Scouting DuPage County girls cross country
Top teams: Naperville North, Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove South, Neuqua Valley, York, Metea Valley, WW South, Naperville Central, Glenbard East.
Top athletes: Addison Trail: Liz Balbuena, jr., Natalie Diaz, jr., Alex Nava, jr., Vivianna Sanfilippo, fr.; Benet: Kelly Andrews, fr., Elisabeth Camic, fr., Joy Jackson, fr., Colleen Lipa, soph., Emily Spellman, fr., Mae Tully, jr.; Downers Grove North: Eva Bednard, soph., Ellie Gross, soph., Claire Kovarik, sr., Grace Puc, sr.; Downers Grove South: Brenna Cohoun, soph., Erin Reidy, soph., Becky Versaskas, jr., Melissa Weidner, jr.; Fenton: Charity Bullis, soph., Angela Durate, jr., Ruth Kirkwood, soph., Jessica McCauley, sr. Jacqueline Ponce, sr.; Glenbard East: Cailyn Biegalski, sr., Melisa Flores, sr., Katie Schaefer, sr., Lexi Weltin, sr.; Glenbard North: Alex Bartkowiak, sr., Anna Marinc, sr., Emily Salucha, soph., Eleta Sisay, jr.; Glenbard South: Ava Childs, sr., Julia Clingen, jr., Gisela Hagedorn, jr., Katie King, sr.; Glenbard West: Chloe Connelly, jr., Katelynne Hart, soph., Katie Hohe, jr., Claire Kenwood, sr., Lindsey Payne, sr., Lauren Pappas, jr.; Hinsdale Central: Kayla Byrne, jr., Grace McCabe, sr., McKenna Revord, soph., Reilly Revord, sr.; Hinsdale South: Neha Chinwalla, sr., Emma Ririe, sr., Patrice Trzupek, soph., Kiki Twardosz, sr.; IC Catholic Prep: Anna Gendusa, sr., Jada Smith, jr., Julissa Unzueta, sr.; Lake Park: Jennifer Ayala, sr., Grace Larson, jr., Lauren Mack, soph., Kasia Szkaradek, soph. Janelle Drogolewicz, jr.; Lisle: Katy Cunningham, sr., Carolyn Keleher, sr., Liz LaScala, sr.; Metea Valley: Carly Cast, jr., Megan Fichte, soph., Terri Scarlett, jr., Keely Weber, sr.; Montini: Julia Billote, soph., Bella Reilley, jr., Hannah Ruddy, soph., Emily Samp, sr.; Naperville Central: Meghan Donovan, sr., Victoria Mineo, sr., Natalie Sarris, sr., Emily Scott, soph., Noelle Veone, sr.; Naperville North: Jill Fitz, sr., Claire Hill, jr., Alex Morris, jr., Sam Prazma, sr., Hannah Ricci, sr., Sarah Schmitt, sr.; Neuqua Valley: Keara Ginell, sr., Sofia Medina, jr., Corinna Pena, sr., Julia Rushing, soph., Brynne Winiarski, sr.; St. Francis: Catie Haney, jr., Claire Kolker, soph., Lila Kral, jr.; Timothy Christian: Hope Clark, soph., Olivia Reamer, jr., Elise Terpstra, soph.; Waubonsie Valley: Ashley Heidenrich, soph., Shaelyn Iyer, sr., Katelynn Mullinax, soph., Sarah Vitro, jr.; West Chicago: Maddie Brotnow, sr.; Westmont: Lily Arndt, sr., Halle Nash, sr., Peyton Nash, sr., Lisa Niemiec, sr.; Wheaton Academy: Maggie Bailey, sr., Stephanie Gregersen, jr., Julia Robleski, sr.; Wheaton North: Sophie Diagle, soph., Olivia Jeannette, soph., Katie Lanagan, sr., Rose Quinn, sr., Emma Riley, soph.; Wheaton Warrenville South: Haley Ansiel, soph., Laurel Moneysmith, jr., Kaitlin Nenninger, soph., Amanda Obrist, jr., Maria Rucoba, soph.; Willowbrook: Kaylynn Kattiyaman, sr., Angela Klingelhoffer, sr., Victoria Palma, jr.; York: Maya Curry, soph., Erin Davies, sr., Lydia Hickey, soph., Emma Kern, soph., Sarah May, jr., Katherine Tomaska, sr.
