Libertyville hopes to maintain superiority in NSC

With five area teams reaching the Class 3A sectional meet, Lake County area girls cross country teams proved that they were very competitive last fall.

And this season some of these same teams are hoping to take the next step up the ladder in this increasingly competitive sport and earn a trip to the state meet Nov. 6 in Peoria.

Leading the way out of the North Suburban Conference is three-time defending champion Libertyville, which has to replace four of its top seven runner's from last year's ninth-place sectional team.

Libertyville seniors Erika Danckers and Erin Jaffke (sixth in NSC) are two of the main driving forces behind the Wildcats squad. Danckers (all-NSC in 2007) has been very strong in the early stages of the 2010 season after being at less than 100 percent physically last year.

Besides its top senior duo, Libertyville also has an all-conference runner back in sophomore Nicole Jaffke (11th in NSC) to give the Wildcats a great trio to build their team around.

Libertyville has already toppled one of its biggest rivals in Lake Forest earlier this week to capture the championship of the Lake County meet, but the real tests and challenges will come much later in the season.

"Erin (Jaffke) and Erika (Danckers) are both captains and they're both four-year varsity runners," said Libertyville coach Joe Roth, who took over for coach Harry Carlson last season. "Lake Forest looks pretty good, Stevenson has one of the better runners in the state (Mackenzie Levy) on their team, and Mundelein has some good young talent."

Lake Zurich is coming off a second-place finish in the NSC to the Cats last fall and the Bears have two all-conference runners back in senior Audrey Smith (17th), and junior Cassie Houghton (20th). Senior Amy Polhemus (all-NSC in 2008) missed sectionals due to injury, but junior teammate Andrea Adams did gain sectional experience.

"We have the depth to fill the holes lost to graduation and I honestly think we have a legitimate shot for the conference title," said Lake Zurich coach Ian Silverman, whose team placed 16th at sectionals. "We don't have a standout No. 1, but we have a lot of really strong individuals."

Levy developed into a leader for Stevenson last year by placing second to Antioch's Erin Poss at the NSC meet before Levy placed 15th at sectionals, and 10th at state as only a freshman.

Now she is back to lead the Patriots again, but she will certainly get a lot of support from fellow sophomores Samantha Tarnoff (16th in NSC), and Jenna Weiner (26th) to help carry the young squad.

"It's definitely a young varsity squad, but they do have a lot of varsity experience with the top three sophomores all running varsity last year," said Stevenson coach Don Proft. "Right now we have almost 50 kids on the team, their attitudes are great, and their workouts have been very good."

Mundelein also has an elite sophomore runner this season as Marisa Perreault placed 14th in the NSC last fall before helping lead the Mustangs to a 14th-place finish at sectionals.

Perreault has already won the Lake County meet earlier this week against some familiar competition while teammates Claire Naughton and Stephanie Johnson give the Mustangs an experienced sophomore trio of their own to be dealt with. Mundelein junior Lisa Nootbaar also ran at sectionals.

"We are a very young team coming off a very good track season," said Mundelein coach John Osmanski. "We are looking to be competitive with the top teams in the conference and competing at the state level."

While Libertyville, Lake Zurich, and Stevenson are battling it out in the NSC Lake Division, Lakes will be trying to defend its Prairie Division title from the past two seasons.

The Eagles have a strong trio back with junior Kathryn Dean (ninth in NSC), junior Hannah Wittman (15th), and sophomore Amanda Timmerman leading their charge.

"Our division and conference are getting more competitive every year," said Lakes coach Keith West. "The team goals are to have every team member earn a personal record, stay healthy, and qualify downstate."

Vernon Hills is expected to push Lakes again, and senior Kelley Gallagher (10th in NSC) gives the Cougars a good starting point after placing third in the Lake County meet Wednesday.

Vernon Hills' Ali Marks (18th in NSC) is yet another sophomore sensation running this fall while Warren has a great front-runner in senior Gabby Nystrom (fourth in NSC) back to lead its pack.

Junior Kacie Wodek was an all-conference runner for Grant last year while Warren senior Julie Wienerslage hopes to make a big impact for the Blue Devils in her first season of cross country.

In the Fox Valley Conference, Grayslake North senior Kimi Denikas hopes to shake of the nagging injuries that kept her from competing at full strength for the better part of last season.

Crosstown rival Grayslake Central will turn to elite sophomore Miranda Gomez and senior captain Erika Garcia to lead the Rams' troops this fall.

In East Suburban Catholic Conference action, Carmel returns to the scene hoping to improve on its fourth-place finish in the league, and make a return trip to sectionals where it placed 19th.

Junior Sara Myss is one of the keys for Carmel's success along with sophomores Lizzy Kelly and Katie Housner, who all ran at sectionals.