Warren heads for Wheaton North
The Warren girls cross country team is going all out to reach its full potential this fall.
After running in the very popular Patrick Savage Invitational at Niles West for many years, the Blue Devils will be headed in a different direction this weekend.
Warren will be competing in the 24-team Falcon Classic Invite on Saturday morning at Wheaton North as the Blue Devils will see many of the top runners in the state in the powerful seven-flight meet.
With the meet running in reverse order, Warren No. 1-runner Heather Olson is expected to be the focal point for the Blue Devils final race as Olson will try to keep her undefeated record intact for the 2008 season.
Olson's weekend season to date includes a first place at UW-Parkside, a rain/flood out at the Wauconda Invite, a first at the Blue Devils' own invite, and first at Oak Park-River Forest last weekend.
After placing seventh in the state in Class 3A as a junior, Olson has very few peers left in her class, but the competition downstate is always outstanding.
"We're getting out of going to the Niles West Invite and basically the level of competition isn't where we needed it to be for this point of the season," said Warren coach Cheryl Anderson. "This is something different being a flight race, and being able to run against some of the best athletes without going to Peoria."
While Olson has not set any specific goals for the state meet in November, she will certainly be among the contenders to win the individual crown in Class 3A.
"She (Olson) is feeling very relaxed, she's right on target, this is the point of the season we've been waiting for and the weather is cooperating," Anderson said. "Saturday's invite will get her one step closer to her goals and it will give her a true test along with building her confidence."
Harland watch: While Warren will be heading out west this weekend, many of the area Lake County squads will be headed just north of the border for the Pat Harland Invitational at Fox River Park hosted by Antioch.
Vernon Hills and top runner Danielle Dickman will be competing in the field of runners with the varsity girls race slated to start at approximately 11 a.m.
The host Sequiots will also have an elite runner competing in junior Erin Poss while Grant's top duo of junior Alexis Capps and senior Kendra Kennedy have been impressive in the first half of the season.
Led by senior Ariel Butzine, Lakes will go head-to-head with Grayslake North and elite sophomore Kimmy Denikas again after the Eagles outdistanced the Knights by 15 points for runner-up honors at the Grant Invite last weekend.
Lake Forest should bring a very strong team into the Antioch meet along with three teams from the Fox Valley Conference.
Stevenson is among the top area girls teams headed south for the Peoria Invite Saturday as the 1-2 punch of Kim Tarnoff and Chrissie Pacewicz lead the Patriots' into the 10:30 a.m. race at historic Detweiller Park.