2021 IHSA State Cross Country Season Previews - 3A Girls Teams

 

York Girls look for first team title since 2000

 

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

 

You could call the 2020 COVID-19 year a practice session for what the York Girls team wanted to accomplish. It’s true that the ShaZam Club Championships were not an official IHSA event and not an official championship. They just want to make it official on November 6.

 

York comes in as the favorite to capture the 3A title with their entire top seven back. Naperville North is technically the defending champions from 2019 and will be going after their fourth straight state title. The Lady Huskies did lose the core of their scorers, but still have the depth to challenge for a title.

 

Downers Grove South, Prospect, Minooka, and Yorkville all have their eyes set on one of the three trophies that will be awarded in Peoria.

 

Cheer up. We are back to normal. We will be running a championship race at a championship location with runners running against each other and teams running in seven runner packs. How nice that will be when we get going on August 23.

 

The rules changed for qualifying last year. It will take real effect this fall with four sectionals with seven teams qualifying for the state meet from each group. For that, ILXCTF.com will rank the top 30 teams weekly beginning with the first update on September 7. This preview includes the top 30 ranked teams to begin the season and 20 more teams that are close to making the next jump into the group.

 

 

 

3A Girls Top 30 Teams

 

1 Elmhurst (York)

 

Coach: Lauren DeAngelis | West Suburban Conference Silver

 

Preview – Let’s just call the 2020 season for the York Girls team a dry run for what could happen with this group entering this fall. It could be the opera singer that has not hit his highest note yet. That could be the most honest description you could put on this team. The Dukes started out slowly building the right moment to run their best last fall. York had no major meets before the state series,  so they worked on pack running. It would not matter last year in the state series since the races were run in flights. Those dual meets will help when they get to the starting line this fall.

 

“I learned this team is made up of many resilient young ladies who are hard workers and very dedicated to their team's success,” said their coach, Lauren DeAngelis. “Through the many bumps and challenges last year, the one thing that did not waiver was their dedication and tireless work ethic.” The Dukes sent a convincing message at the end of last year. They first won the West Suburban Silver and then the Proviso West Regional and Lyons Township Sectional. Their 2020 statement race was when they scored 58 points to win the ShaZam Club Championships 13 points ahead of defending three-time champion Naperville North. The big thing for that group is that they are all back for this season. They also have a freshman group that might not be able to break into the top seven because the Varsity group is that strong.

 

Brooke Berger (JR) emerged as this team’s top runner in the last year and one of the top Girls runners in the state. She finished fifth at ShaZam. Michaela Quinn (SO) played soccer last spring. She has improved over the summer according to her coach and could give the Dukes a strong 1-2 duo in the front. Both Katelyn Winton (SR) and Bria Bennis (JR) showed improvement over last track season. Katherine Klimek (SO) has shown great improvements within her training and mindset and is a great communicator and teammate who is very consistent in her racing according to DeAngelis.

 

This team could go nine runners deep at least. Maggie Owens (SO) and Erin Powers (SR) were in the top seven last year. Allison Fitzgibbons (SR) and Kate Pratt (JR) showed also be watched. All four runners had great track seasons and will push for one of the top seven spots.

 

“With the end of the track season so late, our training and mileage needed to be adjusted for the girls to have a little physical and mental break.  The focus is on building and progressing their aerobic base/workouts with the end goal being State/NXR,” DeAngelis concluded. “The entire team has very high expectations and goals. We would like to focus on each level performing at their highest level at the WSC meet and then continuing on to a strong state series and NXR performance.”

 

I think everyone presumed York would be the team to beat in 3A Girls after last fall concluded. The performances that came out in track confirmed that. This team traditionally likes to run with a tight pack. That pack could be closer to the front this fall than it has been in the past.

 

2 Naperville (North)

 

Coach: Dan Iverson | DuPage Valley Conference

 

Preview – In reality, Naperville North will be going after their fourth IHSA state title in a row. Those that want an asterisk on that, the Lady Huskies did finish second last year in a season with no state meet. The team did make the most out of last year. “We learned a lot of new ways to get things done,” said their coach, Dan Iverson. “We have always asked the girls to be adaptable, and last year showed how well they could do that. There will be a few things that stick around as part of our program because of last year’s adjustments, so it was definitely not all bad.”

 

North returns three runners from their squad that won their conference, regional, and sectionals. This team is deeper than people think. “ We also had our freshmen group from last year run very well, with a top seven average of about 12:05 for our top seven freshmen for the 3200m,” added Iverson. “We have depth there depending on how they all develop into this year.” Lucy Westlake (SR) will be the team’s top runner and should be one of the top 10 runners in Class 3A this fall. Sophie Golobitsch (SR) and Logan Brennan (JR) are back from last year’s top seven and could push Westlake. Marissa Magna (JR) had a good track season and is ready to challenge in that pack. This team is deep. There could be 10 runners that challenge for top seven spots including Jackie Liu (SR), Peyton Milligan (JR), Samantha Falkman (JR), and Safiya Bhanpuri (SR).

