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Cross country: Wheaton North’s Romaine, Hersey’s Wade take titles at Wheeling invite

Wheaton North’s Maddie Romaine and Streamwood’s Sophia Baumert had differing viewpoints of running alone Saturday morning.

Schaumburg liked how running together worked out in the girls race of the 47th annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Wheeling’s Heritage Park.

Romaine broke ahead early on the 3-mile course and won in 18:01.24 as the Falcons took second to Schaumburg 39-44. Baumert, running solo for Streamwood because it doesn’t have a full varsity team, took second (18:23.77) by nearly 16 seconds ahead of Hoffman Estates’ Ella Macnider.

“It’s definitely challenging to be out by myself and to try to stay engaged when you’re not chasing anyone,” Romaine said after improving her Wheeling time by 30 seconds from last year. “I’ve never been all alone like that in a high school race and I personally think it’s more challenging.”

It’s not an unusual challenge for Baumert.

“I train alone most of the time so it doesn’t have a big effect on me,” Baumert said. “I feel like I was successful today and took advantage of the opportunity to run alone. It’s a good gauge for me for the postseason.”

Baumert wants to make the state meet at Peoria’s Detweiller Park after qualifying for the sectional last season. Streamwood coach Dylan Lau is thinking even bigger.

“The goal isn’t just to get a downstate but to try to grab an all-state spot,” Lau said. “I think we’re where we need to be and we haven’t even started the tapering process yet.”

Jpia Sodimu (18:59.65), Milana Pisto (19:09.37), Abigail Kilian (19:12.88) and Emma Walz (19:21.85) finished 6-9 for Schaumburg. Chloe Pisto was 15th (19:54.83).

“Everybody worked really hard to stay together as a pack,” Sodimu said. “It worked out the way we hoped. Coach (Caitlin Roberts) told us to go out fast and sit together.”

Macnider (PR of 18:39.46) and Maya Zabiegly (18:42.17) finished 3-4 as Hoffman took third (64 points).

“It was a good race coming back from Detweiller (last week),” said Hoffman coach Matt Ihms. “They went out and attacked today. It’s always a fun meet and they love running here.”

Wheaton North’s Emily Offutt was fifth (18:46.04). Stevenson was fourth as a team as Nanoko Seki and Sophia Pan were 16-17 and Maine East’s Ashley Gaba finished 14th. Benet standout Delilah Helenhouse, who committed to Northwestern earlier this week, did not run.

Boys race:

Senior Owen Wade wanted to return to cross country after a year off and run for new Hersey head coach Mike Glosson.

On Saturday morning, Wade ran a 3-mile PR of 16:05.62 to win the 47th annual Wildcat Invitational boys race at Wheeling’s Heritage Park. Cole Branstrom of team champion Glenbrook South was second in 16:17.62.

“I did miss running and missed competing,” said Wade, who is also a competitive swimmer.

“I’m glad he decided to be with us and stick it out,” Glosson said. “He’s shown good leadership for us. He seems to be peaking at the right time and this is big for him.”

Glosson said Wade’s run “puts him in the conversation” to be in Hersey’s top eight which are between 15:32 and 16:05. Wade’s previous best was 16:08.

“I was really happy,” Wade said. “Coach always tells us to go out strong and at the mile to go hunting. I was around 5:20 and it felt really good and smooth.”

Branstrom, Jack Lyons (4th, 16:27.10) and Spencer Rudolph (7th, 16:47.68) led GBS past Hersey 29-55. Luke Carlson (16:49.82) was ninth for the Huskies.

Streamwood’s Alex Harrison (16:26.75) was third and Wheeling’s Wilbur Bohena (16:40.21) was fifth. Third-place finisher Rolling Meadows was led by Dawid Opiola in sixth (16:45.6). Benet’s Finn Richards, last year’s Class 2A fifth-place state finisher, didn’t run in the meet.

  Event winner Maddie Romaine of Wheaton North has an early lead shortly after the start of the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Wheeling’s Wilbur Bahena finishes fifth during the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Rolling Meadows’ Dawid Opiola finishes sixth during the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Schaumburg’s Jpia Sodimu heads for the finish line for sixth place during the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Hoffman Estates Maya Zabiegly, left, and Ella MacNider run beside one another during the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. They finished in fourth and third, respectively. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Wheaton North’s Maddie Romaine wins the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Hersey’s Owen Wade runs on his way to winning the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Waubonsie Valley’s Braedon Koerner heads for the finish line during the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Runners in the boys race head into the first turn shortly after the start of the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Hersey’s Owen Wade wins the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Streamwood’s Sophia Baumert is on her way to a second-place finish during the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Conant’s Amanda Albrecht, left, and Schaumburg’s Dilana Kowaczek head for the finish line during the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Streamwood’s Alex Harrison, left, edges Glenbrook South’s Jack Lyons for third place during the 47th Annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational at Heritage Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Wheeling. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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