Girls cross country: Benet unites in top spot

Junior Joy Jackson and her Benet girls cross country teammates are working together with hopes of a Class 2A championship.

At Wheaton North's Falcon Classic Saturday, the Redwings were nervous about being successful with their cohesive lineup split into seven flight races.

"Everyone does a really good job of feeding off each other," Jackson said. "That's why it was hard today when we were separated a little bit because during races Elisabeth (Camic), Emily (Spellman) and I always cue off each other. (We) always race better when we're together."

Even apart, the No. 1-ranked 2A team by ILXCTF.com again looked solid by winning the 20-team invite with 25 points at St. James Farm.

Among Class 3A ranked teams, No. 14 Neuqua Valley edged No. 9 York for second at 42-42 and No. 16 O'Fallon edged No. 4 Glenbard West 43-43 for fourth based on tiebreakers for the higher finisher in the No. 1 (top) flight.

Glenbard West returned for the first time since 2016, but senior three-time 3A state champion Katelynne Hart did not race. Hart should compete at Naperville North's Twilight Invitational on Wednesday.

Among three other 2018 top-10 all-staters, Rosary junior Lianna Surtz won the No. 1 flight in 16:49.5 for 2.95 miles, with St. Charles East junior Alice Abbott second in 17:04.4 and Grant sophomore Aly Negovetich third in 17:17.0.

Benet won the invite for the first time in more than a decade of attending with a lineup coach Scott Brooks said is probably his best since the 3A third-place state finisher in 2006.

Jackson won the No. 3 flight in 18:08.9, sophomore Amelia Parisi won the No. 6 flight in 18:26.4, and Louisa Diamond and Mary Weber were second at Nos. 5 and 7. Spellman was third at No. 2 and Camic 12th at No. 1.

"I should have maybe been a little better (timewise), but I can't really complain with a win," said Jackson, six seconds faster than 2018. "We had the potential to win, but we weren't sure we were good enough. I think everyone just laid it out on the line."

After being 12th and 11th at 3A state the past two seasons, the Redwings are motivated by their 2A opportunity. Even with no seniors in the top seven, Brooks said his varsity has shown great maturity in "acting professionally as runners" and knowing the balance between working hard and having fun.

"Honestly, I feel like I've done less coaching than I've ever done. Those kids are so on top of what they need to do every day," Brooks said.

"Everyone's really excited that we have the possibility to win our first state title. I think (2A) just gave us more hope and excitement for the season," Spellman said.

Surtz should contend for the 1A title after being second in 2A last year. At the Peoria Note Dame Invite on Sept. 21 at Detweiller Park, Surtz's 16:44.7 for 3.0 miles was second to Hart's 16:00.7 (No. 3 Detweiller all-time). Surtz will go for time rather than place at the Twilight.

"Up until five minutes before, I was expecting (Hart) to run, but it would have been a good experience either way," Surtz said. "I wasn't expecting to beat her but hoping to be closer than before."

Saturday's three front-runners were together before Surtz and Abbott broke away around 1 mile. Surtz began opening a gap around 2 miles.

The No. 10 Saints' Brooklyn Weber and Hannah Kilpatrick were fourth and fifth at flights No. 5 and 6, respectively.

Negovetich and Abbott and were fourth and ninth at 3A state in 2018.

"I'm hoping Aly and I can finish pretty high (again at state)," Abbott said.

"It's all just getting ready for state and the state series. I was happy that I got to run some good competition. I don't get to watch (Hart) run much but I know she's an amazing runner."

Everyone on Glenbard West's lineup moved up one flight. Sophomore Audrey Allman won No. 2 in 17:51.5, sophomore Delaney Engel fought off illness for sixth at No. 1 and senior Ava Powell was second at No. 4.

"Our coach always kind of gets us ready for anything so I wasn't too worried about (moving to No. 2)," Allman said. "I just knew I had to run however best I could do and I did so I'm happy."

Neuqua junior Maria Widmann and York freshman Brooke Berger finished 8-9 at Flight No. 1. The Wildcats' Anna Amundsen was second at No. 3 and Emily Stine was third at No. 4.

Widmann improved significantly from fourth at No. 4 in 2018 even with Saturday's breathing issues.

"I definitely have improved a lot," Widmann said. "I think that I could (reach state). I believe in myself, but I'd rather go with the team."

York freshman Bria Bennis won No. 5 in 18:16.7, senior Margaret Clink won No. 7 in 18:56.5 and Kathleen Buhrfiend was second at No. 6. The Dukes counted a 20th place at No. 4 when its runner dropped out.

"I've never actually won a race before so it was hard, but it was really rewarding at the end," Bennis said.

Waubonsie Valley senior Ashley Heidenrich was fourth at No. 1 in 17:21.9 - a three-place and 29-second improvement from 2018. Katelyn Mullinax was second at No. 2.

At last year's sectional Heidenrich missed a state berth by one place.

"(Sectionals) was a bad day for me," Heidenrich said. "I'm just trying to put it behind me and keep looking forward this season and think about the times I've run."

The Falcons' highest finish was eighth-place Anna Roe at No. 7.