WW South third a second time
PEORIA -- Wheaton Warrenville South and coach Rob Harvey have always had a solid cross country program, but the Tigers are starting to rise to the elite level.
WW South continued its climb Saturday at the Class 3A state meet, taking third with 124 points at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
Schaumburg won the title with 112 points, followed by defending state champion Palatine (121 points).
Oswego East junior Ariel Michalek won the individual title in 16:32, followed by Hinsdale Central sophomore Jill Hardies in 16:34 and Geneva senior Kelly Whitley.
WW South won its second consecutive third-place trophy in the second closest team state race, finishing only 12 points behind Schaumburg.
The good news is everyone is coming back for a young Tigers team.
“The key was not worrying about things we can't control, we just had to control what we could control,” Harvey said of the Tigers run. “We've put ourselves in position to keep improving, and the icing on the cake is we have everyone coming back.”
Sophomore McKenna Kiple and junior Lauren Mordini led the Tigers charge by taking 11th and 18th.
“We always work together and use our teammates to push each other,” Kiple said of the Tigers' attack. “We're just like a family and we want to see each other do great.”
Sophomore Mikayla Kightlinger, sophomore Hope Schmelze and junior Claire Kelly finished 27th, 43rd and 72nd, respectively, aiding a Tigers team that started aggressively and closed hard in the final 400 meters.
“Two years ago we didn't even know if we'd qualify for state,” Mordini added. “Now we've taken third at state for two consecutive years. We are always pushing each other and we never give up.”
Look out, this is just the start for a young and talented Tigers team.
Glenbard West also had an impressive day as freshman Madeline Perez and junior Maddie Nagle took 29th and 45th, leading the Hilltoppers to a ninth-place team finish.
Lake Park's Kaylee Flanagan missed qualifying for the state meet last season, but the sophomore capped an impressive sophomore campaign by taking ninth place in 17:02.
“We've worked so hard this season, and this is where you want it to pay off,” Flanagan said of her first state cross country medal. “It was exciting.”
York sophomore Emma Fischer led the Dukes with a 24th-place finish.
In Class 2A, St. Francis senior Kelly McShea ran a patient first half of the race, picking up the pace in the final half to secure fifth place and her second state medal.
McShea's performance helped the Spartans claim seventh place with 184 points.
“I worked hard all season and it paid off,” said McShea, who took 12th in Class 2A last season. “I took the race as it came and it's great feeling.”
“She was patient,” said St. Francis coach Scott Nelson of McShea's performance. “She ran a perfect race.”
Montini freshman Brittany Fisher took 25th place, leading the Broncos to 10th place.
“It was just great to be down here with my team,” said Fisher, who became the second Montini girl to secure a state medal. “I just wanted to work hard and help out the team.”