Scouting report: The battle lines between Naperville North, the defending Class 3A girls cross country champion, and Glenbard West, which captured its first track and field team title last spring, have never been more pronounced. With the latest cross country season set to begin in earnest this weekend, the teams have been anointed the finest in the land, according to ilxctf.com. Hart and Payne had remarkable running seasons for Glenbard West last year. Hart made a national name for herself as the freshman wunderkind followed up her individual cross country state championship by sweeping the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs in track last spring to complete the Triple Crown of distance racing. Payne, with a 3,200 track state title to her credit as a sophomore two years ago, was runner-up to Hart at both the state cross country meet in Peoria and the longest track distance in Charleston last spring. Never in the annals of state history had the same two teammates swept the marquee distance-running events in identical order. "You want to put top runners at the top," Naperville North coach Dan Iverson said. "But you have to have a team." With its remarkable depth and balance once again on full display, the Huskies turned back five-time defending Class 2A champion Yorkville 111-130 to capture its sixth state championship under the 21-year Iverson reign. Illness-addled Glenbard West had to settle for ninth as a team last fall at Deweiller Park in Peoria.
But the sense of anticipation for a classic showdown this fall was only enhanced on the track last spring as the Huskies' distance stars were pivotal figures in the first Naperville North track state trophy - third place - in program history. "(The) track (state championship) was a great thing," Glenbard West coach Paul Hass said. "We're not focusing on Naperville North. We're focusing on what we can do. (The Huskies) are probably going to be prohibitive favorites going into the season. We hope to be mentioned in the same breath." Naperville North returns three all-state athletes in Schmitt, sixth, as well as Ricci and Morris, who finished in consecutive slots to place in the top 19. To add further intrigue to the schools' anticipated clashes this fall, Schmitt and Morris were third and fifth, respectively, in the 3,200 last spring. Naperville North also has a run of five consecutive appearances at the Nike National meet in Portland. "We are all motivated," Schmitt said. "(My teammates) bring that energy and excitement throughout the season." The Huskies' senior is well aware encountering Hart and Payne is inevitable this fall. "They are amazing competitors," Schmitt said. "We have been racing against such athletes for years." Five of the six local returning Class 3A all-state runners hail from either Naperville North or Glenbard West as Ricci and Morris will seek to lessen the departure of state team-placers Claire Hamilton (Indiana) and Gabby Champion (University of Northern Iowa). "I don't see (cross country) as an individual sport," said Ricci, who transferred from Pennsylvania last year. "It's about what we can accomplish as a team." "My goal is to run as fast as I can and improve from last season," Morris said. Seniors Fitz and Prazma are potential breakout stars for the Huskies. Ricci, Hill and Fitz were members of the Huskies' third-place 3,200 relay last spring. "I definitely appreciate the speed aspect of track (in preparing for cross country)," Ricci said. Schmitt follows a specific routine in continuing the Huskies' extraordinary legacy that features 14 state trophies since Iverson inherited the program in 1996. "My focus is one meet at a time," Schmitt said. "In the back of my mind, we are thinking about the end of the season. There is a whole different level to state than the regional and sectional. You don't want to be overconfident." Iverson is in the envious position of inserting multiple runners, many of whom would unquestionably be starters in countless other programs. "It's always a process in training with purpose as we go into October and November," Iverson said of his philosophical approach. "The (regular-season) races won't be any different, but the training will be different for sure," Iverson said. Freshmen frequently pay immediate dividends in the sport, and Iverson has a quartet of fresh blood in Madeline Cody, Nora Fitzgerald, Jillian Carroll and Kate Donaldson to replace graduation losses. "They are very excited to be a part of the program," Schmitt said of the Huskies' ninth-grade class.
Hart certainly illuminated the days of nurturing talented underclass athletes on the lower levels are as anachronistic as a station wagon. Hart rendered veteran cross country and track coaches mumbling in her wake after her unprecedented large-school season last year. "Just staggering talent," Benet cross country and track coach Scott Brooks said of Hart. "She is just so much better than anyone else." "A once-in-a-lifetime athlete," Glenbard South cross country and track coach Mark Tacchi added. "It's nice to see a Glenbard school up there." "(Hart and Payne) make Glenbard West a formidable power in both cross country and track," Iverson said. "Those two are fantastic runners." Hart traversed the 3-mile layout at Detweiller Park last fall to win in 16 minutes, 31 seconds. Hart trained at altitude in the southwest mountains over the summer to prepare for the upcoming season. "She's always trying to get better," Hass said of Hart. Payne was three seconds behind her teammate to finish runner-up for a second consecutive year. "I couldn't be more proud of those two girls," Hass said. "(Payne) ran her best meet of the year at the state meet." Payne overcame respiratory issues last fall to finish second. "I didn't get better until the start of track," Payne said. Payne has elicited widespread admiration among local coaches for her grace after falling short at the state meet against the likes of Hart, state record-holder Judy Pendergast (Naperville North) and former teammate Lindsey Graham. The uncommitted Payne has never finished worse than fifth at the state meet. "I think most people underestimate Lindsay Graham, not from a talent level but her maturity in handling that situation," Downers North coach Tim McDonald said. "I have wondered what it must be like for her," Brooks said of Payne. "How many states would she be a state champion in? She is one of the best runners in the nation." "It's definitely in the back of our heads," Payne said of the Hilltoppers' shared vision of a high state finish. "I think the biggest factor will be the team cohesiveness. My goal is to have the best possible (individual) score I can have (at state)." For Glenbard West to earn its second state championship in program history, the Hilltoppers will have to augment the brilliance of Hart and Payne with three more counting runners. Hohe missed the entire state series last year with mononucleosis. "That was a big loss," Hass said of his top junior.
