Healthy Wolfe wins; Palatine takes team title

Prospect sophomore Brooke Wolfe is healthy this season, and that is trouble for the rest of the Illinois cross country teams.

Last year Wolfe was slowed at the end of the season with the flu and finished a disappointing 67th in Class 3A.

This year a healthy Wolfe has dominated, and it was no different on a sunny but cool Saturday morning at the Palatine Invitational.

The Prospect sophomore made a surge before the second mile and didn't look back, storming to the title in 17:17 at Deer Grove East.

"I'm feeling really comfortable - my team is performing, and this will help us at the end of the year," said Wolfe, who also took first at the Fenton and Lake Park Invitationals. "I'm definitely motivated this year, and I know it's going to get harder, but I'm ready for it."

Palatine senior Courtney Brown (17:26) took second, leading the Pirates to the team title with 74 points. Brown shadowed Wolfe early but could not match her move midway through the race.

"In my mind I wanted to go with her, but I couldn't match her surge," said Brown of Wolfe's winning move. "I'm feeling more confident and stronger this season, now I have to take the next step and match their surges."

Prospect sophomore Lauren Poplawski (17:38) took third, followed by Barrington sophomore Becca Batliner (17:39) and Palatine sophomore Tess Wasowicz (17:41).

Wheaton Warrenville South finished an impressive second with 78 points, with Downers Grove North (95 points), Barrington (105 points), and Prospect (127 points) rounding out the top five.

Brown and Wasowicz powered the Palatine attack with junior Emily Schulte (17:49) adding 11th place. Sophomore Jacqui Paneral (18:30) stepped up big in her first varsity invite finishing 28th and senior Sarah McIntosh (18:34) added 31st place to help the Pirates secure the victory.

"We still have some holes to fill," said Palatine coach Joe Parks of the defending Class 3A champs' attack. "The last two weeks we haven't really run like we can, so if we do put it together and get rolling I think we'll be pretty tough."

Wasowicz opened a few eyes with her fifth-place finish, and the sophomore believes the Pirates have not yet reached their full potential.

"Today I just kind of wanted to stick up there and it worked out at the end," said Wasowicz. "We're confident, but we're not at full strength yet. It has been good for us as a team to have other people step up."

Wheaton Warrenville South had plenty of girls step up as the Tiger had five runners finish in the top 23 in securing second place.

Last year WW South took third in Class 3A and the Tigers have entered into this year's trophy conversation with five of their top seven runners back.

"We concentrate on ourselves in September, we try to put our kids in positions where they can be successful," said WW South coach coach Rob Harvey. "We're still a work in progress, but we definitely have a lot of upside."

Junior Lauren Mordini (17:42) powered the Tigers' assault by taking seventh place, followed by sophomore McKenna Kiple (18:07) and sophomore Mikayla Kightlinger (18:07) who took 15th and 16th place.

Kightlinger made an impressive varsity debut and has added power to the Tigers' attack.

"I believed this team has been good all along," said Mordini, who finished 14th in Class 3A last season. "Each meet I think we can get better and better, we just want to have fun with it and do the best we can."

Junior Claire Kelly (18:19) and sophomore Hope Schmelzle (18:20) took 22st and 23nd to complete the Tigers' scoring.

"We're just trying to stick with each and stay up toward the front," added Kelly, "We have such a strong team and we're pushing each other."

Downers Grove North also showed why it will likely be in the trophy mix come November. Senior Samantha Fry (17:44) took eighth place to power the Trojans' attack.

"I felt like we had a nice race," said Downers Grove North coach Tim McDonald. "I think we're getting tighter with our No. 1 runner, and there is nothing to be disappointed in. Now we just have to keep going."

Senior Gaby Effrein (18:16) and sophomore Gabbie Hesslau (18:17) finished 18th and 19th for Downers North, while junior Allison Proffitt (18:21) added a 25th place finish for the Trojans attack.

"Overall we're looking pretty strong," added Effrein, "We just have to stay healthy and continue doing what we've been doing. The experience of running in a meet like this will help at the end of the season."

Ella Tracy (17:44) took ninth place in supporting Batliner, which helped Barrington secure fourth place. Sophomore Rachel Simon (18:30) added 29th place for the Fillies attack.

"I think our 3-4-5 runners need to move up and I think they can," said Barrington coach Deb Revolta of the Fillies' prospects. "It's early still so we still have time to do it, but I'm pleased with their performance today."

Batliner and Tracy have been supplying Barrington with a powerful 1-2 punch so far this season.

"It was a nice race today, because now we know where we're at," said Batliner, "I definitely think our pack can move forward."

As far as 1-2 punches go, Prospect showed on Saturday they have a pretty lethal combo in Wolfe and Poplawski.

Wolfe set the pace on Saturday, but Poplawski wasn't too far behind with her third-place finish, which helped the Knights secure fifth place.

"I was going to try and stay with the lead group and then give it all I had at the end," said Poplawski. "I was just happy I was able to stay pretty close. I think each race we're going to get better and better."

Senior Savannah Snead (18:37) took 37th place to aid the Knights.

Maine South freshman Emily Leonard (17:45) and sophomore Megan Lemersal (18:00) finished 10th and 12th, helping the Hawks secure 10th place.

Sophomore Hanna Winter (18:20) and freshman Meghan Carroll (18:27) finished 24th and 27th, leading St. Viator to 12th place.

Senior Natalie Kaminski (18:01) took 13th place for Loyola.