Prospect pleased with fifth-place finish
PEORIA — Prospect had plenty of early season obstacles to overcome, but the Knights put it all together at the end.
New Trier placed three runners in the top 11 to secure its first Class 3A state title with 82 points at Detweiller Park.
Wheaton Warrenville South (144 points) took second and Naperville North (183 points) edged St. Charles East (183 points) with a sixth runner tie-breaker to take third.
Naperville Central senior Amanda Fox (16:24) cruised to the Class 3A individual title, with defending champion Ariel Michalek (16:37) of Oswego East taking second.
Prospect won the Mid-Suburban League title and also the Schaumburg sectional title, and on Saturday the Knights finished in style by taking fifth place with 213 points.
Junior Brooke Wolfe (17:17) came back from an ankle injury that wiped out her sophomore track season to take 16th place for Prospect. Senior Laura Maibuecher (17:27), who started the season with mononucleosis, ended it by taking 24th place for the Knights.
The two Knights put an exclamation point on a season that got off to a slow start.
“It was a big accomplishment,” said Maibuecher of her first all-state honor. “At the start of the season I never thought I'd get all-state.”
“It was exciting to end the season strong after starting the season so slow,” added Wolfe who picked up her second consecutive all-state honor.
Hoffman Estates senior Haley Goers (17:04) also ended the season in style. The Hawk senior picked up her third consecutive all-state honors by taking eighth place.
“The whole race thing was exciting,” Goers who kept surging throughout. “I just wanted to finish right.”
Sophomore Jessica Lincoln (17:21) kept her poise in taking 17th place and leading Palatine to a 10th-place finish.
“I think all the work and motivation paid off,” said Lincoln of her strong sophomore season. “It was my goal to make all-state and I just kept believing.”
Fremd junior Kelly Breen (17:24) picked up her second consecutive all-state honors by taking 18th place for the Vikings.
“The key to the race was not freaking out,” said Breen who was aided by her previous state experience. “I knew the start would be crazy, but I stayed calm.”
St. Viator junior Hanna Winter (17:26) ended the season with a bang for the Lions by taking 19th place and securing all-state honors.
“I'm thrilled,” said Winter who came on strong in the postseason. “I've been running with these girls all season, and it gave me confidence to run with them today.”
Junior Becca Batliner (17:43) finished 36th leading Barrington to a solid seventh-place finish with 244 points.
Yorkville won the Class 2A title with 74 points, followed by Crystal Lake Central (106 points) and Montini (165 points).
Senior Hannah Wittman (17:53) and senior Kathryn Dean (17:53) finished 18th and 19th to give Lakes a pair of all-state finishers.
“We knew we wanted to go out together,” said Wittman who paced with Dean for the entire race. “We've been working together all season.”
“We encourage each other and push each other the whole race,” added Dean of the pair that has been running together for six year. “It was a great way to finish.”