Girls cross country: Scouting Cook County and Lake County
LAKE COUNTY
Antioch The Sequoits took second in the Northern Lake County Conference, third at regionals and 12th at the Class 2A Kaneland sectional. Rose Gonzalez (15th, Ball State) graduated along with six of the top seven top runners, but senior Andi Simonis ran at sectionals. Hayley Miller has taken over as head coach in place of veteran coach Chris Bailey. The varsity lineup is projected to be Simonis, returning runner Mags Brouch, Samantha Bozovich, Aili Ebbing, Ashtyn Rupe, Reese Cleveland, and Tessa Mihovilovich.
Carmel Catholic The Corsairs won the ESCC championship, they took first at regionals, fourth at sectionals, and 22nd in Class 2A. Izzy Bing (11th, Illinois State) was one of three seniors to graduate. Sophomore Maya Markley (100th) was the No. 3 runner at state followed by senior Ashlyn Beattie, sophomore Stephanie Johnson, and junior Chloe Bing. Freshman Juliet Bing has tremendous potential as the team's top runner. Carmel will face a huge challenge moving up to Class 3A this season.
Grayslake Central The Rams took home the NLCC crown, they took third in their own regional, seventh at sectionals, and 14th in Class 2A. The team lost two seniors to graduation, and current senior Ava Henne (44th in state) is playing golf this fall. Senior Violet Rowe (53rd) was the No. 2 runner at state followed by sophomore Safiya Kane (105th), senior Ava Pietruszynski (142nd), and senior Addison Messinger (197th).
Grayslake North The Knights placed third in the NLCC, fourth at regionals, and 10th at the Class 2A Kaneland sectional. New head coach Matt Petersen lost two-time state qualifier Yaremi Ramos (31st) to graduation, but senior two-time state qualifier Madison Petersen (35th) is back. Senior Julia Flannery was the team's No. 3 runner last year, and she will be supported by senior Lucy Roscoe and sophomore Chloe Strebel.
Grant The Bulldogs took sixth place in the NLCC and 10th at the Class 3A Warren regional. No. 1-runner Amelia Szopinski graduated along with two other key seniors. Seniors Ashlyn Bartlett and Allison Thomas bring leadership to the pack. Junior Lexi Fulghum (24th in NLCC) was the No. 2 runner at the regional meet. Sophomore Athena Roman and junior Kahrsten Geary will provide added depth to the team.
Lakes The Eagles took fifth place in the NLCC, and eighth in their own Class 2A regional. Junior sectional qualifier Hannah Salbilla is the top returning runner. Other returning runners are sophomore Kylie Smith, senior Madi Bradley, sophomore Timyra Caces, and junior Caitlin Crawford. Freshmen Madison Schrader and Frances Makela were vital contributors to Millburn Middle School, and they are expected to make an impact at the varsity level. Junior newcomer Katelyn Kelly is also expected to make a big impact.
Lake Zurich The Bears return their top six runners from a team that placed 14th in Class 3A, fourth at sectionals, second at regionals, and first in the NSC. Junior Avery Muhr (23rd), and senior Ruby Nissen (24th) were all-state. Polina Krupsky (45th), Trish Johnson (46th), Celia Blaylock (47th), and Hannah Gillhaus (59th) also ran at the state meet. Senior Morganne Stawarz adds experience while freshmen Chloe Wettstein, and Abby Kocher are key newcomers. Lake Zurich is shooting for its third straight NSC crown.
Libertyville The Wildcats finished second in the NSC, third at regionals, and 17th at sectionals. The team lost two key seniors to graduation, but sophomore Elsie Colin is back after a strong freshman season. Junior Julia Garrison, senior Sophia Krummick, and junior Violet Young should be key members of the pack. Isabelle Karl-Garcia is a newcomer to watch, and the team is motivated to excel in the postseason and showcase their full potential in the state series.
Mundelein The Mustangs took third place at the NSC meet, sixth place at regionals, and 14th at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional. Senior Precious Oyebanji was Mundelein's top runner at the sectional meet, but they did lose No. 2-runner Hannah Roberts to graduation. Senior Brooklyn D'Ambrosio was the squad's third runner at sectionals.
Round Lake The Panthers took seventh place in the NLCC meet and 11th at the Class 3A Warren regional. Round Lake lost four key seniors to graduation, including No. 1-runner Evelyn Cruz, Desiree Mendoza, and Lizbeth Sanchez. Senior Emily Torres was Round Lake's No. 2 runner last year at the regional meet.
