Hoffman makes big statement in title run

It has been 20 years since Hoffman Estates had won a Mid-Suburban League girls cross country title.

During that time teams such as Palatine (10), Barrington (2), Wheeling (2), Schaumburg (3) and Hersey (2) had all secured titles.

But the Hawks sent a loud message on Saturday that they're back.

Hoffman had four all-conference runners in winning its fourth MSL title. It was quite turnaround for a team that returned six of its top seven runners from a seventh-place finisher.

It was even a bigger turnaround for fourth-year Hoffman coach Kirk Macnider, whose team finished last in the MSL his first year.

"It's what I expected," said Macnider, who has slowly molded his team to what it is today. "I've been proud of the girls every year. Even when we were last my first year all the girls ran P.R. (personal records) at conference. I knew we were doing the right things, we just weren't there yet."

But Hoffman is there now.

Last year the Hawks runners finished 33, 41, 49, 50, and 55 at the MSL meet. This year they finished 6, 10, 12, 22, and 42 to win the title.

So who are these Hawks?

No one had more of an impact than sophomore Hannah Worman. Last year she finished in 70th but this year took sixth.

"I think it shows all the hard work is paying off," said Worman, who credited her teammates for the support. "It's all about the team. We just push each other."

Then there is Sonia Khan. The senior has been a four-year member of the Hawks and finished 88th out of 95 runners at the Libertyville Invite her first year with a time of 32:07.

This year Khan finished 13th at Libertyville with a time of 19:05, then made all-conference by finishing 10th with a 17:42.

"It's funny. I don't feel any differently," added Khan of her improvement. "I just think it's been our commitment. We put in the time and effort."

So how did the Hawks do it?

Gaby Duenas made all-conference by finishing 12th on Saturday. The junior was part of the lead pack for Hoffman.

"We believe in ourselves," said Duenas, who finished 49th at the conference meet as a sophomore. "We're more confident in ourselves and our teammates."

But no one would have blamed the Hawks for lacking a bit of confidence after finishing sixth at the West Aurora Stampede on a hot day the week before the conference meet.

Add to the fact the Hawks also lost dual meets earlier in the season to both Palatine and Barrington.

But Hoffman rebounded and didn't miss a beat on Saturday.

"That motivated us," said senior captain Sarah Ahn, who also made all conference by finishing 22nd. "We wanted to prove we were better than that and I think we did."

Three seniors, Andrea Contreras (42), Amy Schwent (43), and Kathy Kenley (52), rounded out the Hawks' versatile attack.

"Every day we run together," said Kenley, who ran with a strained hamstring on Saturday. "It just clicks, we never know who will be in front and we push each other."

All seven contributed to a Hoffman squad that also won the Libertyville Invite and Plainfield Invite and finished second at the Lake Park Invite and Peoria Invite.

"We've trusted our coach," added Contreras. "We eat right, we get our sleep, and we listen to whatever he says."

"Coach has always asked us what kind of legacy we want to leave," added Schwent, "The things we do now will carry on for next year and the year after that."

But the Hawks aren't finished defining that legacy.

Hoffman travels to the Lake Park regional Saturday and then they find itself in the rugged Schaumburg sectional on Oct. 27.

The sectional features nine out of the top 10 teams in state, according to the Illinois Cross Country Coaches Poll, including top-ranked and defending state champion Hinsdale Central.

Hoffman is not one of those nine teams, but that doesn't seem to bother Macnider or his squad.

"I don't feel we need some miraculous race to qualify for the state meet," said Macnider. "If we run our pack and the race I know we're capable of running, we're going to the state meet."

"If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best," added Ahn. "We want to prove we're for real."

Hoffman has already done that with its performance at the MSL meet.

"It was a day to remember," added Macnider of the victory. "It tells people officially we're here and you better take us seriously every time you come out and race because we're ready."

Consider the message sent.