Neumann arrives at right time
Glenbard West senior Eric Neumann dropped out during the West Suburban Conference Silver meet Oct. 17 because of illness that was later diagnosed as a sinus infection.
Against many of the same opponents Saturday, Neumann returned among the frontrunners.
Neumann finished fourth at the Class 3A York regional at Proviso West to help the Hilltoppers advance to the Lake Park sectional on Oct. 31 by taking third to top-10 rated York and Oak Park-River Forest.
Neumann was the only top-eight finisher not from the two rival Silver schools. In a battle of returning top-11 all-staters, York sophomore Charlie Kern, Jr. edged Oak Park junior Irwin Loud in the final 40 meters 15:37.67 to 15:38.69 for 3.04 miles.
"Really, the goal for this week was to feel better and I'm just about there," said Neumann, whose 15:50.66 was 6.38 seconds behind York's Max Denning. "It's always fun running with those guys. I really wish I could have gotten up there and mixed it up at the end. I just hope I can next week."
Wheaton North, Lake Park and Wheaton Warrenville South were fourth through sixth for the other team qualifying berths. Seventh-place Glenbard North had three individual qualifiers and Addison Trail and Glenbard East one each.
Seven top-25 teams will be at the sectional and only five advance to state. The Hilltoppers and Falcons are among the best remaining teams hoping to surprise.
The Falcons' Jordan Hennings, a healthier Alex Frank and Justin Ostrem were 13th through 15th Saturday.
"I like our chances," Wheaton North coach Nate Roe said. "It's a really solid group of kids. I think they were running on a little bit tired legs (today)."
Neumann and senior Simon Peterson are the only healthy returnees from the Hilltoppers' fifth-place state lineup. Neumann was 39th.
"We're doing this down two (injured) guys, but we've got a ton of confidence in the seven that are running now," Glenbard West coach Kyle Nugent said.
Lake Park senior Zach Schwarz and sophomore Colin Kirkham were ninth and 11th Saturday. Schwarz ran a personal best by 11 seconds at Lake Park on Oct. 16 for sixth at the DuPage Valley Conference meet behind five Neuqua Valley runners.
"Running on the home course, it's a nice morale boost," Schwarz said. "I'm just having a lot of fun and just doing so well I just feel like there's nothing to really stop me, bring me down."
Girls:
Wheaton North's Rose Quinn has improved by more than a minute this season to keep pace with fellow sophomore and returning individual state qualifier Kailee Sowers.
With Sowers injured for the postseason, Quinn ran a solid race alone for eighth to help the Falcons finish sixth at the Class 3A York regional at Proviso West.
They were the last team qualifier to the Lake Park sectional Oct. 31.
"It was hard not to run with (Sowers), but I felt that I pushed myself well," Quinn said. "I think really mentally I kind of took a step up (this season)."
Glenbard West, third at state in 2014, won its third straight regional 33-41 over Wheaton Warrenville South. York, Oak Park-River Forest and Glenbard East were third through fifth. Seventh-place Lake Park had three individual qualifiers and Glenbard North and Leyden one each.
Glenbard West sophomore Lindsey Payne, who won comfortably in 17:43.03, led throughout the 3.04 miles - and she felt it.
"This was probably one of my hardest races that I've ever run. The wind was very, very strenuous," Payne said. "I'm just proud of myself and my team for not quitting because it took everything in us not to give up."
WW South junior Sara Atkins was a strong second in 18:33.38. A furious kick by Glenbard West senior Grace Rogers earned third in 18:44.00 ahead of WW South junior Allison McGrath in 18:46.50 and York senior Elizabeth Hagstrom's 18:57.26.
"It was hard to push through the wind, but if I can do that, then I think I can run really well under any conditions," Atkins said.
The Hilltoppers also had Katie Hohe seventh and Kathryn Kenwood and Janie Nabholz 10th and 12th. The team's No. 2-5 split exceeded one minute.
"Wheaton South is a very good team and for us not to have our team firing on all cylinders, we were still able to do something very great, which is win a regional against some very good competition," Glenbard West coach Paul Hass said.
WW South also had Mary Erdman sixth and Laurel Moneysmith and Kendall Laveen 14th and 15th.
"It's our best team race right now and we're going in the right direction," WW South coach Rob Harvey said.
For sectionals, Glenbard West, WW South, York, New Trier and Maine South have been ranked among the top 25 in 3A throughout the season.
If they're the five teams advancing to state, Quinn and Glenbard East's Lexi Weltin and Maeve Brasile, ninth and 11th Saturday, are among strong individual qualifying hopefuls.
"I feel like I have a chance but I'd rather qualify as a team," said Weltin, the Upstate Eight Conference Valley champion. "I actually ran at that course last year at regionals so I know the course and how it's going to run."