Batliner's best as Palatine shines

Two is company, but three is a crowd.

Barrington's Rebecca Batliner had plenty of competition during the better half of the final mile at the Palatine Invitational on Saturday, but the first-year Fillie came across the finish line solo.

Palatine junior Sarah McIntosh and Lyons senior Kelsey Kilrea both challenged the Barrington freshman.

But with 250 meters remaining Batliner made separation and held off the pair to secure the title in 16:55.

Kilrea (16:57) and McIntosh (16:57) took second and third with all three runners bettering the meet record set by Barrington's Christina Fiduccia (16:58) in 2003.

Former Palatine runner Amy Laskowske holds the course record with a time of 16:52.

"I just wanted to stick with the lead pack coming into this race," said Batliner of her race strategy. "Because as a freshman it is tough, it felt like my legs were going to fall off."

Palatine came into the race ranked No. 1 in the Illinois Cross Country Coaches Poll, and the Pirates showed why on Saturday.

Host Palatine placed five runners in the top 16, comfortably outdistancing fifth-ranked Prospect 51-100 to secure the title at Deer Grove East on an overcast morning.

Lyons (168) nipped Barrington (169) for third with Downers Grove North (206) edging Buffalo Grove (208) and Assumption (209) for fifth place.

"They definitely stepped up to the challenge," said Palatine coach Joe Parks of the Pirates' performance. "It was an opportunity once again to get tested by a good team. They wanted to come out here on their home course and put together a good performance and continue to build on what we've been doing so far."

McIntosh, who briefly held the lead in the final mile, continued to build on a strong season with a third place finish, and the junior had help with senior Ruth Allen (17:23) and junior Courtney Brown (17:23) coming in side-by-side to take eighth and ninth place.

"The last mile it was kind of like I would go and then they would go," said McIntosh who won the 2008 title. "It was back and forth. I just finished as hard as I could."

Junior Becca Sund (17:39) and freshman Tess Wasowicz (17:41) then completed the Palatine scoring by taking 15th and 16th place.

"We're very excited," said Allen of the Pirates' attack. "There is definitely a lot of depth. A lot of it is you just have to believe in yourself and your teammates."

"Coach (Parks) keeps preaching to give it our best shot and we'll see where we end up."

The way it is going now the Pirates are looking to end up at the top of the state leader board.

Prospect has the same aspirations, and with senior Annette White (17:14) and freshman Brooke Wolfe (17:21) taking sixth and seventh, the Knights have a firm foundation to build on.

Wolfe looked strong coming out of the second mile sitting in first, but the freshman faded a bit in the final mile.

"After the second mile I tried to stay with the pack as much I could and see if I could take it at the end," added Wolfe of her final mile. "I really tried to work the second mile because I know my kick is not the best."

Freshman Lauren Poplawski (17:47) aided the Knights' attack by taking 20th place.

Prospect still has plenty of high expectations and a veteran Knights team realizes it will still be in the thick of things when state rolls around.

"We knew that Palatine would be strong coming in and they had an amazing race today," added White . "We've been through this before and we want to go out with a bang. We're not done yet, there's a lot to come."

Barrington may just be getting started especially with the performance of Batliner. She freshman ran a controlled race in leading the Fillies to fourth place as a team.

"Each of the leaders made a move at one point and they matched each other," said Barrington coach Debbie Revolta of Batliner's final mile. "It was punch, counter punch and she had to keep matching it. She saved hers for the end and for a freshman that is smart."

Sophomore Elizabeth Tracy (17:33) aided the Fillies with a 12th-place finish

Samantha Fry (17:42) took 18th place to pace Downers Grove North to fifth place. The senior was paced early by teammates Gabriella Effrein(29th place) and Gabrielle Hesslau (34th place).

"The two Gabbys really pulled me up early," said Fry who has been dealing with a leg injury. "They will keep sticking in there longer and longer."

Sophomore Olivia Jones (17:06) challenged for the lead early and was sitting in fifth place at the 2-mile before taking fourth place and leading Buffalo Grove to sixth place.

"It started out really fast before settling down, but the pace kept of going," said Jones of the intensity of the lead runners. "It kept going back and forth, and I knew I had to kick it in on the final mile."

Sophomore Lauren Mordini (17:28) ran a solid race in securing 10th place and leading Wheaton Warrenville South to 8th place.

"I wanted to see how long I could stay with the lead pack," added Mordini who turned out a quick first mile. "The final mile I was just trying to hold my position."

Senior Megan Janezi (17:56) gutted out the 3-mile course to capture 26th place, leading Libertyville to ninth place.

"It was a lot harder than I remembered," said Janezi of the top-notch field, "The first mile I could feel, at the end I just want to finish the race and hang on."

Junior Salena Clohisy (17:33) and senior Sarah Reynolds (17:51) gave Hersey a 1-2 punch finishing 13th and 22nd leading the Huskies to 11th place.

"It went out really fast and I was just trying to hang on," said Clohisy, " I still think this team has a lot of potential and we're coming together."

Freshman Mackenzie Levy (17:43) finished 19th in pacing Stevenson to 12th place.

"I thought I could have gone a little faster at the end, but I'm just starting to get to know the big invitationals," added Levy of her first year on the job training. "Right now I'm just trying to find out where I'm at with these big invites."

Freshman Hanna Winter (17:54) has paced St. Viator this season and she continued her strong showing by securing 24th place and aiding the Lions' 14th-place finish.

"The last 800 everybody was really going all out," added Winter who clung to her position. "I could see the finish and knew I was almost there. There is still a lot more room for improvement."

Oak Park-River Forest: No. 2-ranked Hoffman Estates had no let up on Saturday, dominating and taking the title at the Oak Park-River Forest Invite with 30 points.

Lockport took a distant second with 66 points.

The Hawks, without Hannah Worman, had seven runners finish in the top 18.

Senior Melissa Schmidt continued to dominate, cruising to the individual title in 17:40.

Sophomore Haley Goers (18:06) added a third-place finish, with sophomore Takshaka Patel (18:42) and sophomore Haley Worman (18:42) going sixth and seventh.

Senior Grace Watkins (19:22) added 13th place to complete the Hawks' scoring.