Cross country: Kaneland, Lakes' Stromsland shine at sectional
Kaneland's boys cross country team knew it would not repeat as Class 2A state champion since the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out this year's IHSA cross country state meet.
The next best thing the Knights could do was finish the season, at Saturday's Class 2A Lakes sectional meet, on top.
Kaneland almost pulled it off, but Crystal Lake Central was just a little better. The Tigers finished with 92 points, while Kaneland, led by Isaiah Dallal's fifth-place finish took second with 100.
Burlington Central (117) was third and Hampshire (120) took fourth, teaming with Central to give the Fox Valley Conference three of the top four teams.
"They ran their hearts out," Knights coach Chad Clarey said. "You can't ask for anything more from your kids than to give their best. We had some big surprises and some great endings. We figured it was going to be a tough battle with Crystal Lake Central and we're grateful we made it a race with them."
In the girls' race, Lakes' Brooke Stromsland, who will run at NCAA Division I Belmont next year, won the title by 30 seconds. Stromsland finished in 17:22.63, while Grayslake Central's Bella Domier (17:52.66) and Crystal Lake South's Bella Gonzalez (17:54.80) were next.
Gonzalez led South to the team title with 71 points, while Vernon Hills (85) and Prairie Ridge (90) were the next two teams.
Because of the pandemic, races were flighted to have fewer competitors on the course at one time. The first flight had teams' No. 6 and 7 runners in one race, with Nos. 3-4-5 in the next race and Nos. 1-2 and individual qualifiers in the last race for each girls and boys.
Kaneland put its five scoring runners among the top 28 places. Parker Malone was 18th, with Christian Phillipps (22nd), Aaron Ludwig (27th) and Logan Cruz (28th) finishing the scoring.
"All three races had positive things out of every spot," Clarey said. "All seven spots did exactly what they needed to try to do for the day. It's a credit to them and a credit to their families. They do the contact tracing and you go back to, 'Can you have seven kids on the line on the day of (races) without any hiccups?' Anything you squeeze out of today is just a blessing. We weren't even going to have a sectional and we got a sectional, and we're very proud of them."
Marian Central's Peter Walsdorf won the boys race in 15:15.93. Grayslake Central's Bryan Vale (15:54.59) was second, Grayslake North's Armani Diaz (15:55.85) was third and Crystal Lake Central's Karson Hollander (16:00.43) was fourth.
South put its five scoring girls runners in the top 28 and scored 71 points. Vernon Hills (85) was second and Prairie Ridge (90) was third. Because of the pandemic, races were flighted with teams' No. 6 and 7 runners in one race, Nos. 3-4-5 in the next, then Nos. 1-2 and individual qualifiers in the next race.
Walsdorf bolted out early and was never challenged in the boys race, winning in 15:15.93. Grayslake Central's Bryan Vale (15:54.59) was second, Grayslake North's Armani Diaz (15:55.85) was third and Crystal Lake Central's Karson Hollander (16:00.43) was fourth.
Vernon Hills' Reina Hill, Rose Sheridan and Anna Todd finished 5-6-7, while Wauconda's Jessie Pakaski took eighth.
South girls coach Ken Greenfield was thrilled with his team's performance following the race, even before he knew the Gators had won.
"No matter what the places are with the teams, I'm proud of the girls," Greenfield said. "We had seven good races today, which I always think is the goal. It's hard to get all seven runners to run well on any one day, especially when it's the culminating meet of the season."
A few moments later, Greenfield was handed the meet results and shortly after that, Lakes athletic director Kurt Rowells handed the Gators the sectional plaque, their first in school history.
"It's a great way to end the season," Gonzalez said. "It was tough. We put in a lot of hard work and I'm really proud of them. I really liked having that competition. There were so many great runners and I liked being able to push myself."
South's Emma Murphy is one of three seniors in the lineup to go out with a title.
It's a great way to end my senior year with such amazing teammates," Murphy said. "I've never seen a team work so hard. Every practice we go to we just push each other and I knew this could be the outcome of our hard work together."