Stevenson The Patriots placed seventh in the NSC and seventh at regionals as they barely missed a berth to sectionals. The team has four seniors back in Sophia Pan, Olivia Ruiz, Minnie Shao, and Isabella Wan. Junior Susanna Brown returns with great support from sophomores Ameliya Godo, and Camila Pak. Junior Katie Castro had a strong summer of training as did freshman teammates Sienna Romero and Ellie Kersick. The team is hoping to qualify for sectionals.
Vernon Hills The Cougars won the CSL North championship before taking seventh place at the Class 3A Warren regional. Junior Ella Ollinger took 35th place at sectionals, and she will be supported by senior Jillian Leuck. Returning juniors are Naina Mather, Amelia Pan, and Emma Wright with aid from sophomore Campbell Fenton. "The girls have shown tremendous dedication this summer as they’ve built a strong long-run foundation," said coach Chris Wolf. "Their commitment to consistency and mileage has laid the groundwork for what promises to be a competitive and exciting fall."
Warren The Blue Devils only lost one senior after placing 15th at sectionals, fourth at regionals, and fourth in the NSC. Junior state qualifier Kaylee Wilson is back to lead the pack. Seniors Karina Tondeva, Addy Filipowicz, and Zoey Zwiefelhofer provide good depth along with sophomores Ella Volante and Blair Laroche. "Our outlook is positive after a great summer of running," said coach Louie Klein. "Our team’s confidence is growing, and this will be a year of discovering what we are capable of doing." Freshmen Teagan O’Neill and Sydney Wilson should have an impact on varsity.
Wauconda The Bulldogs took fourth place in the NLCC and seventh at the Class 2A Lakes regional. Junior sectional qualifier Isabella Renguso (seventh in NLCC) transferred to St. Viator. But sophomore Teagan Kienzle was also a sectional qualifier. The team's top five runners at regionals were all underclassmen, including junior No. 3-runner Kylah Blohm.
COOK COUNTY
Barrington After winning the Class 3A state title by a razor-thin 130-131-132 margin over runner-up York and Downers Grove North, the Fillies lost 2023 state champ Scout Storms (Tennessee), Sabrina Roach (NYU), and Viktoria Higgins (VCU) to graduation. Very elite junior Mia Sirois won the state title by 37 seconds (IHSA record time of 15:53.4), and she has already won two 3,200-meter state crowns in track. Sophomore Victoria Tarara, senior Abby Lewis, and junior Angelica Hil all have state-meet experience. Senior Madison Miles and sophomore Paige Kusmerz will be key runners for coach Debbie Revolta's team. Barrington also won MSL, regional, and sectional championships last year.
Buffalo Grove The Bison took 11th place in the MSL and 10th at the Class 3A Palatine regional. Junior Taylor Sipiera earned a berth to the Hoffman Estates sectional as an individual. Buffalo Grove's young pack had no seniors or juniors running at regionals. Sophomores Dagmar Alonso and Lily Nelson were their 2-3 runners at regionals.
Conant The Cougars took 12th in the MSL and seventh at the Palatine regional with no seniors in their lineup. Sophomore sectional qualifiers Lily and Megan Schaefers should be a good 1-2 duo for the pack. Junior Cordi Bilos was the third runner at regionals. Other key runners will be Amanda Albrecht, Kathryn Bjorklund, Priya Sundara, Marysia Salabaj, Hayley Park, and Charlotte Kattner. Conant is hoping to qualify for sectionals.
Elk Grove The Grenadiers finished eighth in the MSL, fifth at regionals, and 14th at sectionals. Elk Grove's pack will miss graduated state qualifier Delaney Malone after its best season since 1998. But the squad has a strong nucleus back in senior Reagan Malone, junior Sonia Aleman, and sophomores Elana Bis and J.J. Wirtz. Malone and Bis were a part of the Grens' 4x800 relay team that competed at the Class 3A state track meet last spring.
Fremd The Vikings placed fifth in the MSL, third at regionals, and eighth at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional. Senior Isa Hasty (92nd) ran in the state meet while junior Adeline Dietrich (31st) was the No. 2 runner at sectionals. Fremd only had one senior graduate, and sophomore Helen Hermann was its No. 3 runner at sectionals.
Hersey The Huskies took third place in the MSL, first at regionals, third at sectionals, and ninth in Class 3A. All-stater Madeline Bialko (22nd, Loyola) and No. 2-runner Margaretha Grabske both graduated. The junior trio of Alexa Izenstark (71st), Sofia Donner (83rd), and Alexandra Kopacz (114th) were their 3-5 runners at the state meet.