 

“Summer has been great. We started immediately after track, with still giving everyone a break, so our state athletes started a bit later, but not by much. So, it’s largely been a normal summer, with a lot or people working very hard,” Iverson said. “We will set our sights very high and likely evolve as the season progresses. We are looking forward to seeing how much we can accomplish.” Naperville North could accomplish many things this fall. That is what this program does. The Lady Huskies start in Pleasant Valley and First to the Finish for their first two meets. We will get an indication what this team will be like. Westlake will be the top runner with a top five split projected to be near 44 seconds to start out. That split most likely will drop. The expectations on what they do will not drop.

 

3 Downers Grove (South)

 

Coach: Doug Plunkett | West Suburban Conference Gold

 

Preview – The 2020 season did not start or end for the Lady Mustangs last fall. The team was saddled with dual meets against schools in the WSC-Gold which is not the toughest team in the state compared to the invitationals that they would normally compete in. The team looked strong heading into the state series winning their conference title and then the Marist Regional. Their season did not end the way Downers Grove South wanted it to placing fifth at the Whitney Young Sectional.

 

“We struggled with confidence and finding a team identity after losing a strong senior class and only running dual meets against conference teams,” said their coach, Doug Plunkett. “That struggle, along with the isolation of COVID-19 restrictions, required the girls to develop more self-motivation and do a lot of work on their own. As a result, I see more confidence from this returning group that I hope we can utilize during the upcoming season.”

 

It helps that six runners are back from last year’s state series teams. It helps that you have a runner like Sophia McNerney (SR) leading that group. McNerney had a fantastic fall season including running 17:18 on her home three-mile course. The sectional race where she finished 15 was not indicative of what she can do. McNerney came back in track to finish second in the 3A 3200 Meter Run at the state meet. A show of her mental toughness is that she came right back to run in the 800 Meter Run.

 

A big boost for this team comes from the addition of Holly Johnson (FR) to the team. She put up some fast times in the 1600 in the middle school ranks. She finished among the top runners in July at Detweiller at Dark. Indications are there where she could be an all-state runner as a freshman. Plunkett wants to pump the breaks on those expectations. “Holly has a lot of natural talent and will definitely play a role in our varsity,” Plunkett said. “But the only expectation that I have for her right now is to learn how to train and race within the context of our program. She appears capable of being a front-runner, but I would like to see her run a few high school races before anointing her that role.”

 

This 2021 team shows that they could have a good pack behind McNerney with Johnson, Alex Sprang (SR), Kelsey Casella (SR), Madi Sisson (SR), and Rachel Rodi (SO). McNerney could be up to 30 seconds ahead of her teammates. A pack (without Johnson) could have a tight 25 second split. Throw Johnson in closer to McNerney and this team could be tough to beat when they get to the state series.

 

“We have talent, but we are not super deep,” concluded Plunkett. “Obviously, Sophia McNerney will be a low stick in every race we run. How we can place our 2-3-4-5 runners will determine how good we can become. The girls in those positions (Kelsey Casella, Madi Sisson, Alex Spang, & Holly Johnson) have the potential to be good but are somewhat unproven. They must stay healthy, overcome this short summer of training, run with confidence, and continue to improve. If all of that happens, then I feel that we could become a top 5 team or even a trophy contender, but there is very little margin for error for us. Ask me again at the end of September and I'll have a better answer for you.”

 

4 Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

 

Coach: Pete Wintermute | Mid-Suburban League

 

Preview – When lightning strikes during a storm, the best path to safety is staying out of harm’s way. For the 2020 Prospect Girls Cross Country team, lightning struck before they could get out of the way. The Lady Knights rolled to titles in their league championships, and then won the regional and sectional titles at Hoffman Estates convincingly. Then the team was hit with the COVID virus where they were not able to compete at the ShaZam Club Championships. It would have been interesting to see how they fared against teams like York and Naperville North. That is what this year is for.

 

“An undefeated XC season during COVID was fun but not having a State meet was unfortunate,” their coach, Peter Wintermute said. “Last season was not everything we wanted but it did teach all of us to fall in love with the sport, have fun with your teammates, and enjoy the process.  There is so much more to being on a XC team than racing in large invites and that was the appreciation we all gained from last year.  Winning the 4x800m was a great way for these girls to showcase their talents in 2020-21 and to use as a steppingstone for this fall. Confidence is contagious and the entire team benefited from the successes in the Spring.”

