Patient Prospect packs away East title
Patience has been a key for the Prospect girls cross country team this season, and the Knights showed plenty of that on Wednesday at the Rolling Meadows triangular.
While Rolling Meadows senior Christina Gastfield and Hersey senior Salena Clohisy battled it out for the top spot in the first mile, the Knights patiently waited their turn.
Prospect unleashed its talented runners in the final mile, securing six of the top 10 spots in earning 22-36 victory over Rolling Meadows and a 18-45 victory over Hersey. Those wins helped the Knights wrap up the Mid-Suburban East Division title at Salk Park.
Gastfield was by herself over the final 2 miles to secure first place in 17:49, leading Rolling Meadows to 20-37 victory over Hersey.
"We held back a bit, we wanted to stay in a pack," said Prospect coach Dave Wurster. "We were pretty certain our pack would be strong enough to carry us after we released them at the 2-mile mark and they did."
Sophomore Brooke Wolfe (18:15) and sophomore Lauren Poplawski (18:24) led the final charge, securing second and third place.
Wolfe has had a sensational start to the season, including a victory at the Palatine Invitational last weekend. But it was all about the team for the Knights sophomore Wednesday.
"We wanted to stay together and work our pack hard," said Wolfe who also has won the Fenton and Lake Park Invitationals. "It feels good to win the division. Now we just have to keep working hard."
Senior Savannah Snead (18:47) kept Prospect rolling by taking fifth. She was followed by junior Kate Welch (18:55), senior Mary Styzek (18:57) and freshman Rachel Henk (19:06) who finished seventh, eighth, and 10th.
Prospect won the MSL title last season; now the Knights are hoping to find that same magic with the season quickly approaching its ending.
"We just have to understand we have the same ability that we've had in the past, even though we've lost some key runners," said Snead.
Rolling Meadow senior Christina Gastfield took second last season in Class 3A, and she showed on Wednesday that she is not slowing down this season.
The Mustang senior punished the final 2 miles.
"I was just trying to get as much distance between the field as I could," said Gastfield who has won the Crystal Lake South and Warren Invitationals while gearing up for the postseason. "I feel like if I go in with a game plan that I've been working on all season I should be good, just staying with the lead pack and working on my kick."
Rebecca Zych (18:47) and Claire Brady (19:02) finished sixth and ninth in aiding a Rolling Meadows team that will be in the mix for a state berth at the Schaumburg sectional.
Clohisy (18:36) challenged for the lead early before fading a bit in the final mile to finish fourth for Hersey. The Huskies senior will definitely be in the mix for all-state honors at the end of the season.
"This was almost like a mini-state race with all the talented runners," said Clohisy. "I'm planning on being up in the top group at state. I had good mind set going into this race and I'm going to have to keep that going forward."