Cross country: Two-time defending boys champ Downers North, Prospect girls among teams to watch at state
The 79th IHSA boys state cross country meet should be a great one when Class 3A teams line up Saturday at 2 p.m. at Detweiller Park.
Two-time defending state champion Downers Grove North is a contender for a top-three trophy, but the Trojans are going to have to be at their best to get the job done.
DGN has senior state title favorite Philip Cupial to lead its pack along with senior teammate William Surratt. Lake Zurich, Plainfield North, and York all won sectionals. Plainfield South, Prospect, Hersey, and Lane Tech are also pushing for trophies.
"Lake Zurich has some great front-runners so they're going to be tough, and Plainfield North has the most guys returning," said DGN coach John Sipple. "Cupial is a really strong runner, he is a fierce competitor, and his work ethic has been awesome so he is probably the favorite."
St. Charles North's Samuel Hill won the Lake Park sectional while Batavia's Edward Polaski and Glenbard West's Matt King placed third and fourth in that meet. York is led by Patrick Hill and Carter Olsen while Jesse Gudauskas and Grayson Meek lead Neuqua Valley.
Lake Zurich's Gordy Libby took first at sectionals, and he got great support from teammates Luke Marshall and Karanveer Patil. Fremd's Jack Jennings is a top runner along with Palatine's Alex Krieg, Hersey Mateus Salomao, and Prospect's Luke Robinson.
"I think this year there's just a lot of parity and there is no one team that really stands out among the rest," said Lake Zurich coach J.B. Hanson. "And I think the key for us is to keep everything simple and put our best foot forward when the time comes."
In Class 2A, Montini and Glenbard South went 1-2 at the Fenton sectional as Glenbard South's Thomas Jochum took first place. Kaneland sophomore Carson Kaiser rolled to first place in 14:16 at the Lakes sectional.
Other runners to watch in the noon-starting meet are Cary-Grove's Jameson Tenopir, Kaneland's Evan Whildin, Antioch's Carson Lanners, Grayslake Central's Adan Cordova, Glenbard South's Giancarlo Pietrasanta, and Montini's Nino Pesola.
Girls race: After Barrington won the state title by a score of 130-131-132 over York and Downers Grove North last year, there is little chance that the 46th IHSA girls state cross country meet will be that close on Saturday.
After placing fourth last year, Hoffman Estates sectional champion Prospect is hoping to make a strong run for its second Class 3A state title in four years when the starting gun sounds at 1 p.m.
Senior Meg Peterson was the sectional champion for the Knights followed by the freshmen trio of Adelaide Galla, Caitlin Resac, and Brooklyn Stocking.
"The biggest focus is to just stick to the things that have gotten us to this point," said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute. "This is one of the deepest teams I've ever had, and the dream is to put it all together and win. And if we can run for our teammates, the outcome will be the outcome."
Barrington might have been a heavy favorite to win back-to-back state titles, but an injury to junior state record-holder Mia Sirois (15:53.40 last year at state) has made getting a trophy a much tougher task. Other teams in the mix for a top-three trophy are sectional champ York, sectional champ Lincoln-Way Central, Lake Zurich, and Hersey. Hinsdale Central edged Naperville Central 83-84 to win its own sectional.
Barrington teammates Victoria Tarara and Angelica Hil should be in the front pack along with freshmen standouts Lennox Szymonik of Jacobs, and Graceleen Mabry of Hersey. St. Ignatius teammates Annika Swan and Allison Shutler are title contenders. York's Carlin Janowski placed second in the state last year while Peterson was seventh, and Batavia's Avery Hacker was eighth. Maine South's Tessie Bradley and Warren's Kaylee Wilson are runners to watch.
"There's so many good teams there, and I always tell the girls we're going down there to chase PRs," said Barrington coach Debbie Revolta. "If we can get five kids running under 18 minutes that would be great for us."
In Class 2A, St. Francis won the Lakes sectional behind a second from Elena Mamminga and a fourth from Margaret Andrzejewski. Montini took second at the Fenton sectional as senior Sydney Gertsen outdistanced Fenton all-stater Josslyn Wade for first place.
Aurora Central Catholic's Cece Hilby, Vernon Hills' Estella Ollinger, Grayslake North's Madison Petersen, St. Viator's Emily Walberg, and Cary-Grove's Alexandra Santoyo are runners to watch at the 11 a.m. race.
In Class 1A, Westmont senior Kyla Babb won the Lisle sectional in 18:11.13. Babb took third in the state last year in 16:35.50. The 1A race starts the day Saturday at 9 a.m.