Hampshire's Kruse on the right course
Hampshire girls cross country standout Cassie Kruse has put the pedal to the metal this season in terms of her preparation for races.
And Kruse has been justly rewarded for her hard work in the form of winning individual titles at three major races, including last weekend's Big Northern Conference meet.
Kruse, a junior, will look to continue her success in big meets when she competes in Saturday's Class 2A Sycamore regional.
“I'm definitely training harder,” says Kruse, who also won titles at invites at Genoa and Oregon this season. “Coach (Patti Nihells) is pushing me more and I'm trying to push myself a lot more in practice and in every meet. I try and train well outside of practice by eating healthier. I'm doing all of the little things that can help make me better. It's been a lot better season overall.”
Kruse notes her race strategy is nothing out of the ordinary.
“I just try to get out in front and stay out in front and get the lead,” she said.
Kruse won the BNC title in a meet that annually features myriad small-school standouts.
“It was not so much a surprise,” Kruse said of her win. “I knew there would be a lot of competition out there. I just wanted to give it my all and go into the race with a positive attitude and see if I could do it.”
Kruse, who finished fourth in the BNC in 2009, is ready to test her mettle at the next level Saturday.
“It's the same thing as always,” she says. “I'm trying to treat it like any other race. It will be really important to get out with the leaders and try and stay with the leaders. I want to try and win it.”
In the boys race at Sycamore, Burlington Central junior Clint Kliem also heads into regional action with major momentum after winning the BNC boys individual title. Kliem finished 25th in the state in Class 2A last year.
“Basically, I want to win it,” Kliem deadpans. “I know there are a couple of runners there that will give me a run for my money. This is a new course that we haven't seen. Mentally, running somewhere that you haven't seen before will be kind of interesting.”
Kliem says a good chunk of his training at this juncture of the season involves issues off the course.
“A lot of my training is winding down,” he states. “I'm getting more rest. I'm doing a lot of other little things like washing my hands so I don't get sick. I'm doing little things that will get me prepared. That's my biggest concentration right now.”
Kliem points to a natural progression as a key for his improvement in 2010.
“It's maturity,” he says. “I've got a better tone in my muscles and my form is better. I've gotten stronger and I'm running faster and I have better endurance.”
Kliem plans to take a wait-and-see-type approach in Sycamore.
“I'll probably take it out and see after the first mile where everyone is at,” he said. “That last mile is probably going to be where you make it or break it. I'm going to try and hang on and take it home.”
Both Burlington Central and Hampshire's boys and girls teams will compete at Sycamore. The Sycamore regional feeds into the Belvidere sectional.
On the Class 3A front, Dundee-Crown and senior standout Anthony Manfrin are headed into Mid-Suburban League territory at the Hoffman Estates regional Saturday. D-C and Maine West are the only non-MSL teams in the field.
Manfrin, still working his way back from injury that quashed his 2010 spring track season, showed fine progress in his recovery recently by winning the Fox Valley Conference individual boys crown.
“I might not be the most fit or in the best shape, but I know what I have to do,” Manfrin says. “I'm just trying to do my best every meet and trying to help the team score points and even trying to surprise myself. It's been tough to say the least. Every week I'm getting better and better and every week I'm knocking off more and more rust and I'm going to keep doing that until I get back to where I was before.”
Manfrin notes his win at the FVC meet opened his eyes.
“I was thrilled to win,” he said. “The kids in the conference are goof runners. I didn't expect to go in there and run past everyone. Going into the season I was really nervous. I hadn't run that much. I was kind of a head case. I came back running with the team and started doing the workouts and was trying to figure out where I was at. The season has been a success. Not only have I progressed in my training physically, but I've improved a lot mentally. It's been a valuable experience. What I did (FVC win) gives me confidence. Hopefully I'll keep improving and run fast.”
Manfrin plans to duke it out with the best of the field Saturday.
“I'm going to go up in the front of the pack and mix it up and see how I feel and try to hang the lowest number possible,” he says. “If I feel good I'll get up there with the top guys and if I don't I'll know when to back off. It's about feeling comfortable at this time of the season.”
Manfrin is also pleased with the way the Chargers have been running of late.
“I'm pretty excited about the team,” he says. “The last few years we pull together as a team toward the end of the year. Earlier we struggled to find an identity and now we're running with confidence. It's a good time of the year to be running with confidence.”
Both D-C boys and girls teams are at Hoffman Estates, while Cary-Grove's boys and girls teams will be at the Class 3A Wheeling regional. Both the Hoffman Estates and Wheeling fields feed into the Schaumburg sectional.
Jacobs, Crystal Lake South, Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin and Streamwood will send both boys and girls teams to the Class 3A St. Charles North regional. Bartlett's teams are headed to West Aurora, while Huntley is at the Rockford Guilford regional. The St. Charles North, West Aurora and Guilford regionals feed into the St. Charles East sectional. Bartlett's Alyssa Schneider is coming off a championship run at the Upstate Eight Valley meet last weekend.
In Class 1A, Elgin Academy, St. Edward and Westminster Christian are at the Seneca regional, which feeds into the Aurora Christian sectional.
At the regional level, the top 5 teams and the top 5 individuals not on qualifying teams advance to sectionals.