Preview: Girls cross county
Girls cross country
Class 3A state meet
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
When: Class 3A race at 1 p.m.
Teams to watch: Going into the postseason there were four teams that seemed to be vying for the three state trophies. Geneva, Palatine, Naperville North, and Hinsdale Central each had the depth and talent to challenge for a state trophy. So what happened at the sectionals? Geneva was the only team to come out unscathed, winning the St. Charles East title. Palatine (Schaumburg sectional) and Hinsdale Central (Reavis sectional) each finished second, while Naperville North finished fourth at St. Charles East. So was this a wake-up call or sign of things to come. One thing that has been learned is any misstep could open the door for teams such as Buffalo Grove or Hoffman Estates.
Palatine: The Mid-Suburban League champs still look to be the best bet at securing a trophy downstate. The Pirates have won 11 trophies, including six state championships. Another trophy would be a nice parting gift for outgoing coach Steve Currins, who has led the Pirates to four state titles. Sophomore Sarah McIntosh has paced the Palatine attack and is joined by classmates Courtney Brown and Becca Sund. Junior Ruth Allen has been making steady progress and finished as the Pirates' second runner at the sectional. Senior Tory Wright has experience at Detweiller and could be the key to trophy. Palatine has taken first at the Peoria Notre Dame Meet, Palatine Invite, and MSL conference meet.
Buffalo Grove: First-year coach Sarah Cleveland has done an outstanding job of guiding the Bison to state for the first time. BG has been consistent throughout the entire season, capped by its victory at the Schaumburg sectional. Freshman Olivia Jones has led the Bison and has handled the pressure of being the No. 1 runner. Senior Erin McGrath, junior Cari Geyer, and sophomore Sarah Peluse have all taken turns at being the No. 2 runner for BG. Senior Erin Cleary has been the surprise staying close enough to the front four to propel the Bison pack. The pressure at state will be new to Buffalo Grove, but the Bison have not blinked yet and if they can hold their stare they may return with a state trophy.
Hoffman Estates: Coach Kirk Macnider has guided the Hawks to its first state appearance since 1993. Junior Melissa Schmidt and Hannah Worman give the Hawks a 1-2 punch that most teams can't counter. Schmidt is coming off an impressive second-place finish at sectionals. Senior Gaby Duenes has steadied the Hoffman attack with her performance in the No. 3 slot. Freshman Haley Worman and senior Kathy Kenley round out the Hawks attack. Hoffman ran a strong race at the regional's, but then backed off a bit at sectionals. If the Hawks are on again this weekend a trophy or at the very least a top 10 finish will be in the making.
Prospect: It is very simple for the Knights and coach Dave Wurster. Prospect has looked very good when they run well, but the Knights have looked bad when they don't run well. Junior Annette White leads the Prospect attack. Both Kasey Krum and Emily Salzman ran inspired sectional races to aid the Knights. Savannah Snead and Laura Maibeucher will need to keep the pack close to keep Prospect in contention. Third place at the Schaumburg sectional may be just was needed to get the Knights on track.
Schaumburg: The Saxons have qualified for state 19 times, but it will be their first trip since 2002. This will not be one and done deal for the up and coming Saxons. Sophomores Britten Petrey, Colette Falsey, and Karen Lesiewicz will keep the Saxons competitive for the next couple years. Nora Ferguson and Kelsey Steenstrup round out the Saxons attack. Coach Jon Macnider has led four teams to trophies, including two state titles. This team may not bring home a trophy this year, but the foundation is in place for the not-so-distant future.
Individuals to watch: Lake Park's Lindsay Flanagan has been the favorite to win state since the beginning of the season. The senior will be taking aim at the state record time of 16:49 set by Katelyn Bastert of Carthage in 2006. If Flanagan falters, look for Warren's Heather Olson, Geneva's Kelly Whitley or St. Charles East's Lizzy Hynes to make a run for the title. Palatine's McIntosh will also be in the mix. Rolling Meadows sophomore Christina Gastfield went out hard and led at the Schaumburg sectional before finishing in sixth place. Hersey did not qualify as a team, but Junior Ashley Martin and sophomore Salena Clohisy qualified for the Huskies. A trio of seniors also made the state cut, including Barrington's Rebecca Tracy, Conant's Kalli Dalton, and Elk Grove's Gina Erbacci.
- Michael Eaken