WW South ends Geneva's 2-year sectional streak
Geneva's two-year sectional title streak ended Saturday - now the Vikings are hoping they can peak in one week to keep another streak alive.
Wheaton Warrenville South won the Class 3A St. Charles East sectional Saturday at LeRoy Oakes with 66 points, just ahead of Naperville North (69) with Geneva in third at 79. St. Charles East and Bartlett also qualified for the state meet.
Senior Kelly Shogren led the Vikings in seventh place, a surprise ahead of normal lead runner Kelly Whitley in 12th.
"Not everyone had the race we are hoping to have and I think after a week of tapering we'll be really fresh for next weekend and the adrenaline will kick in," Shogren said. "We've been there before and done it before and I think we'll do it again."
Juniors Tess Ehrhardt and Whitley followed Shogren in 10th and 12th, respectively. Rachel Hammond in 19th and Liza Tauscher in 31st rounded out the top five.
The two-time defending state champions don't have as much depth as past years, something coach Geneva coach Bob Thomson has said removes any margin for error.
One of those runners from last year's state team, Meghan Heuer, is now at St. Charles North. She finished third Saturday - put her score on Geneva and the Vikings are sectional champs again with 51 points.
"That's the goal every year to get your teams downstate," Thomson said. "We're ecstatic. They have worked really hard to get where they are. Some high expectations obviously coming into it because of how we well we did last year. The goal obviously is to get in top five and get down there and we've done that but I know they are disappointed not to win the sectional."
Heuer came on strong in the final quarter mile to pass at least six runners and move up to third.
"I felt pretty good passing up the last group of people," Heuer said. "I just wanted to get up there and stay up there. I didn't have a plan of who to beat or anything."
North Stars coach Shari Hayes also saw junior Erica Bauerbach qualify by finishing 14th while her team placed seventh.
"She's (Heuer) been a very good leader for us," Hayes said. "In a silent way, she has taught the girls how to be competitive and really has helped Erica learn how to race. She has really helped Erica develop as a stronger runner."
St. Charles East will send its team to state: Mallory Abel (sixth), Grace Gordon (27th), Jessica Evans (28th), Sarah Hill (33rd), Holly Robertson (36th) and Colleen Earl (39th).
"Great overall team race," Saints coach Denise Hefferin said. "It was a really muddy course but that didn't play into our hands either way. The girls ran a really tough race, ran as a team, that was good."
Naperville Central sophomore Amanda Fox won the race in 18:28.5 - 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Emily Smith from Naperville North - despite a course saturated with all the rains this fall.
"You could't avoid it out there," Fox said of the mud. "You would get stuck in mud and it would be up to your ankles. It was really hard to go through. I tried zigzagging to try to stay on the least mud as possible."
Fox and Smith stayed close through two miles before Fox pulled ahead.
"i thought I better do everything I could to help the team and pull ahead and win the race," Fox said. "My goals (at state) are to PR and do the best I can. Hopefully top 25."
Other individuals who advanced were Glenbard West sophomore Maddie Nagle (fifth, 19:04.8) Crystal Lake South junior Marianne Collard (13th 19:29.5) and Benet's McKinzie Schulz (15th, 19:35.2) and Jenny Bohac (21st, 19:55.3).
Naperville North put all seven of its runners in the top 34 on its way to second place.
"We ran extremely well," Naperville North coach Dan Iverson said. "It was our best race of the year and that's what you want coming into state. You take another step next week. We got done what we needed to this week."
Jamie Schertz, Britney Weizeorick, Grace Carballo and Adrienne Schertz followed Smith.
"She (Smith) ran her best race of the year," Iverson said. "She ran really fantastic. To step up in a sectional competition like that is pretty good."
The Huskies couldn't run quite well enough to catch Wheaton Warrenville South, who also had their number at the DVC meet and regionals.
"Everyone worked so hard and it's been a whole season of working hard," said the Tigers sophomore Clare Kelly, who was eighth in 19:14. "Not just our top seven but we have so much support from our team and all the girls that come watch us run."
Sophomore Lauren Mordini led the Tigers in fourth. Freshman McKenna Kiple was 11th, senior Colleen Gibbons 18th and freshman Hope Schmelzle 25th.
"We pushed through it and did what we could," Kelly said of the course. "We've all worked so hard this year and it's just great we can work as a team and achieve our goals."
Bartlett wound up snagging the final team spot with 203 points, ahead of a tight group of Naperville Central (223), St. Charles North (224) and Benet (233).
The Hawks didn't know they qualified until the awards ceremony, and when their name was read in fifth place a roar went up from their contingent.
"I didn't expect this," Hawks coach Beth Emody said. "I'm surprised. We thought we were in the five through eight range. We're going to live it up. It means a lot to get to state two straight years."
Junior Alyssa Schneider led the Hawks in 17th in 19:38 after missing last week's regional with an illness.
"It was very muddy and I was sinking into the ground the whole time," Schneider said. "I feel personally I did good. I'm still trying to get over being sick. I ran as strong as I could and don't regret my race."
Taylor Crawford (23rd) Nicole Watkins (48th), Janessa Baker (52nd) and Joanna Niewiara (63rd) made up Bartlett's top five.
"The team stepped up and I couldn't be any prouder," Schneider said. "They ran great."
West Aurora and Batavia finished 10th and 11th, respectively. Freshman Rachel Cavender led the Blackhawks in 32nd while senior Dana Landem paced Batavia in 38th.