Scouting Cook County girls state cross country
Class 3A state meet
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
When: Class 3A race at 1:00 p.m.
Teams to watch: In 1989 the Mid-Suburban League swept the top four spots in Class AA with Palatine, Conant, Prospect, and Hersey going 1 through 4. Twenty years later the MSL is looking just as good. Palatine has won every race this season except for the MSL meet. The Pirates came back strong by winning its regional and sectional meets. Palatine now enters the meet as a slight favorite. Prospect was slowed down by the flu bug at the sectionals; the Knights are hoping to bounce back at state. Schaumburg has been consistent all season and the Saxons seemed to be primed for state. Look for Palatine, Prospect, and Schaumburg to go 1-2-3 at state this weekend. Wheaton Warrenville South, York, Sandburg, Naperville North and Geneva all have quality squads and will challenge the powerful trio from the MSL. Hoffman Estates is still rebounding from a pair of injuries to its top two runners, but the Hawks cannot be overlooked. Hersey also seems to be peaking at the right time.
Closer look at area teams:
Palatine: The Pirates have won 11 state trophies, including six state championships. Coach Joe Parks has done a masterful job in taking over from Hall of Fame coach Steve Currins, and the Pirates have not missed a beat. Its starts with junior Sarah McIntosh, who won the Schaumburg sectional and finished fourth in Class 3A last season. Junior Courtney Brown gives the Pirates a powerful 1-2 punch. Senior Ruth Allen has been the bridge from the front pack to the back pack and has kept the Pirates together. Freshman Tess Wasowicz has made steady progress all season and sophomore Laura Schweikert, sophomore Ellen Smith and sophomore Emily Schulte have stepped up big for injured junior Becca Sund. "We're hoping this is the year we put something special together," said Parks.
Prospect: The Knights are not too far behind. Last week at sectionals, Prospect was decimated by the flu bug, but coach Dave Wurster says the Knights are healthy. That is bad news for the rest of the field. Senior Annette White and freshman Brooke Wolfe set the tone for the Knights. But what separates Prospect from other teams is its talented back pack. Senior Kasey Krum, senior Emily Salzman, and junior Savannah Snead form the tight pack which most teams cannot match. The wild card is freshman Lauren Poplawski, who joined the varsity squad midway through the season. Poplawski has shown nerves of steel and finished as Prospect top runner at the Schaumburg sectional. If Prospect has a run like they did at the MSL meet the Knights will secure their first state title. "The girls have been there before and have run on the big stage, that is certainly a bonus for us," said Wurster.
Schaumburg: Not many teams can match the Saxons' top three runners. Junior Britten Petrey, junior Colette Falsey, and junior Karen Lesiewicz give Schaumburg a trio of all-state runners, if not top 10 finishers. Junior Jordan Wagner has been steady for the Saxon. Senior Nora Ferguson may hold the key for Schaumburg. Ferguson sat out the regional with an injury and shook off the rust at sectionals. If the senior is healthy the Saxons may have enough firepower to grab the state title. Last years team was just happy to be at state, this years squad has serious business to take care of. "They have definitely become stronger and they have matured, now they just have to run their race," said Schaumburg coach Jon Macnider.
Hersey: Not too many people would have predicted the Huskies to make state earlier in the season. But coach Jim Miks has his team peaking at the right time. Senior Ashley Martin ran her first race of the season at the sectionals after being held out for health reasons. Martin finished third to pace the Huskies. Senior captain Sarah Reynolds has been the glue for Hersey and ran an inspired race at sectional. Junior Salena Clohisy was a bit off at sectionals, but has the potential to be all-state. Sophomore Nora Gawlik and junior Riley Wade add depth to the Huskies' attack.
Hoffman Estates: The Hawks were dealt a devastating blow when they lost their top two runners, Melissa Schmidt and Hannah Worman, to injuries in early October. Both were all-state runners last season. Schmidt has returned and is running despite a stress fracture; Worman is out for the season. Hoffman coach Kirk Macnider has skillfully guided a young team without its two captains. Sophomore Haley Goers has stepped up big and taken over the No. 1 spot and has the makings of an all-state runner. Sophomore Haley Worman and sophomore Takshaka Patel have run like veterans. Schmidt will also be in the mix. Senior Grace Watkins and sophomore Deedee Delahunt will add depth to the Hawks' attack. If Schmidt and Hannah Worman had not been injured Hoffman would be given serious title considerations.
Individuals to watch: The individual race is wide open, but just like the team race the MSL will be a force. Naperville Central sophomore Amanda Fox and Sandburg senior Kimberly Christensen are two names that stand out outside the MSL, and Geneva junior Kelly Whitley cannot be overlooked.
Area runners to watch:
Sarah McIntosh (Palatine): The Pirates junior is hitting her peak after winning the Schaumburg sectional. She will enter the state meet with a load of confidence.
Britten Petrey (Schaumburg): The Saxons junior is gamer and never backs down. A fast track at Detweiller may be just what the junior needs. Petrey finished 26th last year just missing all-state honors, she is solid pick to be the individual champion this year.
Ashley Martin (Hersey): Martin missed the entire season with health issues, but the seniors performance at sectionals cannot be overlooked.
Courtney Brown (Palatine): Brown has flown under the radar for most of the season with McIntosh leading the Pirates, but the junior is coming on strong and will definitely be in the spot light on Saturday.
Colette Falsey (Schaumburg): Falsey ran her best race of the season last year at Detweiller fininishing ninth in Class 3A. Look for the junior to have another successful day on Saturday.
Olivia Jones (Buffalo Grove): The Bison junior won the MSL title and is running with a lot of confidence. If it's close at the end, Jones can always depend upon her lethal kick.
Rebecca Batliner (Barrington): The Barrington freshman was sick at the MSL meet, but she seems to be healthy now. Batliner has had an impressive first year and is looking to end it with a flourish.
Brooke Wolfe (Prospect): The Prospect freshman has led the Knights all season. She was under the weather at sectionals, but when healthy she can run with the best.
Ruth Allen (Palatine): The Pirates senior has been a rock all season. Last year Allen finish 25th at state; this year she should finish higher.
Karen Lesiewicz (Schaumburg): The Saxon junior has run strong all season and been very consistent adding to Schaumburg's depth.
Christina Gastfield (Rolling Meadows): Last year the Mustang junior finished 8th in Class 3A. Gastfield can always be found lurking near the lead pack.
Annette White (Prospect): The Prospect senior finished 13th in Class 3A last season. She has dealt with sore shins the past two weeks, but will be ready for Saturday.
Lauren Poplawski (Prospect): The Knights freshman has run like a veteran, she has to be in the mix for all-state honors.
Haley Goers (Hoffman Estates): Goers has taken over for an injury-riddled Hawk team.
Salena Clohisy (Hersey): The Hersey junior didn't run her best at sectionals but is looking to make up for it at state.
Class 2A state meet
When: Saturday at 11 a.m.
Teams to watch: St. Viator makes its first trip to the state meet after finishing an impressive third at the Belvidere sectional. Coach Jim Milner has done a superb job in leading the Lions in his first season. Freshman Hanna Winter took fourth at the sectional and is primed for all-state honors. Keegan Griebal and Ronnie Mack give the Lions a solid 2-3 runners, with Carolyn Hutyra and Sarah Levenson adding depth.