Northwest girls cross country / State meet scouting
By Michael Eaken
Daily Herald Correspondent
Girls cross country
Class 3A state meet
Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria
When: Class 3A race at 1 p.m.
Teams to watch: New Trier is the team to beat. The Trevians will be going for their first girls cross country trophy. Junior twins Courtney and Jessica Ackerman and freshman Mimi Smith all are potential all-state candidates, if not top 10 contenders. Wheaton Warrenville South has been steady all season and seemed to be a lock for second place, but the Tigers finished second to Naperville North at the Wheaton North sectional. There could be as many as seven or eight teams vying for the second- and third-place trophies. Include Prospect in that group; the Knights are healthy and dangerous. It should be an exciting battle for the trophies.
Closer look at area teams:
Prospect: Coach Dave Wurster patiently guided his team through early season illnesses. Senior Laura Maibuecher and Lauren Poplawski both had to deal with mononucleosis, but both have come back strong in the postseason. Poplawski, who didn’t run her first full varsity race until Oct. 1, finished sixth at the Schaumburg sectional. Of course the Knights also have one of the top runners in the state with junior Brooke Wolfe. Senior Kate Welch, sophomore Rachel Henk, and freshman Hannah Getscham give the Knights a tough pack. Prospect has been close to securing a trophy the past two year; this just might be the year for the Knights.
Barrington: Coach Deb Revolta has guided the Fillies to a solid season. Junior Becca Batliner has had an impressive postseason and leads the Fillies. Sophomore Caroline Reynolds ran her best race of the season at sectionals. Junior Rachel Simon and senior Ella Tracy are both talented and experienced runners. The Fillies rely on a solid pack; they just have to make sure that pack is up front.
Hoffman Estates: Coach Kirk Macnider squeezed into the state field after a review was upheld that granted Hoffman’s fourth runner a tie at the 43rd position at sectional. Senior Haley Goers and senior Haley Worman give the Hawks one of the top 1-2 punches in the state. Goers will be in the hunt for the Class 3A individual title. Worman has made quite a turn around this season and is in position to secure an all-state honor. Senior Takshaka Patel will be looking to get the Hawks back pack out to a better start on Saturday, after getting caught in congestion at the sectionals.
Palatine: The Pirates won a state title in 2009 and took second last year. Coach Joe Parks has done a nice job guiding a young squad after losing four key members from last season team. Junior Tess Wasowicz and sophomore Jessica Lincoln help pace the attack. Sophomore Cassidy McPherson had trouble finishing the sectional race; she is looking to rebound at state. Senior Ellen Smith has added a quiet and steady confidence.
Schaumburg: Coach Jason Beer had the Saxons peak at the right time with a third-place sectional finish. The defending Class 3A state champions lost quite of bit of firepower from last year’s team, but junior Hannah Coombs, senior Kelsey Steenstrup and junior Sam Nordli have done a nice job pacing the Saxons.
Individuals to watch: Lake Park junior Kaylee Flanagan was undefeated this season until she took second to New Trier junior Courtney Ackerman at the Niles West sectional. It will be interesting to see how Flanagan responds. Naperville Central senior Amanda Fox, Oswego East’s defending Class 3A champion Ariel Michalek, Glenbard East senior Lindsay Rakosnik will all contest in a crowded field. Prospect’s Wolfe and Hoffman’s Goers will also be up with the leaders.
Area runners to watch:
Brooke Wolfe, Prospect: The Knight junior geared up for state by winning MSL, regional, and sectional titles. Wolfe is now ready to test herself at state against the best. She will be in the hunt for the 3A title and also is hoping to push her team for a state trophy.
Haley Goers, Hoffman Estates: The Hawk senior is closing the gap with Wolfe and is looking to secure her third consecutive all-state honor Saturday.
Jessica Lincoln, Palatine: The sophomore stepped up big by pacing Palatine attack at sectionals. She seems to be getting more and more comfortable up front.
Haley Worman, Hoffman Estates: Worman has had a break through senior campaign for the Hawks and is looking to finish with all-state honors.
Hannah Winter, St. Viator: Winter has looked comfortable the past two weeks in the lead group, look for the Lions junior to continue her surge at state.
Other area runners: Kelly Breen (Fremd), Nora Gawlik (Hersey), Meghan Carroll (St. Viator)
— Michael Eaken