Prospect's Wolfe, Schaumburg rule MSL
Schaumburg knows how to finish.
The Saxons entered the Mid-Suburban League meet ranked No. 1 in the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches poll but they trailed No. 2 defending state champion Palatine at the two-mile mark Saturday.
Then the Saxons went to work, making some major moves in the final mile to secure their fifth MSL title and first since 2002 nipping Palatine 59-63 on a beautiful fall morning at Busse Woods.
“That's what we talk about. You have to take things, no one is going to give it to you, said Jon Macnider, who is in his last season as Saxons coach. “I want them attacking that final mile.
Barrington (75 points) edged defending MSL champion Prospect (79 points) for third, with Fremd (119 points) taking fifth place.
While Schaumburg was dueling it out with Palatine, Prospect sophomore Brooke Wolfe and Rolling Meadows senior Christina Gastfield were locked in a battle for the individual title.
Wolfe made a move early in the final mile to make separation from Gastfield, and then held off a late charge to secure the title in 17:09.
Gastfield (17:11) took second, followed by Barrington sophomore Becca Batliner (17:23), Palatine senior Courtney Brown (17:25) and Schaumburg senior Colette Falsey (17:27).
“I knew she (Gastfield) was a strong runner and I couldn't let up, said Wolfe of her final mile. “The key was being confident and knowing I could do it.
Wolfe became only the second Prospect runner to win the MSL title, The Knights' Annette White tied Wheeling's Amber Stack for the title in 2007.
Gastfield, who finished second in Class 3A last season, gave Wolfe all she could handle before settling for second in a classic battle.
“I knew she (Wolfe) always likes to make her move at the 2-mile mark, Gastfield said. “I wasn't going to let her get too big of a gap. I'm really happy with the way I finished, and hopefully in the next couple weeks I can get closer and closer.
The Saxons featured six runners in the top 23. Falsey led the charge, but senior Karen Lesiewicz (17:42) and senior Britten Petrey (17:59) were in hot pursuit and finishing seventh and 12th.
“It feels amazing, said Falsey of the Saxons' title. “We knew we could do something great today and all our hard work paid off. I think our whole team has a lot of speed and that really helped in the final mile.
But the title wasn't secured until sophomore Hannah Combs (18:17) and junior Kelsey Steenstrup (18:27) closed the door on Palatine by finishing 17th and 18th.
“The final mile we knew we had to give it everything we had, said Petrey, who secured her fourth all-conference honors. “The last mile you know what you have to do. You see the runners in front of you and you know you have to catch them to get what you want to get.
Saxons sophomore Samantha Nordli (18:36) added 23rd place.
“It's like a heavyweight fight, said Macnider of the battle with Palatine that will only intensify in the coming weeks. “We just need to keep doing our thing.
Palatine has been in this position before. Last year the Pirates finished second to Prospect at the MSL meet by only 3 points before storming to the Class 3A title.
So there is no panic in the Palatine camp, but the Pirates know they have to meet the Saxons' closing speed.
“We want to win conference, it was definitely one of our goals at the beginning of the year, said Pirates coach Joe Parks, “We know they (Schaumburg) have some girls with some speed and we have to do some things to separate ourselves. Now we have to get ourselves ready for the next couple of weeks. We have time.
Brown pushed the Pirates pace early and was followed by junior Emily Schulte (17:54) and sophomore Tess Wasowicz (17:54) in 10th and 11th.
“We wanted to get out hard but stay relaxed the first mile, Brown said. “We still have three weeks before state, and I think we'll be ready.
Pirates senior Sarah McIntosh (18:16) and freshman Jessica Lincoln (18:41) finished 14th and 24th.
“We're all trained and ready, now it's just a question if we're mentally there, Wasowicz said. “Today's race wasn't as good as it could have been, I don't think everyone was there today, but I think we're only going to get better and we can do it.
Batliner pushed Barrington with help from junior Ella Tracy (18:16) and junior Alexa Argianas (18:16) in 15th and 16th.
Senior Sarah Miller (18:27) and sophomore Rachel Simon (18:31) also aided the Broncos attack by finishing 20th and 21st.
Batliner suffered a stress fracture in her left fibula during track season and was slowed at the beginning of the cross country campaign. But the sophomore showed she is back in top form with her third-place finish.
“My whole team has been there for me and helped push me, Batliner said. “Today's race is a major confidence boost for me and my whole team. We left it all out on the line.
Wolfe once again was in fine form, but the sophomore had plenty of help with sophomore Lauren Poplawski (17:48) and junior Laura Maibuecher (18:13) finishing ninth and 13th.
Wolfe has had a knack of making her winning move at the right time storming to four major invite titles and she showed that same timing to win the MSL title.
“She always knows when to go, said Knights coach Dave Wuerster. “She makes a move when people are tired. She is tired too, but she makes the move with authority. It is exciting to see someone with that competitive spirit. She loves the competition.
Steadily improving Fremd sophomore Kelly Breen (17:45) took eighth place.
“This year I've learned not to get super nervous with my race, said Breen, who finished 36th in the MSL last year.
“Halfway through the race, I figured out where my spot was. Early in the race it was pretty congested. The whole team has been motivated this year.
Vikings senior Emi Sudo (18:28) and senior Victoria Moroney (18:44) finished 19th and 25th.
Gastfield powered Rolling Meadows to sixth place, with senior Claire Brady (18:51) taking 26th.
Hoffman Estates junior Haley Goers (17:32) hung with the lead pack early and placed sixth as the Hawks were seventh.
“It was very competitive up front, Goers said. “I kept closing the gaps and I kept my eyes up. I wanted to work the second and third mile, then have the heart to finish.
Hersey senior Salena Clohisy (18:35) was 22nd as the Huskies finished eighth.
East Suburban Catholic
Benet had won the East Suburban Catholic Conference girls cross country meet 17 straight years.
But St. Viator ended that streak Saturday, edging Benet 56-57 at Melas Park in Arlington Heights. Freshman Meghan Carroll took first in 18:16 to lead the Lions to the title. Sophomore Hanna Winter (18:35) and senior Keegan Griebel (19:03) finished third and eighth.