The final largest-class returning all-state performer is York junior May. The Dukes, along with preseason No. 4 Hinsdale Central, will be the primary rivals for Glenbard West in the rugged West Suburban Silver. "I know the girls are very focused," York coach Lauren DeAngelis said. "(May) is so team-oriented. I think she will be a great leader for the team." DeAngelis' expectations largely rest on the talented Kern complementing May at the top of the Dukes' pack. The sophomore was hampered by injuries for much of last season. "We have some young runners who can make an impact," DeAngelis said of her underclassmen. "It's going to be a heck of a season in 3A. Our conference is stacked. We all have a ton of talent. I think it will come down to who can stay healthy."
Downers South is the clear favorite in the West Suburban Gold; the reigning fourth-place Mustangs enter the season ranked No. 7. "We can't control the three teams ahead of us," Downers South coach Doug Plunkett said of the striking disparity Naperville North, Yorkville and Minooka enjoyed among the 25 team qualifiers at state last fall. "We're hoping to clear that gap this year."
Neuqua Valley and Metea Valley also have designs on a return trip to the state finals. The Wildcats were sixth in state last season. "We can't let Naperville North doing great get in our way," first-year Neuqua Valley coach Amanda Ameling said of the Wildcats' aims this year. "We can't treat it any differently. We have to focus on what we're doing." Like its sister school, Metea Valley welcomes back a strong nucleus from its state contingent. "Every single year we get better," Metea Valley coach Eric Anerino said. "We probably have the most-talented program we have ever had."
WW South will seek a 10th consecutive team trip to Peoria this fall. Glenbard East, Wheaton North, Lake Park and Waubonsie Valley are programs with ambitions to match their rising bases of talent. Glenbard East is the clear favorite in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division behind its senior-dominated top four. Weltin and Biegalski seek to make their success at making the state cut in track translate to cross country.
Wheaton North is potentially scary this fall, seen by many observers as a potential dark horse. "I have such a wide variety (of classes) at the moment," Wheaton North coach Brian Zegelin said. "It's just a really fun and committed group. We have a lot of young athletes."
Lake Park coach Jay Ivory is hopeful the depth of talent in the area will rub off on his potentially dangerous Lancers. "We see some of the best teams in the state week in and week out," Ivory said. "We have to work like they do." Naperville Central coach Matt Blondell has a known commodity in returning at-large state qualifier Donovan. "We hope to develop the same success (as Naperville North)," Blondell said. "They have been doing it for 25 years. As the No. 1 returnee, I hope (Donovan) can lead the girls not only as an individual but as a team."
As the sole DuPage County representative of the East Suburban Catholic Conference, Benet has yet more designs on extending its league dominance behind a slew of notable newcomers. "They have clearly outworked the rest of my kids," Brooks said of the Redwings said of his incoming ninth-graders. "Freshmen are a mixed bag. It's a different stage in high school versus middle school. You worry about inexperience. Freshmen tend to improve a ton during the regular season. I have never had a deeper group of freshmen in 27 years." Among the area programs in the two smaller divisions, Wheaton Academy is the lone ranked Class 2A program. The Warriors will have Robleski to anchor their aspirations for a return trip to the state meet this fall. Glenbard South will have to overcome significant graduation losses at the top of its lineup to reserve another trip to Peoria. Fenton and St. Francis also look to make strides. Timothy Christian and Westmont are the brightest hopes in Class 1A. IC Catholic Prep and Lisle will focus on individual goals as a dearth of numbers making fielding a full team problematic.
Key dates: Sept. 2, Red Devil/Hornet Invite; Sept. 2, St. Charles East Leavy Invite; Sept. 2, Fenton Early Bird; Sept. 9, Detweiller Park First to the Finish; Sept. 15, Riverside-Brookfield Invite; Sept. 16, Peoria Notre Dame Invite; Sept. 23, Palatine Invite; Sept. 30, Wheaton North Falcon Classic; Oct. 4, Naperville North Twilight Meet; Oct. 7, West Aurora Stampede; Oct. 13-14, Conference championships.