Overbeck, Vernon Hills run to Harland victory
The Pat Harland invitational turned out to be a battle of two familiar girls cross country opponents Saturday morning on the 3-mile Fox River Park course in Wilmot, Wis.
North Suburban Conference Prairie Division rivals Vernon Hills and Lakes went head-to head in the 12-team meet on the hilly course with racing temperatures at 51 degrees.
It was the Cougars and individual champion Vivian Overbeck (18:25) that captured the championship, 32-64 over the Eagles and runner-up Kortney Schardt.
Grayslake Central was a close third with 77 points, while Prairie Ridge placed fourth with 112 points, despite not having its top runner in the lineup. Host Antioch placed sixth with 156 points, while Warren (200) placed eighth.
Overbeck pulled away from Schardt and the rest of the field to win the race by 24 seconds, while her sophomore teammate Lauren Katz gave the Cougars scoring a boost with her third-place finish.
Vernon Hills' pack was superb with freshman teammates Hannah Ray (ninth) and Payton Makowskyj (10th) finishing strong in the windy conditions.
The Cougars also got a 12th from senior Shannon Skeoch and 16th from freshman Ryan Schofield.
"I knew Kortney was going to be my main competition today and I started surging at about a mile and a quarter," said Overbeck, who placed 13th in Class 2A last fall. "Our 2-5 split today was about 50 seconds, which is really great, and our team is looking really, really great right now."
Now Vernon Hills has two weeks to gear up for the NSC meet before looking forward to the IHSA state series in three weeks.
"We were working today on trying to keep our pack nice and tight, and our split was under a minute," said Vernon Hills coach Suzanne Curry, whose team placed eighth in Class 2A last year. "This is a true cross country course that is really challenging. We just ran here on Monday so we got a chance to come back and do it again."
Lakes had a solid pack running behind Schardt with freshmen Megan Knuettel (11th) and Rae Dwyer (13th) playing key roles for the Eagles. Freshman Simone Lippman (19th) and junior Alyssa Stromsland (24th) rounded out the scoring for Lakes.
"I'm just very happy and proud that on a very difficult course with a tough week of training that all of our varsity improved today," Lakes coach Keith West said. "They are just continuing to be focused and be determined to reach their goals, and they are determined to support each other."
Grayslake Central was once again led by junior Megan Girmscheid in fourth place. The Rams had a trio of runners finish well with senior Lura Quandt in 15th, senior Sara O'Malley in 17th and junior Elizabeth Aho in 18th.
"Megan ran a great race as usual," Grayslake Central coach Jimmy Centella said. "I'm super proud of her. She's found another level this year. "It was a really strong race overall. Sara O'Malley had a huge breakthrough to move up to our 2-3 pack, and that will help us in the end."
The host Sequoits had a strong young finisher of their own, as freshman Natalie Hill placed seventh.
"She is a hard worker every single day. She is a very even-keel girl, and she is not afraid to compete," Antioch coach Chris Bailey said. "Jessica Lamberty (29th) had a good race, and Tessa Furlong (37th) is taking some time to get back to where she was."
Sophomores Kathryn Ferguson (eighth) and Jena Berkland (20th) led Prairie Ridge's short-handed squad.
"Our top girl (Chloe Gale) is out with a concussion so she hasn't run in a week," Prairie Ridge coach Amy Taege said. "I was really happy with the way they performed. Our hard work is paying off, and we continue to improve."
Prairie Ridge freshman Madeleine Carey nipped Warren senior Emily Jahn for 25th place. Grayslake Central teammates Riley Achtemeier (28th) and Greta Ruhlmann (30th) rounded out the Rams' top six runners.
"We just finished up another tough week and we're still missing a few girls," Warren coach Brett Heimstead said. "But we're continuing to work hard and prepare for the championship season."