Girls cross country: Naperville North's Pendergast first to break 16 minutes
PEORIA - Naperville North girls cross country coach Dan Iverson once called former Glenbard West star Madeline Perez "the best runner in state history."
But the Huskies' Judy Pendergast authored a new chapter in state history at Detweiller Park on Saturday afternoon.
The reigning Class 3A track and field 3,200-meter champion added a cross country crown to her resume in stunning fashion.
Pendergast exceeded the Perez state benchmark by eight seconds, becoming the first girl ever to break 16 minutes with her championship effort of 15 minutes, 54 seconds.
But it was not enough for the fourth-ranked team in the nation.
Minooka, which had never finished better than sixth as a team, shocked the defending state champions 132-148 to deny the Huskies a seventh state crown.
"They ran the perfect race," Minooka coach Kevin Gummerson said. "Everything had to go right-and it did."
Pendergast seized the lead early and only increased the distance between herself and the field; the Harvard-bound senior was 22 seconds faster than Glenbard West sophomore Lindsey Payne.
"I thought it could have been a possibility," Pendergast said of a sub-16-minute time on the 3-mile layout. "I just concentrated on running my best. The time was as an added bonus."
"The power of what Judy did was pretty impressive," Iverson said.
Minooka, however, had three runners between Pendergast and the Huskies' second-fastest runner in Sarah Schmitt.
Hinsdale Central, Glenbard West and Wheaton Warrenville South were all in the top 10.
Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley, Benet, Downers South and York rounded out the second tier of local team qualifiers.
Naperville North, making its 25th consecutive state appearance, captured its 15th trophy since 1999 and fifth in a row.
Payne was looking to follow in the footsteps of former champions Perez and senior Lindsay Graham, the defending champion who was lost for the entire season due to injury.
"I set (a new personal record) by about 45 seconds," the Hilltoppers' sophomore said. "I did surprise myself. Hard work does pay off."
WW South junior Sara Atkins was all-state for the Tigers with her top-15 run.
"I am very content with myself," Atkins said.
The top runners all year for Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley and Benet - Nicki Cast, Caitlin Horn and Clare McCabe, respectively - were the leaders once again.
In the Class 2A championship, Yorkville duplicated Winnebago for historical importance with a fifth consecutive state title.
Montini senior Gianna Salzbrunn narrowly missed all-state status to lead the Broncos' 12th-place showing.