Scouting Fox Valley area girls cross country teams
Bartlett Hawks
Coach: Beth Emody (fifth season)
2009 finish: 5th place Upstate Eight Conference)
Top returning runners: Senior Alyssa Schneider, junior Taylor Crawford, sophomores Nicole Watkins, Lyndsay Bruzzini
Key newcomer: Senior Clarisa Czekajlo
Outlook: Bartlett is in search of its third-straight Class 3A state finals appearance. Schneider, Crawford and Watkins all ran in the state meet a year ago. "We've been working hard in the off-season and are looking forward to trying to qualify for state for the third year in a row," said Emody. "We've got a pretty big time gap within our top seven and will be focusing on trying to close that gap."
Burlington Central Rockets
Coach: Vince Neil (second season)
2009 finish: 2nd place Big Northern Conference
Top returning runners: Markelle Turk, Katie Puccio, Katie Flannery, Alexa Tovsen, Alex Tarr, Heidi Zipoy, Lindsey Puccio
Key newcomer: Hannah Zipoy
Outlook: The Rockets are coming off a 2009 season in which they took second at a Class 2A regional and 10th at the sectional level. Graduated senior Maggie Gannon (Iowa State) took eighth in the state. "Our strength this year will come from our pack running," said Neil. "In the past we have relied heavily on one or two front-runners, but this season will be a new look for us. We have a very solid core group of girls who are beginning to jell as a team. The girls have had a quality summer and are excited for the challenge ahead. As long as the girls can continue to work hard every day and truly work together as a team, I think this could be a special year." Neil mentioned teams like Winnebago and Richmond as contenders in the BNC. "Yet if we can continue to make progress throughout the season, I think the Big Northern Conference could make for an interesting three- or four-team race," he said.
Cary-Grove Trojans
Coach: Mark Anderson (ninth season)
2009 finish: 4th place Fox Valley Conference
Top returning runners: Seniors Megan Cummings, Em Lane, Itza Lopez, juniors Paige Freund, Jenna Kurz, Caitlin Gibbons, Katherine O'Connor, sophomores Sarah Englund, Katie Boyd, Maddie Lundin
Key newcomers: Sophomore Christina Angle, freshmen Natasha Geiger-Powell, Stephanie Neumann
Outlook: Anderson likes the mix of young and veteran talent on the team. "We have a good balance of experienced upperclassmen and younger kids who can contribute," he said. "I am really pleased with our depth on this squad. We've got several kids who have legitimate chances to run in our top seven. If we can have a quick 1-5 or 1-7 split, we will be fine. We'll just focus on ourselves and let everything else fall in place." Anderson said the conference will once again be deep with top teams like Huntley, Crystal Lake Central, Woodstock, Crystal Lake South and Dundee-Crown.
Crystal Lake South Gators
Coach: Nikki Lydon (11th season)
2009 finish: 6th place Fox Valley Conference
Top returning runners: Seniors Marianne Collard, Emily Lenzini, Nina Wajrowski, Erica Boorom, Michelle Wangrow, junior Lauren Keogh
Key newcomers: Senior Lidia McGuire, junior Alyssa Walker
Outlook: Collard is coming off a junior season where she won a regional title, took third at the Fox Valley Conference meet and qualified for the state meet. Lenzini is back after rehabbing a torn ACL last year. Wajrowski, Boorom, Wangrow and Keogh all return from last year's varsity roster. "Our varsity roster (top 7) will include mostly juniors and seniors with a lot of racing experience and most of them have been on the varsity roster since freshman year," said Lydon. "All of them are very close and have a great work ethic." South has its sights set on improving its conference standing. "The team was very disappointed in last year's finish," said Lydon. "The team did not run well the day of conference and did not handle the pressure well. They would like to redeem themselves and finish in the top 3. I feel we will be competitive, but we will struggle early on since we have some girls that are injured right now and can't start running until September. We hope some other girls on the roster can fill the void until they are ready to race."
Dundee-Crown Chargers
Coach: Tom Smith
2009 finish: 2nd place Fox Valley Conference
Top returning runners: Seniors Claira Himmel, Katie Gross, Monique Robinson, junior Allison Beek, sophomores Natalie Himmel, Jade Franz
Key newcomers: Junior Rebecca Libricz, sophomore Carolyn Schneider
Outlook: D-C ran well last year when it counted the most, finishing second in the FVC and advancing to sectionals after a third-place regional showing. Smith has six runners back from the conference team. "The girls are having a good start to the season," said Smith. "They have some potential." Claira Himmel is the team's No. 1 runner. "Claira is kind of the front-runner and the other girls run off each other. I think the girls are going to be competitive this year." Smith sees another dogfight in the FVC this year. "I think the conference is up for grabs. There are a lot of good teams," he said. "Huntley won it last year and has their whole group back. Central has some girls back, Cary-Grove is always solid and South will be good-it's right on across the board. I think we have the ability to score well."
Hampshire Whip-Purs
Coach: Patti Nihells
2009 finish: Fifth-place at regionals
Top runners: Senior Erika Dominguez, junior Cassie Kruse, freshmen Elizabeth Pagan, Emily Eischen
Outlook: Hampshire graduated standout Holly Plichta, who finished 29th in the state last year. However, Kruse returns after qualifying for sectionals as a sophomore. She went on to finish third in the state in the 800 relay and was the anchor on the state-winning 3,200 relay team. "Cassie Kruse will be a force to be reckoned with on the course," said Nihells.
