Girls cross country/Scouting Class 2A and Class 3A state meets

Girls cross country state meet

Class 2AWhen: 11 a.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. awards ceremony

Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria

Area teams:

• Vernon Hills - Coach Suzanne Curry; seniors Hannah Ray (four-time qualifier, 69th in 2017), Leah Wilkowski (three-time qualifier, 40th in 2017), Ryan Schofield (four-time qualifier, 41st in 2017), Payton Makowskyj (four-time qualifier, 70th in 2017), Katie Wilkowski (three-time qualifier, 47th in 2017); junior Carly Sear (two-time qualifier, 28th in 2017); freshman Emma Wakefield

• Grayslake Central - Coach Jimmy Centella; seniors Maura Fitzgerald, Mali Chiodi (two-time qualifier), Lauren Brunk (two-time qualifier); sophomore Anissah Groark; freshmen Grace Kokkin, Bryn Sato, Caroline Kokkin

Area individuals:

• Lakes sophomore Brooke Stromsland (fourth in 2017), Grayslake North Kelli Tosic (35th in 2017), Grayslake North senior Caroline Riss (56th in 2017)

Outlook: Vernon Hills returns to the state meet with great experience, talent and depth, as the Cougars will be trying to run down their fifth top-three trophy in the past six years. The Cougars did lose a great leader to graduation last year in front-runner Lauren Katz, but now the Cougars have freshman standout Emma Wakefield as their usual No. 1 runner to go along with all of the six remaining runners from their 2017 squad hoping to close out this season with their best finish in school history. "That (first place) has definitely been the goal for this team. It's full of seniors, they have a lot of experience in this meet, and if they can handle the pressure we'll see what happens," said coach Suzanne Curry, whose team placed second to Belvidere North at sectionals. "(Wakefield) has just been steady all season. She's just been learning from the seniors and the junior in the top seven (Carly Sear), and she's pretty fearless so we've been pretty happy how she's come along."

After exploding onto the scene with a fourth-place finish at state as a freshman, Lakes sophomore Brooke Stromsland is a state title contender after easily winning the sectional meet in 17:15. Stromsland will have some fierce competition to reach the mountaintop, but she has the speed and drive to do it. "There's going to be 10 girls that are going to be up there," Lakes coach Keith West said. "Brooke has had a fantastic, magical season. She's in the right frame of mind, and everyone at Lakes is excited for her. It's about running the race she wants to run and having fun doing it. It's going to be a great Class 2A race. She knows that she's in the mix, and she's trying to enjoy the moment knowing that she's done everything mentally and physically she can do."

Grayslake Central was the big surprise of last weekend as the Rams quietly qualified for the state meet led by the freshman duo of Grace Kokkin and Bryn Sato.

Class 3AWhen: 1 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. awards ceremony

Where: Detweiller Park, Peoria

Area teams:

• Grant - Coach Jeff Durlak; seniors Jana Nehila, Danielle Osmon (two-time qualifier, 14th in 2016), Eva Cardy (two-time qualifier, 26th in 2016); juniors Drue Polka, Eliza Scoggin; freshmen Aly Negovetich (first at sectionals), Laura Bishop

Area individuals:

• Round Lake junior Fatima Giron (two-time qualifier), Lake Zurich senior Emily Burns

Outlook: With freshman Aly Negovetich leading the way with a first-place finish in the powerful Hoffman Estates sectional, Grant returns to the state meet for the third time in four seasons with a lot of young talent and senior leadership in its lineup. Negovetich has the potential to become the highest-finishing girl in school history since Pam Staton placed seventh in Class 2A in 2004 when the IHSA had only two classes in cross country. "I think (Negovetich) can probably finish pretty high after the way she's been running the last few weeks, and I think she was our first sectional champion," coach Jeff Durlak said. "Aly will probably get us a low number, which is always helpful. Different people have been stepping up the last few weeks, and there's a lot of really good teams in Class 3A."

After being at less than full strength for the state meet last year due to injury, Round Lake junior Fatima Giron should take a lot of momentum into the 2018 meet after shattering her personal record by 42 seconds with a 16:35 time at sectionals. "We're hoping she's in the top 25, and based on (the sectional) performance she's in the top 10," Round Lake coach Kevin Brady said. "I think that course (Detweiller) is going to be faster than (Busse Woods) so she has to not be nervous and go out and run her race."

Lake Zurich senior Emily Burns also has the potential to make all-state (top 25) as she had a ninth-place showing at sectionals as well as a North Suburban Conference crown three weeks ago to fall back on.