 

The four runners on that championship 4x8 team are back this fall ready to lead the Knights. Hailey Erickson (JR) was either the first or second runner for this team last fall and is ready to step into that position this season. Erickson showed great improvement in track which should transition nicely to the cross-country course. Audrey Ginsberg (SR) traded that top position with Erickson last fall, but really exploded on the scene in track. “Audrey is one of the best athletes I have ever coached and she one of the nicest and most respectful individuals I have come to know,” Wintermute added. “Audrey is coachable, has a passion for running, and she has a knack for knowing what the team needs and when they need it.  Audrey's huge range of  59.1, 2:13, 5:01, 11:13, and 17:14 (Sophomore year All-State at Detweiller) is what  also makes her unique.”

 

Cameron Kalaway (SR) gives the team a solid third runner. Lily Ginsberg (SO) stepped up for the team at the end of last fall in their sectional race. She showed what she can do on the track in the 4x8. She could ply an important role in their top five.

 

Finding the #5 runner for this team will be something to watch for. Bridget Derengowski (SO), Kate Woodland (JR), Jillian Sawadski (JR), and Sophia Angst (JR) improved during the summer according to Wintermute and could be some of the runners that will challenge for that spot. Prospect also has a good freshman class coming in led by Ireland Wildhart and Sophie Fransen could have a couple of runners in the top seven by the time they get to racing season in mid-October.

 

“The girls have been working hard this summer and are they are excited to have a more "normal" cross country season in terms of larger invites,” added Wintermute. “For the XC season, a focus will be on personal growth and consistency in our training.” A focus on a state trophy could also happen when they get to November.

 

5 Minooka

 

Coach: Kevin Gummerson | Southwest Prairie Conference

 

Preview – Minooka has one of those teams that will sneak up on some people. At the same time, shame on those people thinking that this group will sneak up. The Indians finished fourth in a tough Southwest Prairie Conference meet, placed second in their own regional, and then fourth at the sectional in Normal. This is a strong group back with all seven of their sectional runners returning along with a good freshman class. Last year was a season for this team to grow. They could blossom into a state trophy team by November.

 

“I have always been a fan of dual meets, and we embraced the opportunity to compete in the SPC mandated meets,” their coach Kevin Gummerson said. “We were able to really study tactics and were able to really use those to learn and try different approaches to racing.  Competing in this conference, these girls had the opportunity to run against some good teams. These girls benefitted from that. We reinforced how important athletics are, as that daily opportunity to come together as a team and train was such a positive part of each day and made that remote learning a little bit easier. We learned to appreciate the opportunity to compete and were grateful we were not stuck at home doing a puzzle. While we had a positive season last year, it was great to hear the excitement of these athletes when we released the meet schedule and they saw the traditional invitationals there.”

 

Gabrielle Kics (JR) emerged as the top runner for this team including winning the conference individual title. Things could be great for Kics this fall. The return of Audrey Boles (SR) will be a huge plus. Boles finished 33rd at the state meet as a sophomore in 2019. She missed all last season due to hip surgery. She was back on the track on her teams 4x8 squad at state. Her return gives the team a solid 1-2 in the front.

 

Also add in Cassie Fuhrman (SO) who showed improvement in track after being the team’s fifth runner last fall. Gabriella McCollum (JR), Jocelyn Host (SR), and Katelyn Cichon (SR) were also a part of the top five. Nia Harrington (SO), and Brooke Wlodek (SR) are some of the other runners back that will challenge for top seven spots. There is a great group of freshmen coming in according to Gummerson. With the strength of that top seven, the freshmen group may get a chance to mature on the lower levels.

 

“We did have to adjust the summer training program because of the late track and field season,” Gummerson stated. “We basically had a couple different start dates as I wanted to give the appropriate rest to those that competed in the state series.  It all worked out and we were able to put together a summer where we put in some quality miles, but we were also able to start to come together as a team. These girls have high expectations for this season, they realize that we have the makings of a good team.”

 

6 Yorkville

 

Coach: Chris Muth | Southwest Prairie Conference

 

Preview – Yorkville again displayed that regardless of the conditions that they ran in that they were again one of the most dominant Girls’ programs in the state. The Lady Foxes won their conference and the Minooka Regional, placed second in the Normal Sectional, and then finished third at the ShaZam Club Championships. They will miss the leadership of graduated Helena Kleronomos in the front. Yorkville does have four runners from their sectional team back.

 

“I learned that when you have to cut out some of the extra fun activities, due to covid restrictions, it's extremely hard to create that team/family environment and connect with the entire team,” said their coach, Chris Muth. “Personally, I learned how much I enjoy coaching and after 16 seasons, I am just as excited if not more excited to get back to the basics and normal season of coaching, connecting and creating experiences for these athletes.”

