McIntosh leads Pirates to Mid-Suburban title
With so many fresh faces and new names, the Mid-Suburban League girls cross country race was hard to predict.
Leave it to Palatine, a perennial contender, to steal the show.
Palatine sophomore Sarah McIntosh led a tight pack of seven runners the first 2 miles before exploding in the final mile to secure the title in 17:40, leading the Pirates to their 11th MSL championship on Saturday at Busse Woods in Schaumburg.
The Pirates dominated the meet by placing five runners in the top 23 and finishing at 59 points. It's Palatine's first conference title since 2005.
Buffalo Grove (104 points) proved it is no fluke in nipping defending champion and host Hoffman Estates (105 points) for second. A young Schaumburg team secured fourth place at 111 followed by Hersey (130).
There was bit of uncertainty before the race, wondering how the new runners would respond to the pressure. Even veteran Palatine coach Steve Currins was a bit concerned.
"You aren't the only one," said Currins of the deep field in which 15 of the top 25 runners were first-time all-conference runners. "I thought we'd be good, we just ran our race. It seemed like they did a good job."
McIntosh led the charge. The sophomore showed no hesitation in taking control of the race, pacing the top seven runners before switching gears the final mile to secure the victory.
"I tried making a move the second mile but the pack came with me," said McIntosh who used a downhill in the final mile to make her separation. "Everyone was in a big group in the front, you had to stay tough. Winning the conference was big, it's cool."
Hoffman Estates' Hannah Worman (17:51) was sitting fourth at the 2-mile mark, but the junior used a surge in the final mile to secure second place.
"She (McIntosh) made a move and I wasn't able to go with her," said Worman, who finished sixth in conference last year. "I didn't doubt myself and I finished as hard as I could, you just have to hang in there."
Palatine's Sophomore Courtney Brown (17:53) edged Hoffman's junior Melissa Schmidt (17:54) and Schaumburg's sophomore Colette Falsey (17:54) for third.
Buffalo Grove's freshman Olivia Jones (17:58) took sixth followed by Rolling Meadows Christina Gastfield (18:05) and Barrington senior Rebecca Tracy (18:09).
Schaumburg's Britten Petrey (18:13) and Hersey's Selena Clohisy (18:18) rounded out the top 10.
Worman and Tracy were the only two individuals to have repeat finishes in the top 10 from last year's meet, so the unexpected was the expected on Saturday.
But Palatine lived up to its No. 2 ranking on Saturday. McIntosh and Brown led the charge, with junior Ruth Allen (18:24) taking 12th place. Sophomore Becca Sund (18:46) and senior Tory Wright (18:54) rounded out the Pirates' scoring.
"I think we always knew we could be good," added Brown, who hung tough the entire race. "The last mile was the hardest, I tried to keep a steady pace and kick it in at the end."
Buffalo Grove may have been an unknown at the beginning of the season, but the Bison proved they belong with the elite on Saturday.
Jones led the Bison beat, with senior Erin McGrath (18:40) and sophomore Sarah Peluse (18:52) taking 16th and 22nd place.
"We were just trying to go our best," added Jones of the Bison, who finished 10th in the league last season. "Going into the postseason it's very helpful. We know what we need to work for."
McGrath stepped up big with No. 2 runner Cari Geyer not at 100 percent by finishing 26th.
"I felt responsible for the team, it's like my family now," added McGrath of her key performance. "If someone else is having a tough time I definitely want to step up."
Worman and Schmidt powered Hoffman to third place, with senior Gaby Duenas (18:43) securing to 18th place to aid the Hawks' attack.
"People haven't seen our best race yet," said Hoffman Estates coach Kirk Macnider. "Today we were third with a solid race. We feel like we're in good position"
Schaumburg continued to impress, getting four runners in the top 25. Falsey and Petrey led the Saxons' charge, followed by sophomore Karen Lesiewicz (18:30) and Nora Ferguson (18:55), who took 15th and 25th, respectively.
"We've been working so hard for this," said Falsey of the Saxons' progress. "We're all young, so for this to happen is awesome."
Hersey has had it share of injuries this season, but Clohisy combined with Ashley Martin (18:25, 13th place) to lead the Huskies to fifth place.
"Me and Ashley worked together," said Clohisy. "I think this team still has a lot left and by the end of the season we'll be ready."
Defending champion Annette White (18:21) took 11th place and Savannah Snead (18:55) secured 24th place, leading Prospect to a sixth-place finish.
"I needed to push myself more in the second mile and I didn't do that," said White of her performance. "I know I can still do it and I just have to push myself in the post season."
Colleen Vrshek (18:44) finished 19th and combined with Gastfield to lead Rolling Meadows to seventh place.
"We've been practicing a lot and it kind of shows with the team," said Gastfield, "You kind of get what you work for."
Tracy made all-conference for the fourth time leading Barrington to an eighth-place finish. The senior finished fifth last year and was sitting in third place after 1-mile before finishing in eighth place.
"Not exactly where I wanted to be today," said Tracy. "It was a fast course and it was a really competitive top pack. It's always a fun race to run."
Kalli Dalton (18:25) and Megan Hodgson (18:41) finished in 14th and 17th place to pace Conant to a ninth-place finish. Dalton, who has been dealing with an iron deficiency, made all-conference for the fourth year in a row.
"My brain knows I can go faster, but my body can't," said Dalton of her setback.
Rachel Palumbo (19:06) finished 29th to lead Fremd to a 10th-place finish. Gina Erbacci (18:51) took 21st in leading Elk Grove to 11th place. Wheeling was pace by Rachel Stinebring (19:55), who finished 47th individually.
Central Suburban North: Maine West's Elizabeth Meier finished second (18:42) by four seconds to Glenbrook North's Marisa Slomski.
West Suburban Gold: Leyden's Jamie Johnson (18:18) won the title by five seconds.