Hampshire’s Kruse 2nd in FVC
After running in the Big Northern Conference for the last 3 years, Hampshire senior Cassie Kruse realized competing in the stronger Fox Valley Conference would be a challenge.
Kruse proved she can run with big girls.
The Hampshire senior finished second in the conference meet with a 3-mile time of 19:47.5. The FVC meet was held Saturday at Crystal Lake’s Veterans Acres and hosted by Prairie Ridge.
Crystal Lake Central freshman Sami Staples was the individual champion with a clocking of 19:47.5.
“My plan was to finish first, but (Staples) ran great,” said Kruse. “The Big Northern is a very good conference, but that conference doesn’t have any triple A (Class 3A) schools. This is a tough course, but I am pleased with the way I ran.”
Led by Staples, Crystal Lake Central cruised to the team championship with 19 points.
Running without Top 5 runner Anne McGarrigle (knee injury), Cary-Grove was a distant second with a score of 73 points.
Talia Duzey led the Trojans with a ninth-place finish followed by Kathie Wollney (11th), Sarah Englund (15th), Paige Freund (16th) and Gretchen Price (23rd).
“After finishing sixth in the conference last season we are again relevant with a second-place finish,” said Cary-Grove coach Mark Anderson. “Even without Anne we wouldn’t have caught Central. It was the best they have run all season. I am very pleased with the way the girls ran. We ran loose, relaxed and confident.”
Jacobs, with 3 finishers in the Top 15, placed third with a score of 117. Lauren VanVlierbergen placed seventh followed by Samantha Baran (13th) and Kayla Guiliano (15th).
Grayslake Central paced by a 17th place finish by Korina Gomez was fourth with a score of 129.
With freshman Kelly Meehlieb placing eighth, Huntley was fifth with a score of 130.
Crystal Lake South finished eighth with a score of 218. The Gators’ top finisher was Kiley Britten, who was 29th.
Kruse’s second-place finish propelled Hampshire to ninth place with a score of 239. Bernice Tinajero was the next Whip-Pur to cross the finish line with a 50th place finish.
Dundee-Crown placed 11th with a score of 296. The Chargers’ top finisher was Jade Franz in 42nd.
Grayslake North, placing 14th with a total of 367, was led by Sarah Karas who was 66th.