West Suburban Silver looks golden already
Peoria has conducted its twin test runs.
As the cross country season unwinds in earnest, Peoria Woodruff and Peoria Notre Dame hosted back-to-back invitational fields that in all probability offer insights into the Class 3A finals in November.
On the girls side, the two multiteam tournaments, with further confirmation from the weekly coaches' poll, showcased the talent from the Mid-Suburban League, West Suburban Silver and DuPage Valley Conference. Barrington edged Wheaton Warrenville South two Saturdays ago for top honors, while Palatine and Schaumburg went toe-to-toe at Notre Dame last weekend.
But the West Suburban Silver was ably represented by Downers Grove North, York, Glenbard West and Lyons Twp.
"I've always said that our conference makes you a better team," said Downers North coach Tim McDonald, whose fifth-ranked club is led by Sami Fry, Gabbie Hesslau and Gaby Effrein. "If everyone is healthy, it all comes down to who runs well at the (conference meet)."
"Right now the MSL and the West Suburban Silver are the two great conferences (in girls cross country)," WW South coach Rob Harvey said.
York defeated Downers North and Lyons in a critical league triangular to take the early lead.
"We'll have to improve and run well at the conference meet in order to stay with (York)," said McDonald, who added that it would be a grave mistake to underestimate Hinsdale Central. "Glenbard (West) might beat both (York and Downers North)."
The Hilltoppers' girls program is seventh in the most-recent coaches' poll and comes off an impressive showing at the 58-school Notre Dame invite.
"Most people told me, 'Oh, you're giving (Glenbard West) too much credit," McDonald said of his preseason prognostications. "They're a whale of team. They're going to be pretty tough down the stretch."
"I couldn't have been more pleased with how they ran," Glenbard West coach Paul Hass said of the Hilltoppers' fifth-place finish. "That's the best we've ever done at that particular meet. It's literally twice the size of the state meet."
Glenbard West is led by junior Maddie Nagle and freshman Madeline Perez. Lauren Sedell, Katie Born and Cynthia Mote have also been a revelation for the Hilltoppers this fall.
"There were some impressive times, especially for this time of the year," Hass said of the Notre Dame field that was captured by Schaumburg.
Hass said the conference race is virtually impossible to handicap.
"The conference is so talented," Hass said. "(The athletes) push each other to another level. I thought Downers (third) and York (fourth) ran very well (at Peoria). You can't overlook Hinsdale (for conference legitimacy). But it is only September."
As well as the area programs have looked thus far, there is a growing conviction the state champion is destined to come from the MSL.
"Schaumburg and Palatine are kind of in a stratosphere of their own right now," Hass said.
"Nobody is going to touch them," Harvey added.
Down to the DVC wire: The WW South and Naperville North girls appear headed for a collision course in the DuPage Valley.
"The Woodruff meet was a good meet for us," Harvey said of his squad, No. 4 in the rankings. "(The rankings) are a nice validation that the program is doing what it is supposed to be doing. The funny thing about cross country is that it's not about time; what it comes down to is place, not time."
"We're a work in progress at this point," Naperville North coach Dan Iverson said of his sixth-place result at the Woodruff event. "We want to run the same sort of race (at Peoria) that we run at state. We'll keep moving in the right direction."
"Iverson's kids will always run hard," Harvey added.
A familiar name: Kaylee Flanagan continues the family tradition at Lake Park.
The Lancers' top gun had the best individual finish last weekend at Peoria, placing sixth in the star-studded field.
"She has gone above and beyond the expectations I had for her for the beginning of the season," first-year Lake Park coach Lauren May said. "She has a great work ethic and wants to succeed. I think she definitely has a chance to be in the top 10 at the state meet."
Lindsay Flanagan, the Lancers' two-time state champion and older sister of Kaylee, won her first collegiate tournament for defending NCAA national-champion Washington last weekend.
Looking good at Neuqua: Neuqua Valley is back on stride to being a force in the Class 3A boys state tournament after claiming the prestigious title at Woodruff earlier this month.
"Our depth is carrying us right now," Neuqua Valley coach Paul Vandersteen said of his defending state-champion squad. "We have had injuries and illnesses."
Vandersteen lost six-sevenths of this starting lineup to graduation, and his concerns of big-event inexperience have not been completely mollified. But the Wildcats are ranked fourth in the latest poll.
Taylor Soltys became the ninth runner in program history to break the 15-minute barrier when the junior placed fifth to lead the team at Peoria. Vincenzo Dal Pozzo and Josh Ferguson also had impressive showings for the Wildcats.
"It's been the other guys who have filled in," Vandersteen said. "We still have to get more race experience. I'm happy with our team dynamic."