Huntley Red Raiders
Coach: Brad Gallaugher (first season)
2009 finish: Fox Valley Conference champions
Top returning runners: Seniors Haley Loprieno, Delanie Dineen, Mercedez Kennedy, juniors Sara Scarbro, Emily Kahl, Amy Kahl
Key newcomers: Freshmen Delaney Loprieno, Beth Parks, McKenna Moffet, Taylor Schau, Savannah Henn
Outlook: Huntley returns all of its runners from the FVC and regional title teams. "We have maturity and experience," said Gallaugher. "These girls have been in big races and know what the expectations are and how to handle any pressures. We have also worked a lot on believing in ourselves, staying positive and most importantly, having fun." Huntley will be gunning for a repeat conference title. "Varsity expectations are high with all of the same runners as last year's team," said Gallaugher, who noted another goal is to get the team to the Class 3A state meet. "We are trying to build off last year's success. I really hat to say this, but I think anything less than conference champions would be a disappointment." Youth is also a part of the equation for the Red Raiders. "Half of the team is freshmen," said Gallaugher. "The JV will be very competitive. With them being the future, I think they need to be competitive and successful right now."
Jacobs Golden Eagles
Coach: Kevin Christian (fourth season)
2009 finish: 8th place Fox Valley Conference
Top returning runners: Seniors Susan Piotrowski, Jenn Tomany, Rhiann Owen, Soryia Sabir, sophomore Sam Baran.
Key newcomers: Sophomore Karina Quinones, freshman Kayla Guiliano
Outlook: The Golden Eagles return a pair of all-conference runners in Piotrowski (11th) and Baran (23rd) and a third runner in Tomany, who just missed being all-country. Quinones and Guiliano are in that top five mix as well. "Karina and Kayla have been able to keep up with the top three, which gives us a strong group of five that can compete with most teams," said Christian.
St. Edward Green Wave
Coach: Kerry O'Brien (first season)
Top runners: Senior Shelby Shepard, junior Audrey Danner, freshman Jasmine Deleon, Elizabeth Harkins, Emily Witt
Outlook: O'Brien is in her first year coaching both the boys and girls cross country teams at St. Edward. She's assisted this year by the David Greer, the school's director of development who ran for Franciscan University of Steubenville and Mike Olenek, who has previously coached the Green Wave track and field teams. Danner is a move-in from Lisle along with her brother, John, who is on the boys team. "Audrey is one of our two best girl runners," said O'Brien. Shepard has run on the team the past few years and is also a girls soccer player at the school, as are Deleon, Harkins and Witt. "Our goal for this season is to establish the program, which has fallen on hard times the last few years," said O'Brien. "We were not able to field a team for most of the season last year. Our hope is to attract the attention of other athletes in our school and fill out a full team in both girls and boys cross country."
South Elgin Storm
Coach: Jorie Bartholomew (sixth season)
2009 finish: 8th place Upstate Eight Conference
Top returning runners: Seniors Katie Goplerud, Shelby Kenny, juniors Jordan Tuin, Amanda Westerlund, sophomores Casey Schoenborn, Abby Kenny
Key newcomers: Junior Jenna Hollander, freshman Elizabeth Nieto
Outlook: Tuin and Goplerud were both top 25 finishers at the UEC meet last year and were in the top 15 at the regional race. "I think this year our strength is in our numbers," said Bartholomew. "We have good number this year-our best yet-and I think having a bigger and stronger team is going to really help us in our meets. I am hoping that having the girls being able to compete as a team on all levels really brings the team together. Bartholomew has seen the program as a whole continue to move forward. "Overall, I think the team is getting stronger. I am hoping this will be one of our best years," she said. "We have most of the top runners back and I feel that they are stronger this year. Each year we set a goal and we have been able to accomplish that goal. I am hoping this year will be no different. Each year we get closer and closer to our goal of getting out of sectionals. We hope that this year will be that year. We had the whole team make it to sectionals last year. We're just looking to maintain that and then surpass that."
Streamwood Sabres
Coach: Ryan Korn (sixth season)
2009 finish: Seventh place in Upstate Eight Conference
Top returning runners: Seniors Jordana LeSavage, Maria Luna, Michelle Tomczak, Biridiana Salgado, junior Amanda Patterson
Key newcomers: Juniors Alyssa Patterson, Jess Kirshenbaum, sophomore Crystal Prusek
Outlook: Amanda Patterson is a returning all-conference runner, while Luna took eighth at the regional meet. "Our strength this year is our experience and our top three runners," said Korn. "We are returning six of our top seven from last year. This group of seniors have been running together year-round for the last three years. That top three of Patterson, Luna and LeSavage are strong enough where any of them could be our number-one runner on any given day." Patterson's twin sister, Alyssa, and an improved Tomczak give Streamwood a strong top five. Korn said Salgado will also be challenging for a top 5 slot. "Our overall team outlook this season is a very positive one, but with a strong sense of urgency," said Korn. "We have a lot of seniors that understand they are good enough to compete with the best teams around. We just need to stay healthy and focused on the big meets at the end of October. This program has been heading in the right direction for awhile now, but this is the year we have to get results. No one ever thinks about or mentions Streamwood when discussing top teams in the area and this year we want to change that." Korn has his largest team since he's been the coach (38 runners in the program).
Westminster Christian Warriors
Coach: Larry Cochran (first season)
Top returning runner: Senior Brittany Booth
Key newcomer: Senior Abbey Womack
Outlook: Cochran also coaches the track and field programs at the school. Booth will look to lower her times this year, while Womack has returned after taking a year off from cross country and track. "The team is small, but it has a family feel," said Cochran. "All of the athletes are willing to put in the work." Cochran would like to see the team score big in the Northeastern Athletic Conference meets and make a run for a possible Class 1A state team berth.