 

Seniors Anna and Margaret Hunter appear to be the top runners for Yorkville entering the season. Anna was the team’s third runner in two of the final three meets. Margaret was the team’s fourth runner in their sectional race. “Margaret and Anna Hunter are the captains of our team this season, and I’m really excited to see them influence others on this team in a positive way,” added Muth. “Both have a ton of experience in big races and on talented teams.  They have both had solid summers training sessions coming off posting some solid track times.  How they perform throughout the year will directly correlate with how well this team succeeds. I know them and they are up for the challenge.”

 

Alex Stewart (JR) was in and out of the top five most of last season and should be ready as one of the team’s top runners. Makenna Edwards (JR) should again be a solid runner in that top five. Ava Galloway (SO) improved during track and during the summer according to Muth and could be a difference maker in the top five.  Lucy Anderson (JR), Kate Melzer (JR), Emma Jasutis (JR), and Ashley Schraeder (FR) are runners that could give this team’s top seven a boost.

 

“I think we will have to be patient with where we start, and I expect more progress as the season goes on than in past years,” Muth said. “My expectation for this team is to focus on pack running, dedication to each other daily, and creating the best team atmosphere possible.  This isn’t the same type of team we have had in the past and I’m excited to take the underdog role this season.  This group I believe is ready to work for each other every day and have a more positive approach than teams of past years.  If we can accomplish those things consistently, we can overachieve and compete week in and week out.”

 

7 Wilmette (Loyola Academy)

 

Coach: Chris Jon Simon | Girls Catholic Athletic Conference

 

Preview – The Ramblers prospered in their Cook County region last year since they could not race against anyone outside of it most of the season. Loyola finished winning their own regional and then placing second behind Prospect at the Hoffman Estates Sectional.  They finished the season placing seventh at the ShaZam Club Championships. This team should be good in 2021 with five runners from that top seven group back.

 

“COVID-19 season to my surprise everyone showed up for practice every day even though it was optional for our  JV athletes,” said their coach, ChrisJon Simon. “All the girls simply wanted to connect and keep active. We took a longer break and rested the legs after the track season. We plan to ease into the fall season and plan to be strong come November.”

 

Morgan Mackie (SO) had an up and down end of season as the team’s top runner in the sectional meet and then fifth runner the following sectional meet. Her track season ended spectacularly when she ran a huge personal best to finish sixth in the 3A 1600 Meter Run at the state meet. Mackie will be ready for this fall.

 

Maeve Norman (JR) and Ellie Grammas (JR) give Loyola a solid 2-3 pack right behind Mackie. Erin McCarthy (JR) and Lauren Woodward (JR) also are back from the top seven. Jane Lynch (FR) ran 5:20 in middle school and could contribute immediately along with fellow freshman Ana Kimball. Catherine Lynch (SR), Maggie Talaga (SO), and Kelsey Langston (SO) will also challenge for top seven spots.

 

Loyola is a young team with only one senior projected to be in the top 10. The experience that they gained last year does not make them young. Mackie gives the team single digit numbers in the front. Grammas and Norman could be close to the top 25 in November. The fourth and fifth runner split from the front group is big and will need to be fixed for this team to be ready to go for state series time.

 

8 Oak Park-River Forest

 

Coach: Ashley Raymond | West Suburban Conference Silver

 

Preview – The Huskies peaked at the right time last fall to set them up to where they are at entering this season. OPRF finished second last year at the WSC-Silver behind York. They will be part of a pack of teams that will challenge York in that tough conference. The Huskies then went out and won the Whitney Young Regional and then placed second behind Naperville North in the sectional at Whitney Young the following week.

 

“The COVID-19 season taught us we can be ready for anything,” said their coach, Ashley Raymond. “The constant changes to meets, practices and daily life forced us all to be more comfortable when things didn't go as we imagined. I think this is a great skill that all great athletes have, and we will be better prepared for anything this season.”

 

Four runners that ran in the sectional race are back for Raymond. It is a nice luxury to have a runner like Josephine Welin (SR)  leading your team. Her times continued to drop during last track season making her the runner to beat in 3A this fall. It will be interesting to see what kind of times she runs at Detweiller Park this season. There is a solid group behind Welin with Lenny Sterritt (SO), Avery Minnis (JR), and Samantha Duwe (SR) all part of that group. Rachel Prestes (SO) and Kate Stabb (SO) have improved in the past summer and could be the answer for the #5 spot. Eva Carson (SR) will be running cross-country for the first time. Raymond feels that she could help on the varsity level. Freshman Mallie Cassell is a runner to keep an eye on especially when they get to the state series to contribute.

 

Let’s just ignore what Oak Park’s top five split will be. It will be huge with Welin up front doing Wellian type things. The Huskies will need a tight 25 to 32 second split on their top five. This team is a top 10 3A type team. How far up they climb is something we will find out at the end of October and into November.

