Burlington Central excited about its shot at state

Burlington Central is in the state girls cross country meet in Peoria Saturday as a team for the second time in school history (1995 was the only other time). The Rockets won the program's first sectional title in school history last week at the Class 2A Belvidere sectional.

"For me it's a complete sum of everything I've done since I was a freshman," said Central senior Emily Zipoy, the team MVP as a freshman who is now one of three 12th graders on the state roster. "Everything has completely paid off. It's been a build up to this."

The Rockets have been bolstered this season by the performances of freshmen Markelle Turk and Katie Puccio.

"The team was handed an incredible gift with Markelle and Katie," said Zipoy. "They have helped us be successful and have pushed the rest of us. We knew we could do something great if we trained hard every day and gave 110 percent."

Sophomore Maggie Gannon, one of nine underclassmen on the team, said the team aspect has developed greatly as the season has progressed.

"We really have a great team camaraderie," said Gannon. "We all care about each other. We are all kind of in a pack and when we see someone who might be struggling we can talk to them and tell them to step it up and finish strong."

Gannon said the excitement level is off the charts.

"Wow," said Gannon. "We're all ecstatic."

The girls Class 2A race will start at 11 a.m.

Hampshire sophomore Holly Plichta made history by becoming the first girls cross country runner in school history to make the state meet. She'll run in the Class 1A final at 9 a.m.

"Between last year and this year, I've improved so much. I can't believe it," said Plichta. "It's a great accomplishment. It finally hit me that I made it."

Plichta is excited to get state experience with two more seasons still to go.

"Just being down there is a big accomplishment," she said. "I'm going to get used to being down there and hopefully next year and my senior year I can get down there again."

The rest of the area girls qualifiers will run in the Class 3A state meet at 1 p.m.

Crystal Lake South sophomore Kristina Aubert is making her second straight state trip. She finished 72nd as a freshman last year but then went on to win the Class AA 3,200 state title in track.

"Comparing this season to last season, every race I've done better," said Aubert. "I think that is a good thing. My places haven't necessarily gone down all the time, but my times have and time is all that I really care about."

Aubert says a number of changes have occurred with her running style and approach.

"I'm way more confident going into the state meet this year," said Aubert. "This year I've got a more even pace from the start to the end. I'm stronger at the end. Last year I would start out really fast and then would tire by the third mile."

Aubert has her eyes on an all-state finish (Top 25).

"That is my main goal," said Aubert. "I was 72nd last year. I know I can do better than that."

Dundee-Crown junior Kelsy Seiler made the state meet in her first year as a cross country runner. She had run track her previous 2 years, but had been involved with poms during the fall. This year, she's balanced both poms and cross country during the fall season.

"My goal at the beginning of the season was to go out and have fun," said Seiler. "As the season went on, my goal was to get Top 25 in the conference (she was sixth). I never expected to go to state. I'm going to go out there and have fun. I don't know what to expect. I'm just going to go out there and try my best."

D-C coach Tom Smith was impressed by Seiler's reaction to making the state meet.

"She really wanted to go with the team," said Smith, whose squad missed a state berth by 3 points. "She was thinking about everybody but herself. She's earned this. She had never run cross country before. She's a multi-talented girl that runs track, does poms and is in the band and orchestra. She's a great story."

Huntley freshman Haley Loprieno is also in the Class 3A mix after finishing ninth overall at the sectional level.

"I'm really happy. This is what my goal was and now I've reached it," said Loprieno.

Loprieno has an idea of what to expect and is focused on taking the experience in.

"I think you have to get out fast or you will get boxed in," said Loprieno. "My goal was to qualify. So now I'm like, 'OK, you got here.' I want to do well. I'm always nervous before a meet, so I'm sure I'll be a little nervous because it's such a big meet. I think it is going to be a really good experience."