Girls cross country: Prospect nips Barrington for sectional crown

Prospect's girls cross country team showed a bit of grit on Saturday at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional.

The Knights offered a nice pack in placing four girls in the Top 20 to nip Barrington 87-88 for the sectional title on a muddy and mushy Busse Woods course.

"It was rough out there but our kids are gritty," said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute, whose team earned its second consecutive sectional title. "They were ready for this moment. This was a team win."

Fremd (123 points) took third place and qualified to its first state meet since 2014, with Hersey (130 points) and Palatine (189 points) rounding out the top five.

All five teams will advance to the IHSA Class 3A state meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria next Saturday with the Class 3A girls race set to start at 1 p.m.

Grant sophomore Aly Negovetich ran to the individual title, crossing the line in 17:50 to earn her second consecutive sectional title.

Freshman Cam Kalaway (18:49), sophomore Audrey Ginsberg (18:49), and freshman Hailey Erickson (18:58) set the tone for the Knights, securing 14th, 15th, and 16th place.

"It feels really amazing especially being my first year," said Kalaway of the Knights' steady attack. "We kept going strong and we did it for our teammates."

Senior Emily Hubbard (19:06) delivered a huge race in securing 20th place, while junior Annika Erickson (19:16) added 27th place.

"It feels really good," added Ginsberg, who returned to the Knights' lineup after missing regionals due to an illness. "It's really rewarding knowing all the hard work paid off."

Prospect received a boost to its lineup after inserting Kalaway and Erickson in early October and the Knights haven't looked back since, taking second at the Mid-Suburban League meet and earning a regional title last weekend.

"It's a special group," said Wintermute. "They learned a lot and they really believe in each other. They put themselves in position to be great in the last mile, which is what you have to do."

But it wasn't easy with MSL champion Barrington nipping at their heels. Junior Molly Fitzpatrick, senior Alyssa Norris, and senior Allison Drage all got out to fast starts and were hanging in the top eight after two miles.

Fitzpatrick (18:04) made a move in the final mile to secure second followed by Norris (18:15) and Drage (18:30), who took fifth and eight place to put a bit of pressure on the Knights.

"They had to get out because of the conditions," said Barrington coach Debbie Revolta of her three front-runners. "We felt it would be better for them to not have to wade through the masses and mud; they could pick their line. But give Prospect credit. They ran a great race."

Junior Anne Berquist (19:24) and sophomore Gabrielle Andrews (19:51) finished 32nd and 49th to complete the Fillies' scoring.

"We did everything we could today," said Fitzpatrick. "It's a good lesson we will take down to the state meet, that every point counts. We will use it as motivation."

Fremd also showed a bit of nice pack running in avenging a sixth-place finish and missing the state cut last season.

Senior Julia LaDuke (18:59) took 17th place, followed by big run from freshman Amanda Markham (19:10), who took 21st place.

"The energy was great coming in and the girls ran with confidence," said Fremd coach Joe Marcin. "It was not one girl, it was a full team effort."

Senior Rebecca Markham (19:15) kept the line moving by securing 24th place with senior Marissa Ban (29th, 19:23) and senior Julie Finegan (39th, 19:37) completing the Vikings' scoring.

"It's really exciting," added Rebecca Markham, who wrote the team an inspiring note before the race. "We worked together as a team and we've been working all year on trying to keep our pack together."

Freshman Anna Harden (18:07) kept her breakout freshman season rolling by delivering a third-place finish to lead Hersey to fourth place.

Senior Hannah Kersemeier (19:16), senior Erin Barton (19:26), and junior Jane Stefaniak (19:26) kept the line moving by going 26-33-34, with freshman Mackenzie Ginder (19:45) adding a 44th place finish.

Barton rallied from a so-so regional race to key the Huskies' attack on Saturday.

"Glad I could do it for my teammates," added Barton. "It was kind of a rough season, but it feels really good to finally have a race and do something good for my team."

Palatine had qualified for the state meet for 18 consecutive years before it missed the cut last season, but junior Anne Marie Jordan (18:44) delivered her biggest race of the season in securing 12th place to help the Pirates advance on Saturday.

Freshman Katelyn Whitcomb (41st, 19:38), junior Ellie Roy (42nd, 19:41), freshman Tara O'Sullivan (50th, 19:52), and freshman Ruth Hall (59th, 20:05) also aided the Pirates' state drive.

"Jordan ran a great race," said Palatine coach Joe Parks. "But honestly it was a couple freshmen stepping up, running well, and filling the holes that helped us today."

Wheeling freshman Brenda Torres (18:38) also had a big day in advancing as an individual. She clung to the lead pack early and then hung on in the final mile in securing ninth place to grab her spot at the state meet.

"I'm so happy," said Torres. "It's all I've been working for the entire season."