Geneva' girls are running to win - again

Welcome to Geneva's budding girls cross country dynasty. Two years, two state championships. How long can this keep going?

It wouldn't shock anyone if it's at least another year or two.

In 2007, Geneva came out of nowhere, surprising many around the state by bringing home the state championship with a freshman-dominated team. It was close, 119-131 over Lyons.

In 2008, the Vikings brought back that nucleus, then welcomed in a pair of talented transfers to give Geneva an even deeper team. The result wasn't even close - a mere 51 points at the state meet to blow runner-up Hinsdale Central's 166 away.

So that brings us to 2009. Kelly Whitley, with consecutive runner-up state finishes, leads a Geneva team with high expectations once again.

"With the girls going for a three-peat, they know what they have to do and know that they have targets on their back," Geneva coach Bob Thomson said. "Are they up to it? Only as we progress through the season will we know. I have confidence in them and they have it too so we'll see."

Geneva has five of its seven state runners back from last year's team. Whitley leads those junior returnees, taking second in 17:07 at state last year after running 16:56 as a freshman. Tess Ehrhardt was 14th at state last year, Liza Tauscher 29th, Megan Brady 69th and senior Kelly Shogren 98th.

Those newcomers last year - Sarah Heuer and Meghan Heuer - took third and 12th, respectively, at state. Sarah graduated and Meghan has transferred to St. Charles North.

"We don't have the depth that we had last season," Thomson said.

Rachel Hammond, who took 33rd at state as a freshman, can fill one of those spots.

"I think we had a good summer of training," Thomson said. "I can't say that I feel any differently this year than in years past. In my mind, we're always going to go downstate. I give the runners the tools to be successful. It's up to them to put their best efforts forward and if they do, we'll all be happy with the results."

Another team happy with its results last year was Denise Hefferin's St. Charles East Saints, who brought home the third-place state trophy.

The Saints begin life after Lizzy Hynes, now at Boston College after being a fixture among the state's elite in both cross country and track the past four years.

Sophomore Mallory Abel was second to Hynes for the Saints at state last year, taking 38th, and also qualified for the state 3,200 in track.

Senior Holly Robertson brings back two years of state experience, a "strong leader on the team," according to Hefferin. Senior Grace Gordon also has been on two state teams, while senior Jacki Leibforth, junior Collen Earl, junior Claire Sanchez, junior Rachel Rawson and sophomore Kristin Sheehan all are going to battle for spots in the lineup along with newcomers Sara Hill and Lizzy Deutsch.

After winning the Upstate Eight and a regional last year before taking third in the state, the Saints are looking forward to seeing what the season brings.

"It (2008) was somewhat of a dream season and while we're still riding that momentum. The girls are ready to prove that last year was the cumulative efforts of their talent and hard work, not some fluke," Hefferin said. "They're fitter and more anxious than ever for the end of the season to show their stuff."

Heuer's move to St. Charles North gives coach Shari Hayes an all-stater to anchor her lineup. The North Stars also have junior Erica Bauerbach, who ran through injuries most of last year.

Sophomore Jessica Scheets earned all-conference last year, taking 16th at the UEC meet. Another sophomore, Kali Vence, was the North Stars' sixth runner a year ago.

Among the newcomers to watch are senior Lauren Muth, freshman Audrey White, junior Shannon Egger and sophomore Morgan Nothnagel.

"I always want the girls to finish in the top five at the UEC meet and qualify to the state meet," Hayes said. "With the addition of Meghan Heuer and the improvement of Erica Bauerbach and Jessica Scheets we should be more competitive at the sectional."

West Aurora is coming off a sectional qualifying year, and the Blackhawks already are off to a flying start this season by winning last Saturday's Aurora City Meet.

Junior Elisia Meyle won her second straight city title and is the team's leader.

"She's a workhouse, she works very hard," West Aurora coach Angela Cassetto said. "She's an even tempo kind of runner."

