Girls cross country: Strong kick nets Batavia's Gianfrancesco SCN title
The wet, slippery, muddy Leroy Oakes course didn't seem suited for an all-out sprint to the finish, but that's just what Batavia senior Mia Gianfrancesco did Saturday to win the St. Charles North invitational.
Gianfrancesco ran down and passed South Elgin returning all-stater Naomi Ruff with a burst of speed over the final half mile - a skill coach Chad Hillman said developed in part from last spring's track season.
"The track season helped that," Hillman said. "First time (out for) track and it opened up a little more speed for her.
"Mia needed to get some racing in. Those couple front girls are legit. It was good for her to have to run like that and the confidence it takes to come back. It was probably a nice boost for her mentally."
Gianfrancesco ended up with a time of 18:08.4 to Ruff's 18:09.0.
"The last 200 meters I tried to hold on," said Ruff, a sophomore. "I would have liked to have gone out a little faster. I was pacing with the top group. The middle of the second mile I pulled away."
Like many of her Batavia teammates, Gianfrancesco has been in and out of the lineup as Hillman works to keep his team healthy for the stretch run.
Last week Batavia traveled to Minnesota and took sixth out of 57 schools in one of the only meets it has had its full lineup. Hillman said Batavia will run its top group Wednesday at Naperville North.
"It was good last week to get just about everybody on the line for the first time this year," Hillman said. "Definitely fun to see everyone race together really for the first time.
"It's been little stuff here and there, couple intentional holdouts just to get ready for later. Nothing really concerning. We are getting their feet wet still, we haven't raced much. We're a work in progress but definitely a positive work in progress."
Metea Valley senior Sophia Sandy also stayed with Ruff at the front for much of the race Saturday. She ended up third in 18:12.
"We did a workout Thursday with similar conditions so that was good preparation," Sandy said. "It helped us mentally prepare for it. It was definitely a different challenge, just trying not to slip on turns."
Sandy, who set her PR earlier this fall at First to Finish with an 18-flat, enjoyed running against Ruff and Gianfrancesco.
"She (Ruff) made a move at about a mile and a half and I stuck with her," Ruff said. "She (Gianfrancesco) had a great finish. I just wanted to stay strong the entire race. I'm really happy with how I did. My first mile was a little slower but I was able to run a faster second mile. I hope I can continue that the rest of my season."
Winnebago bested the 16-team field with 65 points. Lyons (118), Downers Grove North (130), Metea Valley (135) and Batavia (152) rounded out the top five.
Downers Grove North junior Melissa Jachim (fourth, 18:15) and St. Charles North sophomore Rachel Price (fifth, 18:18) also finished in the top five.