 

9 St. Charles East

 

Coach: Brad Kaplan | DuKane Conference

 

Preview – There were several teams that stood-out at the end of last season. One of those teams was St. Charles East. The Lady Saints were strong at the end of the year winning their conference meet and the Lake Park Regional, finishing third at the Lyons Township Sectional, and then placing sixth at the ShaZam Club Championships. What was surprising about that is they did it with all underclassmen in their top seven including two freshmen. It will not be a surprise in 2021 especially with all those runners back.

 

“I learned to let the team control their destiny in their training since we did not have a summer camp last year,” Brad Kaplan said about their 2020 season. “We had a great season regardless.” Morgan Sandlund (JR) along with Marley Andelman (SO) ran side by side in most races last fall and should be the top runners again in this team. “Morgan had an outstanding track season,” Kaplan added. “She will continue to shine this cross-country season.”

 

Eleanor Clark (JR), Mackenzie Loomis (SO), and Ava Abbott (SR) give the Saints a powerful back end of their top five. Seniors Gia Klasa, Hannah Kilpatrick, and Shauna Norgaard are among some of the runners that give this team extraordinary depth. They will have tight packs at 1-2 and then 3-7. The key is keeping the split between those groups under 45 seconds for this team to glow this fall.

 

10 Oswego (East)

 

Coach: Lisa Cook | Southwest Prairie Conference

 

Preview – Go to a dictionary and look up the phrase “to peak”. You might just see the Oswego East team picture. The Wolves took care of business during the regular season getting better in the smaller meets. When it came time for the end of the year, this team just took off. Oswego East finished second in a tough Southwest Prairie Conference Meet behind Yorkville but ahead of Minooka. They then finished second in their own regional, fourth in the Whitney Young Sectional, and then ending it by placing tenth at the ShaZam Club Championships. It should just get better for this group with eight of their top ten runners all coming back.

 

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of our team for the resilience, passion, and dedication on display over the past year and a half,” said their coach, Lisa Cook. “We weren’t sure if we’d make it through one week, much less the whole season last fall.  We had our best Conference finish in over a decade, our best Regional finish in program history, and recorded only our second top 5 finish at a Sectional in school history.  At Shazam State, our team finished 10th, which was a testament to the hard work and perseverance of our girls and showed that no matter the circumstances, they would show up and race.  Our team was able to pull together and truly enjoy and appreciate each practice and each race, which is one thing we plan to carry into every season moving forward.”

 

Nayah Allen was the top runner at the end of last year, but she has graduated. There are several runners that could step into that spot for this team including Madison Zarembski (SR) or Morgan Dick (SO). Sydney Williams (JR) had a good track season which could catapult to better things this fall. Angeles Mendoza (JR), Ana Barroso (SR), and Maddi Armer (SR) also return all with their eyes on the top five. Monica Lopez (JR) is perhaps the most improved runner on the team according to Cook. She could be a factor among their top 10. Freshmen Mckenzie Mann, Mae Robinson, and Olivia Van Denend may not make the top seven but could be difference makers in the next year.

 

“We pushed our start date for camp back a week and gave another week’s rest to our state qualifiers prior to starting summer training,” said Cook. “I know our returners feel a little behind because of the schedule with the late track season, but I know most of the state is feeling the same effect.  We made sure to build in slowly and really focused on quality over quantity this summer. Our team goal is to take our program to a place we’ve never been, and I really believe the potential for this group is just tremendous.”

 

11 Edwardsville

 

Coach: George Patrylak | Southwest Conference

 

Preview – The Tigers should be the top 3A team in the southern part of the state which could translate into higher rankings since they won’t be sequestered in the metro St. Louis area. They did show what they had in the state series after winning their conference meet. Edwardsville finished third in the Belleville West Sectional followed by placing fifth at the Normal Sectional. They also competed at the ShaZam Club Championships where they finished 13. Six of their top seven runners from sectionals return.

 

“The past two years, I feel this team has come together at the right time,” said their coach, George Patrylak.  Our girls qualified for State in the 4 x 800 (All-State) and Riley in the 1600. With State being pushed so far back, most of our team started their summer running several weeks later than normal. I know this is the case for everyone. As far as summer training, we take minimum of two weeks off after track. A lot of our girls were tired from the long year and have not been as aggressive in our training.”

 

Their top runner from the past two years Riley Knoyle (JR) was diagnosed with a stress fracture a week after the state meet. She has been clearance to resume training according to Patrylak. We might see her at full steam by the end of September. The rest of the returning five last year were all freshmen. This sophomore group of Maya Lueking, Olivia Coll, Whitney Dyckman, and Dylan Peel should push this team to higher standards in bigger races. A big boost for Edwardsville is arrival of Emily Nuttall who transferred in last winter from 2A Richland County where she was one of their top runners. The junior could step into one of the top three spots for this team. Makenna Lueking (SR), Madison Strotheide (JR), Annabella Ford (JR), and Emma Patrick (SO) are some of the other runners that could challenge for top seven spots.

