Cross country: Fremd secures first Mid-Suburban League boys championship since 1978
The Fremd boys cross country team was hoping to make some history Saturday morning at the Mid-Suburban League meet at Busse Woods.
Behind individual champion David Moore (14:44.3), the Vikings did just that as they held off runner-up Prospect 42-48 to capture their first MSL championship since 1978. Hersey took third by a 63-80 margin over Barrington.
“It's been 48 years since we won it. We were pretty disappointed not to win it the last two years, and this group has really wanted to get this,” said Fremd coach Matt Zaluckyj. “David (Moore) has been running great, and he has a lot of confidence to get out there and run by himself.”
Fremd's Jack Jennings took second place, while Prospect juniors Bobby Wintermute and Patrick Rosean went 3-4 in the 3-mile race. Sophomore Evan Marshall led Hersey in fifth while Barrington's Kyle Kroupa edged Fremd's Carter Bartkus for sixth.
“I wanted to take it gun to tape and that's what I did,” Moore said. “Jack (Jennings) and I are going to college together at Loyola, and Nihal Kalsi was the MVP today with a 20-second personal best for him.”
Lake Zurich barely beat Libertyville 36-37 to win the North Suburban Conference title at Lake Forest.
Lake Zurich junior Karanveer Patil cruised to first place in 14:48.2 followed by Libertyville's Taylor Rihm in second, and Lake Zurich's Luke Marshall in third.
At the Northern Lake County Conference meet Wauconda rolled to first place by a score of 37-71 over Grant. Lakes senior Cooper Summy was the individual champion with a time of 15:31.1 at the Bulldog Athletic Complex in Fox Lake.
Girls cross country
Barrington had the top two runners, but Prospect had the depth at the Mid-Suburban League girls cross country meet at Busse Woods.
Fillies teammates Victoria Tarara (16:31.4) and Angelica Hil went 1-2, but Prospect won its second straight title by a 35-55 margin over runner-up Hersey. Barrington took third with 69 points as Notre Dame-bound Mia Sirois missed the meet due to a stress fracture in her heel.
Prospect freshman Amelia Kronforst took third, followed by teammate Allison Kalkwarf in fourth and Barrington's Ashleigh Forbes in fifth.
“I'm super pleased. It was definitely a goal of mine so I was happy to accomplish it,” Tarara said. “It was awesome to have my teammate (Hil) right by my side the whole time so I give so much credit to her because she got me through it.”
Hersey teammates Graceleen Mabry and Maddie Serur finished 6-7, while Prospect teammates Caitlin Resac and Samantha Lobacz went 8-9. Schaumburg's Dilana Kowaczek placed 10th.
“I don't know how I would have done this without my teammates pushing me through every practice,” Kronforst said. “We just all push each other in workouts, encourage each other to do the best we can. We're always running for each other and the team.”
Barrington coach Debbie Revolta said it was “doubtful” that Sirois will compete again this season.
“She's an elite runner and she's got a lot of running ahead of her so I don't want to jeopardize that,” Revolta said.
Lake Zurich rolled past Stevenson 19-53 for the NSC title as Bears teammates Celia Blaylock and Abigail Kocher went 1-2 in the meet at Lake Forest.
Wauconda won the NLCC crown over Lakes as the sixth runner broke a 42-42 tie with the Eagles. Lakes teammates Madison Schrader and Hannah Salbilla went 1-2 in the meet at Fox Lake.