Palatine, Prospect win MSL divisional titles
At Palatine: Palatine had its hands full in Mid-Suburban West girls cross country this season, but the Pirates didn't blink.
Junior Kelly O'Brien ran away with the individual title in 17:10, leading host Palatine to a pair of dual meet victories at Deer Grove East on Thursday.
Palatine defeated Fremd 23-35 and also ran to a victory over Conant 15-49 in securing its eighth consecutive MSL West title.
"Each year winning the division is one of our goals," said Palatine coach Joe Parks, whose team finished the dual meet season 6-0. "It wasn't easy but the girls did a great job, maybe even exceeding expectations."
Palatine is ranked No. 4 in the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Poll, and the Pirates answered the bell this season by defeating No. 10 Hoffman Estates, No. 12. Schaumburg, No. 15 Barrington to win the West.
O'Brien, who won the Palatine Invitational on Saturday, recorded her best time on her home course in leading the Pirates. Sophomore Anna Buckstaff (18:23), senior Kara Burton (18:26), senior Megan Beach (18:27) and senior Amy Kieliszewski (18:27) went 4-5-6-7 in nailing down the victory.
Senior Ayako Higuchi (17:50) and senior Katie Escobar (18:02) went 2-3 leading Fremd to a 19-37 victory over Conant.
At Wheeling: Prospect rose to the challenge to secure its seventh consecutive Mid-Suburban East title.
Sophomore Brooke Wilson (19:14) and senior Hannah Getschman (19:43) went 2-4 leading the Knights at MacArthur Middle School, where Prospect defeated host Wheeling 27-30, and also added a 26-39 victory over Buffalo Grove.
"One of our goals every year is to win the East," said first-year Prospect coach Pete Wintermute. "We can check that off our list and hopefully keep rolling for the postseason."
Sophomore Aileen White (20:21) added a seventh-place finish, while sophomore Molly Leeney (20:49) and junior Veronica Holloway (20:53) went 10-11 to secure the victory.
Senior Aurora Mala (19:21) took third to pace Wheeling to a 21-33 victory over Buffalo Grove.
Buffalo Grove junior Kaitlyn Ko won the individual title in 18:58 to pace the Bison.
At Schaumburg: Senior Caroline Kurdej (19:25), freshman Lauren Kubinski (19:26), senior Erin Falsey (19:31), and sophomore Ellie O'Connell (19:41) grabbed places 4 through 7 to pace host Schaumburg in a pair of MSL West victories at Macnider Cross Country Course at Hoover Middle School.
Schaumburg defeated Hoffman Estates 22-35, also ran past Barrington 25-33.
Junior Meagan Biddle (19:13) took second in helping Hoffman Estates to a 24-32 MSL West victory over Barrington. Barrington freshman Jocelyn Long took first individually in 19:05.
At Rolling Meadows: Elk Grove sophomore Emily Stegmeier (19:01) took first place in pushing Elk Grove to a pair of MSL East victories at Salk Park. Elk Grove defeated host Rolling Meadows 26-31, and also ran to a 27-34 victory over Hersey.
Juniorr Gabby Sanchez (19:02) took second in leading host Rolling Meadows to a 25-30 victory over Hersey.
Sophomore Claire Gritt (19:46) paced Hersey with a third-place finish.