Hoffman Estates The Hawks placed seventh in the MSL, sixth at regionals, and 11th at their own Class 3A sectional. Junior Ella MacNider (91st) and senior Maya Zabiegly (101st) competed at state. Other key runners are junior Molly Bell and the senior trio of Aleksandra Wojcik, Yuli Yaremko, and Layla Santiago. Junior Emilia Kadlec will be in the pack. Newcomers Julia Les, Lauren Ellsworth, and Chloe Ridley hope to make an impact.
Leyden The Eagles placed fourth in the WSC Gold and seventh at the Class 3A Elk Grove regional. Leyden lost sectional qualifiers Elany Jimenez, Maria Morales, and Emily Cesarez to graduation. Sophomore Alexia Paucar and senior Allisson Huitron were the team's 4-5 runners last year at the regional meet.
Maine East The Blue Demons lost two key runners to graduation in Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional qualifier Ashley Gaba and No. 2-runner Shalini Patel. Junior Eleanor Skony was Maine East's No. 3 runner at the powerful Glenbrook South regional last October.
Maine South The Hawks placed third in the CSL South, third at regionals, sixth at sectionals, and 21st in Class 3A. Graduated Sofia Arcuri (26th) just missed the all-state team while Luisa Arcuri also graduated. Junior Tessie Bradley (82nd) was the No. 2 runner at state followed by Abby Seurynck (171st), Sophia Iniguez (195th), Sarah Mendoza (200th), and Isla Craig Naples (221st).
Maine West The Warriors took fourth place in the CSL North and 11th place at the Glenbrook South regional. No. 2-runner Jamie Daube is the only senior in that top-seven pack who was lost to graduation. Junior Lily Ulbert was the top runner at regionals while senior Makayla Antusas and junior Esther Collingsworth went 3-4 for the Warriors in that race.
Palatine The Pirates placed sixth in the MSL, fourth in their own regional, and 10th at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional. Sophomore Elizabeth Garrett (124th) qualified for the state meet, but No. 2-runner Abigail Jordan graduated. Junior Greta Kerr was the No. 3 runner at sectionals and she will be supported by senior Ava Dugar, junior Maya Iyer, and junior newcomer Dani Dire. Junior Emily Sondergaard was a state qualifier in the long jump in track while freshman Seraphiem Zych is another key newcomer.
Prospect The Knights lost four of their top five runners (including two all-staters) from a team that placed second in the MSL, first at regionals, second at sectionals, and fourth in Class 3A. Senior Meg Peterson (seventh in state) will be a strong front-runner while senior teammates Anna Zajac (126th), and Ella Benassi (131st) also ran downstate. Senior Jocelyn Farina and junior Amalia Scorza are ready for varsity. The sophomore trio of Sami Lobacz, Alli Kalkwarf, and Kaitlin Miazga will also be key members of the pack.
Rolling Meadows The Mustangs took ninth in the MSL and eighth at the Class 3A Palatine regional. Senior Izzy Lee qualified for sectionals as an individual, but No. 2-runner Lucy Bollweg graduated. Senior Jamilla Garcia, Lily Espino, and Stella Butler are key returning runners. Lily Newman, Gabby Gomez, and Tess Bauer will be key newcomers as the team will strive for a top-half MSL finish and a sectional berth.
Schaumburg The Saxons placed fourth in the MSL, second at regionals, sixth at sectionals, and 22nd in Class 3A. The team lost three of their top four runners to graduation. Junior Emma Walz (146th) was the squad's No. 3 runner at the state meet while junior Claire Swiderski (190th) was their fifth runner at historic Detweiller Park.
St. Viator The Lions placed second in the ESCC, second at regionals, sixth at sectionals, and 21st in Class 2A. Seniors Emily Walberg (50th), Allie Long (109th), and Jada Baer (138th) return from state. Camila Fuentes and Grace Van Fossen also ran at state. Junior Isabella Renguso transferred from Wauconda, and she is supported by Izabella Mazurkiewicz and Yuliana Manzanares. Senior Catherine Hartman is back from injuries. Freshmen Breanna Klokkenga and Marin Janiak hope to make an impact.
Wheeling The Wildcats placed 10th in the MSL and ninth at the Class 3A Palatine regional. The senior trio of Haydee Cruz, Esme Jaimes, and Julia Rakoczy were the top three runners at regionals. Junior Isabel Delgado and senior Isa Garcia will be key factors supported by Carly Bierman and Mayali Suarez. Freshman Jennifer Gonzalez is a great addition to the varsity group as the team pushes for a berth to sectionals.