Bartlett's Schneider wins elusive Leavey title

Bartlett senior Alyssa Schneider received a prize that was a long time coming Saturday - the title of the annual Jeff Leavey Invitational hosted by St. Charles East.

Schneider broke free in the final 800 meters at Leroy Oakes to win the girls race in 17:55. Geneva's Tess Ehrhardt finished second in 18:03.

"It's a huge confidence booster for her," Bartlett coach Beth Emody said. "She needed something to solidify all her training and validate that she's healthy and feeling fine and keep running strong."

Schneider's junior season had its share of ups and downs. She put any of that disappointment to rest by running her best on one of the hardest parts of the course - a gradual uphill climb just after the two-mile mark.

"She looked really strong," Emody said. "Last year she had a little rough patch and she's been training really hard. During her second mile she felt really confident and strong and just took off. Her form was good."

Schneider's kick impressed Ehrhardt, who called that last stretch "a killer."

"I was feeling that last reality check," Ehrhardt said. "My legs were really feeling it there and her legs were really strong."

York and Barrington finished tied for the team title with 70. The Dukes won based on the 23rd-place finish from their No. 6 runner, junior Kayla Spencer.

That didn't mean there wasn't plenty to like for Barrington coach Debbie Revolta.

"It was a very good team race," Revolta said. "They packed it together and that's what you try to do in cross country."

Sophomore Rebecca Batliner led Barrington in fifth place despite not being at full strength coming off a stress fracture from the track season.

"She's probably about 85 percent now, certainly not 100 percent," Revolta said. "We're just working and every day getting a little stronger. We're really pleased with how things are going now but it's a long season."

Ehrhardt had plenty of company in the top 10 from her Geneva teammates. Liza Tauscher finished sixth and Rachel Hammond ninth.

"This is kind of like our home course," Ehrhardt said. "I just wanted to break 19 (minutes) today so I'm really happy."

So was Hammond, who like Ehrhardt and Tauscher is a senior .

"I ran better than I thought I was going to," Hammond said. "This is our last time (at the Leavey), it's a really nice course, we have practices here in the summer and get all our freshman oriented."

Geneva took third as a team, a finish coach Bob Thomson said will improve when the Vikings' other runners get closer to the top three and Kelly Whitley returns from competing in triathlons.

"We have a huge gap between three and four and know that has to improve," Thomson said. "I know the other girls ran well but the gap has to close. They are all working hard."

St. Charles North placed fifth with 169, just four behind Montini. Sydney Stuenkel (11th), Erica Bauerbach (29th) and Ania Gawlik (32nd) led the North Stars.

Junior Ericka Laviste (seventh) and freshman Brittany Fisher (ninth) both placed in the top 10 for Montini while sixth-place Benet's tightly bunched pack led by Liz Johnson finished 31st, 33rd, 36th, 37th and 41st.

Rachel Spalding led Batavia in 24th.

"She ran real well. Everybody else ran solid. We walk away feeling pretty good about it," said Bulldogs coach Chad Hillman, whose team took 13th.

From running with temperatures in the 90s Tuesday to Saturday's unseasonably cool temps, Hillman echoed the popular sentiment about what a perfect day it was for a meet.

"Being able to run in this you see a lot of time drops," Hillman said. "We placed about where we thought we would. You train for 3 1/2 weeks it's kind of nice to get out here and run fast.

"I think we are a little tired which might be the case for a lot of teams this time of year. We're right where we need to be, right where we hope to be."

Host St. Charles East (15th) held its younger runners together for the fresh/soph race, which the Saints won. That left senior Gina Bartindale running with her fellow upperclassmen for their final Leavey invite.

"I was happy with my race," said Bartindale, whose 44th-place finish led the Saints. "It was fun to have a pack that has more experience. We love this course, we feel we have an advantage. I'm happy with how it went."

The Saints also ran without their top runner Mallory Abel who would have challenged for the individual title.

"Mallory is just easing into the season slowly so she can peak at the right time. We can't wait to have her back with us," said Bartindale, who also was impressed with how the younger Saints ran in the sophomore race.

"They did awesome. I think they will be great for us later in the season."