Girls cross country: Palatine takes 2nd at SCN invite
Palatine made the most of its late entry into St. Charles North's Invitational by taking second Saturday morning at Leroy Oakes.
When the MSL meet was canceled this week because of bad weather, coach Joe Sparks checked with St. Charles North officials - where he used to coach - to see if the Pirates could enter.
North Stars coach Shari Hayes added Palatine to the field, and only Lyons Township with 59 points finished ahead of Palatine at 92.
"We were second, I was kind of surprised looking at results," Sparks said. "I didn't feel it was a second place race which I guess is encouraging. I see places we can get so much stronger."
Sophomore Anne Marie Jordan led Palatine in third place in 17:31.
"She's really come on this year," Sparks said. "Good freshman last year but didn't have the name as one of the best freshman in the state last year. She definitely has asserted herself this year. It's good to see her up in the mix of these races."
Hinsdale Central's McKenna Revord won the race in 17:27.9, and Jordan finished .1 behind Lyons' Kate Dickman.
"I'm not great at hills but I ran pretty well given that," said Jordan, who finished second last week at the Palatine invitational. "I was trying to stay with the top pack and they were pushing me. She (Revord) ended up edging me out."
Kate Lechowicz (18:15) was 10th for Palatine, Ellie Roy 18th and Liz Lechowicz 19th. Sparks said Roy's race was "probably her best high school race."
Lake Zurich senior Emily Burns continued her steady improvement by taking fifth in 17:41.
Burns set her PR earlier this season at Detweiller in 17:46, then ran a 17:45.2 last week at Palatine before again cutting her time to 17:41.3 on Saturday.
"I'm really excited," Burns said. "This is my favorite course, it has been every year."
Burns said recent rains made the course, known for its challenging hills, even more difficult than usual.
"You just watch the person ahead of you, watch her feet and watch where to run," Burns said. "I had a few spots where my ankle started to turn but I didn't fall. I was close (with the leaders) until after the second mile they started to pull away but always in my sight."
Geneva senior Sophia McDonnell finished one spot ahead of Burns in 17:40.6.
"It's amazing with all the competition and how those girls push you in this race. I've run it so many times I can master every corner," said McDonnell, whose mother Margaret was a five-time all-American at Iowa State.
"Definitely a running family and it's amazing to have all the support. I just love the sport."
McDonnell missed most of her junior season with an injury. She's a two-time state qualifier her freshman and sophomore years.
"Every race I've been feeling stronger," McDonnell said.
Rachel Price continued her strong freshman season for host St. Charles North finishing sixth in 17:41.4 just behind Burns.
"I really like that competition and when people push me so I can do better," Price said. "This week was a tough week training wise so I was just thinking come out and do my best. I was trying to work on my form today and make sure I was pumping my arms. I didn't care what time I got so long as I got my form down."
Price set her PR in Peoria at 17:33 and didn't miss by much Saturday.
"I feel I've really improved this year because of our workouts," Price said.
Sophomore Grace Dorrance was next for the North Stars in 15th.
Cary-Grove took third with 107 points led by a tight pack of Maggie Mason, Morgan Dieschbourg and Allison Drage in 12th through 14th, respectively.
St. Charles North was seventh, Batavia ninth, Geneva 10th and Lake Zurich 11th out of the 19 team field.