 

It will be interesting to see how the pack develops before Knoyle gets to full steam. The split from two to five could average from 38 to 47 seconds. The pack will need to work their split down on Knoyle for this team to have a shot to finish in the top 10 at the state meet.

 

12 LaGrange (Lyons Township)

 

Coach: Eric Simon | West Suburban Conference Silver

 

Preview – It has been like a mini tornado swept through the Lyons Township Girls team in this past spring into summer. Alex Lyons informed the school in March that he was going to step down as the team’s head coach. In the early summer, a candidate who had accepted the position, changed his mind. Finally on July 29, the school offered the position to Eric Simon who accepted on the same day. Simon had been the head Girls coach at Oswego since 2007.

 

Simon inherits a good Lyons Township team that finished third at the Proviso West Regional, fourth at their own sectional, and then 12th at the ShaZam Club Championships. Five runners that have regional or sectional experience return for Simon.

 

“The team has looked very good in my first week as we get to know each other,” their new coach said.  “I can see that our top group did a very good job with their summer training.  Our 1600-time trial and some tempo running we did last week indicate we are at a nice starting point for the season.”

 

They miss their #1 runner of last year Kate Dickman who graduated and now is at the University of Illinois. Catherine Sommerfield (JR) should step into the top spot after being the #2 runner last season. She is in great shape according to her coach and could be among the top 25 in November. Shannon Cranny (SO), Maia Rudofski (SR), Maureen Patrick (SR), and Charlotte Lange (JR) are the other returning runners. This team is deep in talent with at least 10 more runners capable of jumping into the top seven including Scarlett Lestina (JR), Abby Deuter (SR), and Claire McVady (JR).

 

There could be an early growing / getting to know each other period between new coach and athletes. By October this team should be flying. The Lions will need to close the gap between Sommerfeld and the rest of the pack to under 55 seconds. Their two through seven split could be as little as 30 seconds by the time they reach the state series.

 

13 Hinsdale (Central)

 

Coach: Mark McCabe | West Suburban Conference Silver

 

Preview – Traditional power Hinsdale Central has ben in this position before where not much is expected from the team and then they come out firing in their first meet. The Red Devilettes, after finishing fifth in their conference meet, came back to finish third in the Marist Regional and eighth at the Whitney Young Sectional. Central returns their top six runners from that sectional team.

 

“We are a mix of younger and older girls, yet very young and inexperienced overall,” said their coach, Mark McCabe. “Of our three returning seniors, only one has more than one year of cross-country experience.  With the later track season and some post-season meets, our top girls got a little later start to XC training but are now back up to speed.  We have great leadership and many younger girls eager to be in the mix for Varsity spots. They know the tradition of our program and are working hard to be a part of a team that continues that proud tradition.”

 

Catie McCabe (JR) had a breakout track season that looks to continue into this fall. After finishing 23 at the ShaZam meet in November, McCabe came back to earn all-state honors in the 1600 Meter Run and post season running 2:12 in the 800. Sarah Fischer (JR) and Cate McDonnell (SO) lead a solid pack that will follow McCabe. Isabella Terry (SR), Louisa Brorson (SR), Erin Milligan (SR), and Kennedy Boyd (SO) all had state series experience a year ago. All these runners had a good summer of training will boost this team. Gabby Thanos (FR), daughter of former Hinsdale Central all-state athlete Jon Thanos, could make an impact on the top seven in her first season. The pack behind McCabe could have a split of 40 seconds or lower. The key is Fischer and the pack staying within 35 seconds of their #1 runner.

 

“It is great to look forward to a return to a more “normal” season,” said Coach McCabe. “That is certainly a lesson learned for last year, to be grateful for all we do have, never take what we have for granted, and focus on the "power of now”. We are all extremely excited and taking everything one day at a time. I think that 2021 will be an exciting year for these girls.

 

14 Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)

 

Coach: Wendy Hagerty | Southwest Suburban Conference

 

Preview – The improvement that we saw in the distance last spring when Lincoln-Way East won the 3A State Track title is something that we will keep on in whether they continue to improve their performances. The Griffins did have an impressive end to last year winning the Andrew Regional and then finishing sixth in the Normal Sectional. A good group is back with all seven runners that raced in the sectional are all back.

 

“Many of our top ten were on or were alternates on the 4x800 9th place state team and have seen what it takes to place at a competitive meet,” said their coach, Wendy Hegarty.  “At last year’s ‘dual only’ meets East athletes were remarkably competitive with a hopeful return to big Saturday meets where they can really race.”

