Scouting DuPage County boys cross country
Top teams: York, Naperville North, Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton North, Neuqua Valley, Benet, Naperville Central.
Top area athletes: Chris Derrick, sr., Neuqua Valley; Kyle Gibson, jr., Naperville North; Chase Kadlec, sr., Wheaton North; Tom Achtien, sr., York; Steve Sulkin, jr., York; Jim Riddle, sr., Neuqua Valley; Mark Schumacher, sr., Waubonsie Valley; David Schumacher, sr., Waubonsie Valley; Lee Vlcek, sr., Hinsdale South; Brian Denk, sr., Hinsdale South; Stephen Couch, sr., Naperville Central; Stephen O'Donnell, sr., Naperville Central.
Scouting report: Is this the year mighty York falls? Winners of five straight championships and 26 overall, York is the only team in state that never rebuilds, simply reloads. Expect the same this year as the Dukes look to claim their first 3A championship. Although the Dukes lost five of their top seven from last year's championship team, they return all-state standouts Achtien and Sulkin and typically have more than 200 runners each season to choose from. The area's most serious threat to the Dukes could be found in Upstate Eight Conference rivals Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley. After finishing fifth last year, the Warriors return their top four runners, including the Schumacher twins and junior Ryan Shea. Neuqua returns its entire top seven from last year's state meet, including one of the best 1-2 punches in the state in Derrick and Riddle. Another team in the mix that typically shows well at state is Naperville North, while DuPage Valley Conference foe Wheaton North is primed for a strong season. The Falcons' top seven is entirely made up of seniors, something Wheaton North hasn't had in a decade. In the newly created 2A Class, one school could be in a class by itself: Glenbard South. A fixture near the top of the state meet in the 21st century, Glenbard South finds a way to win despite having one of the smallest teams. The Raiders graduated a top group of seniors, but coach Andy Preuss always seems to find a way to squeeze every ounce of talent out of his runners.
On the individual level, the clear-cut favorite is Hersey's Kevin Havel, who has finished second, fourth and fifth the last three years at state, respectively. Derrick finished one place behind Havel last year -- third overall -- but was 10 seconds back and will have his work cut out for him to overcome the powerful Havel. A strong 3,200-meter showing in last spring's state track finals should have Derrick's confidence at an all-time high (his 8:54 was 12 seconds faster than Havel). Achtien should also be up there with Havel and Derrick, making it very likely the state champion will emerge from among that senior trio.
Key dates: Peoria Woodruff Invite, Sept. 8; Peoria Notre Dame, Sept. 15; Palatine Invitational, Sept. 22; Crete-Monee Pow-Wow, Sept. 29; West Aurora Stampede, Oct. 6.
Predicated state champs: 1A: Winnebago; 2A: Glenbard South; 3A: York.
-- Dennis Van Milligen