Cross country: Scouting the Mid-Suburban League meets
Mid-Suburban League Cross Country Meet
Where: Deer Grove East Forest Preserve, Palatine
When: Saturday. Girls varsity race, 10:30 a.m.; Boys varsity race, 11 a.m.
Parking: Limited parking will be available at Deer Grove East course. Parking is also available at the Hobby Lobby store on Dundee Road just before the Jewel at the corner of Dundee/Hicks. A spectator shuttle will also be available to Deer Grove East course from the Palatine High School parking lot.
Last year team champions: Hersey (boys); Prospect (girls).
Last year Individual champions: Boys - Josh Methner (Hersey); Girls - Molly FitzPatrick (Barrington).
Boys race: Hersey is ready to the roll. The Huskies have put together a pretty special run winning six MSL titles in seven years, including three consecutive titles. They are in prime position to add to their run. Defending Class 3A state champion and defending MSL champion Josh Methner leads the charge and will be favored to win his second consecutive MSL title. The Huskies' senior took first at the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational and the Palatine Invitational. Methner set the course record (14:32) at Deer Grove East at the 2018 Palatine Invite. All-state runner Max Svienty is running strong and will give the Huskies a nice pop up top. Hersey is currently ranked No. 5 in the Illinois Cross Country Coaches Poll and the Huskies are the MSL East Division champions. Palatine nipped Barrington for the MSL West division title and they along with Prospect will form the chase pack. All-state runner Richie Jacobo will pace a Pirates attack that was infused with some young runners for their West division title run. Senior Paddy Furlong will set the tone for Barrington and Prospect senior Erik Snell will pace the Knights.
Girls race: This should be a close race. Barrington, Prospect, Fremd, and Palatine all enter with hopes of securing the MSL title. The return of defending MSL champion Molly FitzPatrick probably gives the Fillies the edge. FitzPatrick and senior Allison Drage give the Fillies a nice 1-2 punch. FitzPatrick won the title at the First to the Finish Invitational in Peoria before going out with an ankle injury. Drage picked up the slack in FitzPatrick's absence, taking second at the Palatine Invitational and taking first and leading Fillies to the MSL West title at the division meet. Sophomore Audrey Ginsberg and junior Annika Erickson pace the attack for defending MSL champion Prospect. The Knights ran to the East Division title and will rely on a tight pack on Saturday. Senior Rebecca Markham has set the tone for talented Fremd team and junior Ann Maria Jordan paces Palatine.