just pushed it with all I had left."

Prospect placed four runners in the top 24, with junior Kasey Krum (19:20) and junior Emily Salzman (19:22) taking 11th and 12th place. Sophomore Savannah Snead (20:01) secured 24th place for the Knights.

"We're used to running together in workouts, so it kind of felt like a workout I guess," said Krum of the Knights pack. "We're a lot better this year and we're figuring out where we need to be."

An experienced Downers Grove South team placed five runners in the top 28 to secure third place.

Junior Grace Magliola (18:53) led the charge for the Mustangs by taking sixth place. Junior Casey Harms (19:26) and senior Nicole Thate (19:38) secured 12th and 18th place.

"We're looking to make state this year, that is something for us to aim for," added Magliola whose team has won nine straight West Suburban Gold titles. "We have a lot of experience and that should help this year."

Sophomore Samantha Fry (19:33) and senior Anne Correll (19:39) took 15th and 20th place to lead Downers Grove North to fourth place.

"We have a much younger team than we had last year," said Fry of the Trojans. "But we're all pretty close in speed and time, and that pushes each of us in races and practice."

Senior Megan Hodgson (19:30) looked strong in securing 13th place and leading Conant to 5th place. Hodgson made quite a jump after finishing in 30th place at last year's invite.

"It felt good out there today," added Hodgson, "I think our pack is coming together."

Defending champion Kalli Dalton (19:44) took 21st to aid the Cougars.

Courtney Trunk (19:38) took 17th place leading St. Francis to sixth place with 175 points.

Hersey was missing top runner Megan Gojney, but sophomore Salena Clohisy (18:51) came through with a fifth-place finish leading the Huskies to ninth place.

"A year of experience has really helped and I hope to do even better this year," said Clohisy. "Once we get everyone back I think we'll do really well."

Freshman Katherine Schenck (19:38) took 19th-place leading Lakes to 10th place.

Senior Heather Crowe (20:49) finished 49th leading host Fenton to 13th place.