 

East does have a good duo in the front with Kate Guderjan (SR) and Elyse DeFrank (SO) leading the way. Guderjan ran a 5:09 school record for the 1600 Meter Run at the state meet. Both runners were part of their all-state quartet in the 4x800m Relay. Halle Hoger (SR), Tori Tverdek (JR), and sophomores Makayla Kelly, Ava Conway, Riley Drzewiecki, Katie O’Brien, and Maura Hanrahan all will challenge for spots in the top seven. You could also see Ellie Feigl (FR) or Emma Roberts (JR) challenge for one of those spots in the lineup. Roberts missed last season due to an injury. The team could have a 67 second split off DeFrank or Guderjan. One thing to watch is if either of those front runners can run under 18-minutes at some point during the season. It could help get this squad into the state top 10.

 

15 Normal (Community)

 

Coach: Tom Patten | Big 12 Conference

 

Preview – The one obvious thing to watch from this team is the improvement of Ali Ince from freshman year to sophomore year. “Her performance last year was limited a bit by a couple key factors,” said her coach, Tom Patten. “One is that she came off an 8th grade year where she had no track races at all. The other is that, because of Covid restrictions, she ran almost every race like a time trial. Regionals was the only race before the alternative State meet where she had someone with her going into the last half mile.”

 

Normal Community is coming off a good end of year win at the Granite City Regional and third at their own sectional. We know Ince will be getting a single digit number when she crosses the finish line. Olivia Hartke (SR) struggled with iron deficiencies the past school year. She has corrected that according to Patten and could again be running under 18-minutes. Abigail Ziemer (SO) and Annika Luthe (JR) contributed to the top seven last fall and should be solid within their first five. Megan Metz (JR), Claire Fitzgerald (JR), Rachel Brozenec (JR), and Amber Hitchins (JR) are all expected to challenge for a spot in their top five. Jordynn Griffith (SR) and Carina Engst (SR) were part of the school’s winning 4x4 last June at state. They are out for cross-country for the first time and good give this team a boost.

 

“We're looking forward to a more normal year (no pun intended) with a return to our usual race schedule,” Patten said. “We did have to adjust our summer running because track ran so late (no pun intended again), but we feel confident that our girls should have a pretty good season.”

 

16 Downers Grove (North)

 

Coach: Tim MacDonald | West Suburban Conference Silver

 

Preview – The Trojans were in a middle of a tough WSC-Silver conference where they finished placing third. That translated to bigger things in the state series placing second at the Marist Regional and third at the Whitney Young. Three runners return from their sectional. This would mean that this would be a rebuilding year. North views it as opportunity and reloading with the depth that they have.

 

“Last year I learned a lot,” said their coach, Tim McDonald. The cross-country season last year was different, but it was also a nice change of pace too.  It was one of the few activities that felt normal.  I think the athletes and the coaches realized how important our daily interaction with each other really is to all of us.  I also learned that with strong student leadership and a structured program, the kids can really train independently.  Our senior group did an outstanding job of managing the summer program last year since our district made a decision that we could not have a summer program that the coaches ran.  Lastly, I learned that I never want to wear a mask at a meet again in my life.”

 

Ava Geiger (JR) will be one of three runners that will challenge for the top spot along with sophomores Sydney Hnatiuk and Karly Harkness. Claire Pyne (JR) is expected to a bigger factor in the top five according to McDonald after dealing with iron issues last fall. Maddie Casey (JR), Kate Cesario (JR), and seniors Rachel Wilson and Miranda McNally are some of the runners that could push for top seven positions. McDonald also stated that they have a group of 15 freshmen that are athletic but have not raced since 2019. It will be interesting to see how that group develops.

 

“Summer training started about 3 weeks later than usual for us and naturally my first thought is that we are so far behind schedule. I am sure we will be fine. I just need to be patient,” said McDonald. “We are just really starting to ramp up training and so far, so good. I think we will be a competitive varsity team by October. Novak, Pyne, Geiger, and Casey have all competed at Detweiller at some point in their career and when you factor in Harkness and Hnatiuk we have a lot of high-level varsity experience returning.  As I said, the freshman group is athletic.  If a few of those girls learn how to train and race at a varsity level, we can be tough by the end of the season.  I am excited that we have a lot of depth and I feel like we will be able to roll out strong varsity, JV, and frosh-soph teams by the end of the season if we stay healthy.”

 

17 Lisle (Benet Academy)

 

Coach: Katie Paski | East Suburban Catholic Conference

 

Preview – Benet Academy returns to Class 3A for the next two years after a successful two seasons in Class 2A. In that period, they first won their first state championship. There was no state last year. The Redwings were considered the top team in that classification winning first the 2A St. Francis Regional and then defeating what was considered the next best team Latin School at Latin’s Sectional. Two runners are back from last year’s sectional team. They do have the depth to make a run at qualifying for state back in Class 3A.

