Full speed ahead for Wolfe, Prospect
Prospect and junior Brooke Wolfe seem to be peaking at the right time.
Prospect won the Mid-Suburban League title and Wolfe claimed the individual title two weeks ago.
The Knights and Wolfe kept rolling on Saturday at the Schaumburg Class 3A sectional.
Wolfe took control in the final mile in taking first in 17:23, leading Prospect to its first sectional title with 67 points at Busse Woods Forest Preserve.
The Knights placed five runners in the top 25.
“We were anticipating, and expecting this could happen, but you’re never sure,” said Prospect coach Dave Wurster, whose team started the season slowly due to illnesses. “It’s turned out pretty good so far — hopefully we can keep things rolling.”
Barrington took second with 96 points, followed by a surprising Schaumburg (134) and Lake Zurich (137).
Palatine and Hoffman Estates tied for fifth with 142. All six teams advance to the state meet next weekend at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
Wolfe trailed Hoffman senior Haley Goers entering the final mile, but the junior switched gears in taking control early in the third mile to secure the victory.
“We’ve been pushing each other and working hard all season,” said Wolfe. “We knew by the end of the season we’d be in contention.”
Junior Lauren Poplawski (17:58) and senior Laura Maibuecher (18:24) took sixth and 12th place, followed by senior Kate Welch (18:38) and freshman Hannah Getschman (18:41), who took 23rd and 25th place.
Prospect finished fifth in its opening invitational of the season, but the Knights have steadily risen over the past three months.
“We kept getting better every week,” said Wurster. “Their confidence has been rising and things are snowballing together.”
Junior Rebecca Batliner (17:59) and sophomore Caroline Reynolds (18:19) took eighth and 10th place in powering Barrington to second place. Junior Rachel Simon (18:31) and senior Ella Tracy (18:34) added 19th and 21st place to help pace a solid Fillies attack.
“The girls keep getting better and better each week, but I still don’t think we’ve had our best race yet,” said Barrington coach Deb Revolta of the Fillies progress. “I thought we ran well and we have one more week.”
Schaumburg won the Class 3A state title last season, but after losing three all-state runners and a hall of fame coach, expectations were not real high entering the season.
But the Saxons exceeded them Saturday with junior Hannah Coombs (18:25), senior Kelsey Streenstrup (18:29) and junior Sam Nordli (18:35) finishing 15th, 17th, and 22nd.
“It’s been different this year,” said Coombs. “It’s a different situation, but we made the best of it. Today we put it all on the line and got it done.”
Hoffman Estates and Palatine were both expected to qualify, especially coming off regional titles. But it was all about survival on Saturday.
Palatine’s normal No. 3 runner, Cassidy McPherson, struggled to the finish and needed medical attention following the race.
But the Pirates were able to survive with sophomore Jessica Lincoln (17:45) and junior Tess Wasowicz (18:07) finishing in third and ninth place.
Senior Ellen Smith (18:23) aided the Pirates with a strong 11th-place finish.
“Sometimes you need a little luck,” said Palatine coach Joe Parks. “It was other people stepping up and doing just enough to get us through.”
Hoffman also was able to squeak in. The initial results had the Hawks finishing in sixth place.
Hoffman No. 4 runner Deedee Delahunt (19:04.73) was originally scored as the 44th runner, despite having the same time as Stevenson freshman Kya Suzuki, who originally was awarded 43th place.
Hoffman coach Kirk Macnider challenged the decision and subsequently Delahunt was awarded a tie for 43rd place giving the Hawks a tie for fifth place and a trip to the state finals.
Senior Haley Goers (17:30) and senior Haley Worman (17:41) took second and fourth place to power the Hawks.
“It was the right decision,” said Macnider, whose team responded after a slow start. “The girls worked very hard to get back into the race.”
St. Viator junior Hanna Winter (17:57) and sophomore Meghan Carroll (18:38) qualified by taking fifth and 24th place for the Lions.
Fremd junior Kelly Breen (17:58) advanced with a seventh-place finish, and Hersey senior Nora Gawlik (18:30) qualified with an 18th-place finish.
Cary-Grove senior Kathie Wollney also advanced for the Trojans.