Elisia's younger sister Greta, a sophomore, is also one of the team's top runners. Ytai Flores will be in the top four.

"She's (Greta) such a competitor, she's silly in a good way. She makes everyone laugh and have a good time and takes the edge off everyone else," Cassetto said.

"(Ytai) is the little spirit of the team, the encourager," said Cassetto, hoping to keep Flores healthy after shin problems sidelined Flores for part of last season.

In her first meet Saturday at the city meet, freshman Rachel Cavender placed third and has been someone who can run with Elisia Meyle at practice.

West Aurora's fifth runner might be Jacquelyn Nagel, a junior transfer from Aurora Central.

Nagel's former team, Aurora Central, is led again by coach Troy Kerber. His top returnees include seniors

Natalie Perry, Melissa Lindsay, Bianca Guzaldo and Katie Petry; juniors Nicole Bohr and Allison Alosio; and sophomores Bailey Shemenski and Amanda Contreras.

Of seven newcomers to the team - senior Robyn Lee, sophomores Anna Sestak, Adeline Rubi and Emily Schwender and freshmen Jenna Koerner, Corinn Groom, Amy Green and Jemma Waldrop - Kerber expects Sestak, Koerner and Groom to be immediate impact runners.

Sestak might even be the front-runner for the Chargers followed by a pack of Perry, Koerner, Groom and Shemenski. How the six through eight runners develop could be the key to the season.

"(We) want to get back to the sectionals and beyond as a team," Kerber said. "They competed well last season but fell victim in a 2A regional that boasted seven of the top 12 ranked teams in the state."

Aurora Central, which has 57 runners out for the team, has qualified for state 17 times in the last 23 years. The Chargers took second in the final year of the Suburban Catholic Conference last year.

Like Aurora Central, Rosary is in the first year of the Suburban Christian Conference. The Royals were third in the SCC last year with a 12-5 dual record.

"We're very excited about the new conference name and additions this year," Rosary coach Vic Mead said. "These schools should make our cross country conference final meet something special. We're hoping to maintain a top three finish in the conference if all goes well."

Junior Kelly Keiffer, who qualified for sectionals last year, leads Rosary's returning runners, a group that also includes seniors Haley Euting and Meghan Gannon, juniors Emma Witte and Hannah Schafer, and sophomore Melissa Lifka.

Newcomers to watch include freshmen Kara Kalisz, Taylor Gibson, Brandi Semmleer, Courtney Cox, Amelia Anderson, Kelsey McKeeby and Emma Doyle, and sophomores Grace Petry, Amy Stein and Sarah Helm.

One of those teams moving from the Private School League to the Suburban Christian Conference is Aurora Christian.

Sophomore Sarina Oleson, second at the Aurora City Meet last Saturday, is back and a good bet for All-State status. Junior Amy Berger senior Dani Gorder also will run with the leaders.

Others in the top seven should be freshman Anna Pape, who ran in the IESA state meet last year.

Eagles coach Priscilla Copple said the team was disappointed to place 14th in state last year and expects to be top 10 this year.

Kaneland is coming off a third-place finish in the Western Sun Conference, fifth in the Class 2A Aurora Central regional and sixth at the Belvidere sectional.

The Knights return their top five runners from that team that missed qualifying for state by four points. Junior Andie Strang has been all-conference her first two years and a state qualifier her freshman year. Junior Kris Bowen, sophomore Kelly Evers, senior Shelby Koester and senior Lisa Roberson round out the top five.

Last year's eighth runner Haley Johnson, a senior, also is back, while three freshmen - Maggie Brundige, Abby Dodis and Ashley Castellanos - will give the Knights depth.

"If we can avoid injuries the strength of the team should be its depth one through seven," Knights coach Doug Ecker said.

Among Batavia's top runners from last year are junior Alexis Sampson and seniors Dana Landem, Katie Parisi and Kathryn Skleney.