Prospect's Wolfe prepares for national test
The Palatine girls cross country team and Prospect sophomore Brooke Wolfe were both been consistently good in the fall high school season.
Palatine won its second consecutive state trophy finishing second to state champion Schaumburg at IHSA Class 3A state meet on Nov. 13.
Palatine then took first at the Nike Midwest regional on Nov. 14, nipping Indiana state champion Carmel 72-74.
Wolfe has been just has consistent. The sophomore blazed through the regular season undefeated, then won the Mid-Suburban League, regional, and sectional titles before finishing fifth in the Class 3A state meet.
Wolfe followed it up by taking fifth at the Nike Midwest regional.
The next and final stop is the Nike Cross National in Portland, Ore., this Saturday with the race beginning at 12:25 central time.
Wheaton Warrenville South girls team finished third in Class 3A and qualified as an at-large team for Nike Nationals.
Illinois will also be represented on the boy's side with Class 3A state champion York and third place Neuqua Valley.
It marks the second consecutive trip for Palatine; last year the Pirates finished 19th in the 22-team field.
This year Palatine enters the meet ranked No. 4 nationally by Harrier magazine.
“Last year we just wanted to go have fun, we didn't even know about Nike Nationals,” said Palatine senior Courtney Brown who finished eighth at the regional. “We still want to have fun, but we also want to prove ourselves this year.”
“There are so many great runners there,” added senior Sarah McIntosh, “Last year we kind of felt like we didn't belong. This year we feel like we can run with them.”
Also competing for the Palatine squad will be senior Becca Sund, juniors Emily Schulte and Ellen Smith, sophomore Tess Wasowicz and freshman Jessica Lincoln.
The course will be set up in European style with bails of hail and water holes, which will add to the difficulty But the Palatine girls and Wolfe are looking forward to the challenge.
It has been an impressive run for the Palatine girls the past two seasons, losing only four meets with the largest margin being 9 points.
“We've just been really focused,” said Wasowicz, who has supplied a powerful season ending surge. “I think it all come back to doing the little things, working really hard during practice, and really running for your teammates.”
Wolfe had very few hiccups for Prospect this season, and the sophomore has shown that same consistency during her post season run.
Now Wolfe is looking to cap a memorable sophomore campaign.
“I just want to finish strong and close the season with a bang,” said Wolfe. “I'm just really excited to get out there and compete against the best.”