Boys cross country: Scouting northwest conference meets
Boys cross country
Conference meet scouting report
MID-SUBURBAN
Where: Deer Grove East Forest Preserve, Palatine
When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday
Team race: Palatine is the favorite with a deep team that features several front runners. The Pirates should also benefit from familiarity on its home course. Hersey, Schaumburg, Conant, Hoffman Estates and Prospect are expected to create some fierce competition for the top-three spots.
Individual race: Reigning conference champ Kevin Havel of Hersey returns as the favorite. A long list of challengers starts with Palatine's Mat Smoody, who finished third last year. Jeff Thode (Conant), Billy Wisser and Erik Stanton (Hersey), Chris Hayek (Prospect), Kevin O'Brien and Chano Bernando (Palatine), Matt Barns and Dan Quarfoot (Barrington), Nathan Rutz and Pat Lesiewicz (Schaumburg), and Ross Goers and Matt Perez (Hoffman Estates) should compete for a medal.
What they're saying:
"The top couple teams in there are real tough. Havel will be best individual without a doubt. Team-wise, Palatine is looking real good." -- Buffalo Grove senior Clay Locke
"The conference is so loaded. ... I could sit there and go down the list of every team that is in the conference. We are the best conference in the state for a reason." -- Wheeling coach Tom Polak
"I'm expecting a very competitive race and just having fun. It's a lot of fun to run against these guys. We all know that state is a fun race and conference is second to that in entertainment and atmosphere." -- Barrington senior Dan Quarfoot
WEST SUBURBAN
The West Suburban Conference meet is hosted by Proviso East and is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at Schiller Woods Forest Preserve. A young Leyden squad will be shooting for a top-four finish while perennial powerhouse York is the favorite coming in.
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
St. Viator will be looking to place in the top half of the field when they host the East Suburban Catholic Conference meet. Benet is the favorite going into the meet that is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at the Rolling Meadows Sports Complex.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN LEAGUE
After tying for second last year, Maine West is hopeful that this is the year that they'll take home the Central Suburban Conference title. The Warriors will be challenged by Highland Park and two-time defending champ Deerfield when the meet kicks off at 9 a.m. at Harms Woods Forest Preserve.
-- Joe Esse