White has the right

Last year, Prospect sophomore Annette White finished second at the Mid-Suburban League girls cross country meet.

White led the race for more than 2½ miles before Fremd's Chelsea Bolton used an explosive surge with 300 meters remaining to take the lead and win the title.

White hopes her experience pays off a year later.

"There was a lot of good competition and Bolton caught me at the end," said White, reflecting on her first-year performance at the conference meet. "I was happy with my performance, but I just needed to finish it."

White will get her chance on Saturday at the 31st annual MSL meet at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve in Palatine with the race set to begin at 10 a.m.

White set the pace last year for the first 2½ miles, but admitted not knowing if she was going too fast or too slow. But this year White has used experience to her advantage.

The sophomore has had a consistent invitational season, taking fourth at Fenton, second at Lake Park, first at Libertyville, fifth at Palatine and sixth at Peoria.

"I'm mentally more prepared for the races," added White, who also finished fourth in the 3,200 at the Class AA state track meet last season. "I know the course and I know my competition."

Prospect coach Dave Wurster has also gotten to know what his sophomore star can and can't do.

"Last year I didn't really know how good she was," said Wurster. "I kind of threw her out there, she didn't go out with the leaders that fast and I kind of held her back.

"This year I know her and I've been pushing her more toward the front."

White has also gotten to know her coaches and has followed their advice.

At Libertyville, she was content to run with the lead pack before using an explosive finish to secure the victory.

"This year I know how coach Wurster wants me to run," added White of her race strategy. "I've been hanging back at the beginning and letting it all out the last mile."

Now White will face her biggest challenge on Saturday in a field that includes among Wheeling's 2004 state champion and 2005 MSL champion Amber Stack and Conant's Kalli Dalton, who finished fifth and seventh her first two years at the state meet.

"It's going to come down to Annette should be running with the lead pack and will go for the win," added Wurster.

"I'm mentally prepared," offered White of her opportunity. "I want to use my competition to help me."

And to help her finish what she started this year.