Top teams ready for Palatine cross country invitational
Detweiller Park in Peoria has been the center of attention for girls and boys cross country the past two weekends with the Peoria Woodruff and Notre Dame Invitationals.
This week all eyes shift to Palatine.
The Palatine Invitational will be held Saturday at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve. The girls varsity race will begin at 10:20 a.m., followed by the boys varsity at 10:50 a.m.
Only limited parking will be available at Deer Grove East before 7:45 a.m., because the main entrance to the park until 9 a.m. for to the Midtown 5K Race. There will be a spectator shuttle bus running every 15 minutes from Palatine High School starting at 9 a.m.
The girls field includes six of the top 15 teams in the most recent Illinois Cross Country Coaches Poll, with No. 1 Palatine leading the pack.
The Pirates are coming off back-to-back victories at the Hinsdale Central and Peoria Notre Dame invites. No. 5 Prospect will challenge Palatine as it won the Fenton Invite and then took second at the Lake Park Invite.
No. 6 Hinsdale Central took first at the Peoria Woodruff Invite; others in the hunt include Lyons, Barrington and Downers Grove North.
Palatine junior Sarah McIntosh is looking to defend her title, but Buffalo Grove sophomore Olivia Jones (second last year), Prospect senior Annette White, Prospect freshman Brooke Wolfe and Barrington freshman Rebecca Batliner will all be in the mix.
"We're expecting a fast race," said Palatine coach Joe Parks, "It's our home course, so we're hoping to do well."
The boys field includes 6 of the top 15 and three of the top five in the ICCCP. Defending champion and No. 1 ranked York tops the list as it finished second in Class 3A last season and is the early favorites this season.
But No. 3 Loyola is coming off a title at Peoria Notre Dame and No. 5 Palatine finished second to Loyola last weekend.
Lyons, St. Charles North and Lake Zurich will add to a powerful field.
Loyola's senior Nico Composto finished sixth in Class 3A last season and took second at Peoria Notre Dame. Cary-Grove's Phil Fairleigh, York's Jake Driggs and Dundee-Crown's Anthony Manfrin will push for the lead.
Palatine will be led by its duo of Chano Bernardo and Alec Bollman.
"This meet has everything," added Palatine coach Chris Quick of the loaded field. "Top end, top middle and state challengers individually."
Palatine darkhorses: Fremd's boys team has quietly made a name for itself this season by winning the Crystal Lake South and Warren invites.
Aaron Ferst, Spiros Angelakos and Andy Mack have set the pace for the Vikings.
The two invites have given Fremd a confidence boost, but the Palatine Invite looms as a large test.
"It will be a nice test," said Fremd coach Mike Bruce. "It was great to have competition at the first two invites, but it's not the level of competition we'll see Saturday."
Individually, Barrington's Chris Cogswell is hoping to continue his early success. The senior finished 20th at the Peoria Notre Dame Invite.
Cogswell qualified for state last track season in the 1,600 meters and has used it as a springboard for this cross country season.
The senior used an explosive start at Peoria Notre Dame to gain his position.
"The goal was to be aggressive," said Barrington's coach Ty Gorman, "He may have been little too aggressive, but that is what you have to do on the state course."
Freshman sensation: On the girls side, Prospect freshman Brooke Wolfe and Barrington freshman Rebecca Batliner have opened a few eyes.
Both are looking to continue their success in a tough Palatine field.
Wolfe took third at the Fenton Invite and second at Lake Park in getting off to a quick start.
"She's like a veteran," added Prospect coach Dave Wurster, "She has a lot of racing experience."
Batliner looked impressive in taking third at the Peoria Woodruff Invite on Sept. 12.
"She's handled things very well," said Barrington coach Debbie Revolta, "She looking to run the best possible race each time out."
MSL girls roulette: Go ahead and take a spin. Depending on the weekend one never knows which Mid-Suburban League girls team will be on top.
The current ICCCP rankings currently have four MSL schools in the top five.
No. 1 Palatine, No. 2 Hoffman Estates, No. 4. Schaumburg and No. 5 Prospect give the MSL a powerful quartet.
The four have all been able to get an early look at each other.
Palatine narrowly defeated Hoffman in an early duel meet; the Pirates then edged Schaumburg for the Peoria Notre Dame title.
Hoffman beat Prospect and Schaumburg at the Lake Park Invite, the Hawks then came back to narrowly defeat the Saxons at a dual meet.
Palatine will get its first look at Prospect on Saturday, then the Pirates will face Schaumburg at Barrington triangular next Thursday.
"The competition definitely raises the level energy," added Palatine coach Joe Parks, "We get use to the big-meet feel."
But each team is keeping a level mind on the high stakes season.
"As a coach you have to keep each race in perspective," said Schaumburg coach Jon Macnider, "and be ready for when it counts in November."
Saxons' Petrey makes big splash: Schaumburg's Britten Petrey finished 26th in Class 3A last year - one spot from making all-state.
But Petrey did not miss out on a medal in the spring, securing sixth place in 3A in the 1,600.
Petrey has not missed a beat this fall, taking third at the Lake Park Invite, then following it up by taking first at the Peoria Notre Dame Invite.
Meadows double trouble: Senior twins Photis and Angelos Karkalis have given the Rolling Meadows boys a 1-2 punch. The two have combined to win every race run by the Mustangs this fall.
Angelos had to sit out the first couple meets but Photis picked up the slack, winning a Barrington dual meet and then taking first at the Crystal Lake South Invite.
Photis added a first at the Prospect dual. Angelos then picked up the slack for the Mustangs, taking first at a Hersey dual and adding a title at the Warren Invite. Photis sat out both of those meets.
"They are both more motivated and serious this year," added Meadows coach Frank Schweda of the twins. "Last year they were good, but they realized if they worked even harder they could get better."
Low profile: For team that is ranked No. 4 in the ICCCP, the Prospect boys team has kept a rather low profile.
Prospect had used the Libertyville Invite as their coming out party in past years, but this year the meet was canceled.
The Knights are set to make their first major invite debut Saturday at Oak Park.
Seniors Chris Spudic, Albert Ciolek, Pat Ford, Kenny Halloran and Vince Tagare have set the tone for Knights with their leadership.
"We're starting a little bit late," said Prospect coach Mike Stokes, "But the seniors are our core and are solid. We believe in them and they have been very patient this season."
The wait is just about over and look for the Knights to make a big splash.