 

“We continuously stressed the idea of living in the moment and to count our blessings,” said their coach, Kate Paski.  “We treated last season the same way as we would any other season approaching all competition and weekly workout routines in the same mindset as usual.  By not breaking from our usual routine, we continued to find a great deal of success achieving the goals that we set out to accomplish as a team.”

 

Their routine will not change with the classification switch. Their top front from last year Louisa Diamond (SR) is back along with top five runner Amelia Parisi (SR). Sophomores Terese Tully and Kailey Frangella, juniors Nora Delaney, Audrey Gedraitis, and Faith Harrold, and seniors Mary Weber and Laura Mansour all could be part of their top seven. Benet has a good group of freshmen that might be able to edge their way into this group. Diamond is someone we can expect to be in the top 25. It will be interesting to see what kind of pack develops early this season.

 

“We continued to focus on ensuring that the girls have a strong base going into the season; we worked a great deal on building their endurance and mileage throughout the course of the summer continuing to build off their track season for those that were part of the track program,” Paski said. “For those who were new to summer training and our program in general, we had different benchmarks each week and worked on gradually increasing their mileage and time in preparation for August like previous years.  We were fortunate to have had a great deal of success the past two years in 2A.  With us moving back into 3A this year we know that it will be a new challenge for many of our runners as our senior class is the only members of our team who have competed in 3A in the state series, but it is one we are looking forward to and we are excited for all this season has to bring. 

 

18 South Elgin

 

Coach: Jorie Bartholomew | Upstate Eight Conference

 

Preview – One team that could surprise many in this year’s pre-season top 30. The Storm only ran dual meets during last season against fellow Upstate Eight teams. They did shine in the post season first finishing third at the Lake Park Regional and then eighth at the Lyons Township Sectional. It will be interesting to see how this team runs in the bigger meets this fall. Their first challenge will be on August 28 at the Kane County Meet in Geneva.

 

Their entire top seven returns led by Naomi Ruff. The senior closed out last season by finishing 15 at the ShaZam Club Championships. A top 10 finish at Detweiller Park is within her reach. This is a veteran team with juniors Heather Durrant, Angelica Harris, and Roberta Morales along with seniors Lexi Blundin, Caroline Craft, and Emily De La Mora all returning. The gap off Ruff could be close to a minute. There could be another split of 84 seconds from their second through fifth runners. Those splits need to come down if South Elgin expects to race as a team at the state meet in November.

 

19 Lockport (Township)

 

Coach: Regan Cronholm | Southwest Suburban Conference

 

Preview – The Porters again should be one of the top teams in their conference along with Lincoln-Way East. Lockport finished last season finishing third at the Minooka Regional and then surprising some by winning the Normal Sectional ahead of perennial powers Yorkville and Minooka. It could be tougher to make it out of the Quincy Sectional this season especially with only three runners back from their sectional team.

 

The do have the luxury of having Kayla Shea back leading them. Shea had a great sophomore season including a win in her conference meet and then finishing 22nd at the ShaZam Meet. Monica Skibicki (JR) gives Lockport a solid second runner. Rebuilding will occur in the next five spots. Morgan Kastolot (SR) leads that group with Caroline Turner (JR), Maya Chudoba (SO), Alexa Trower (JR), and Hannah Miller (JR) some of the runners looking to get in that lineup. Shea could be one of the top 15 in this year’s state meet if she stays healthy. Their top five split might be well over two minutes. That will need to come down for this team to make the trip to Peoria.

 

20 Oswego

 

Coach: TBA | Southwest Prairie Conference

 

Preview – Eric Simon had held the position of head coach on this team since 2007. He stepped down from this position on July 29 to assume the same position at Lyons Township. The position remains open on IHSA.org. Oswego has not made an official announcement. Colleen Predl is listed as an assistant coach on the team’s website.

 

The Panthers return five runners from the team’s third-place finish at the Oswego East Regional and seventh at the Whitney Young Sectional. Oswego also finished 18th at the ShaZam Club Championships. Audra Soderlind has been the team’s top runner since her freshman season. That should not change his fall. She finished 35th at ShaZam. The junior could be among the top 20 at the end of the year. There is a strong pack behind Soderlind with Rebecca Corbett (SR), Sophia Marasco (JR), Kate Soderlind (SO), and Paige Bohnert (SR). Juniors Ryan Jednachowski, Hale Fioresi, and Amanda Farrow are the next group of runners that could step into their top seven. The top two to five split is projected to be 48 seconds. 30 seconds could separate that pack from Soderlind. We will get an idea how good this team will be after they run in Peoria and Palatine by the end of the month.

 

21 Winnetka (New Trier)

 

Coach: John Burnside | Central Suburban League

 

Preview – The Lady Trevians are a traditional power in this sport that peak at the right time every season it seems. It should be the same situation for New Trier this fall. They ended last season finishing third at the Loyola Regional and then fifth at the sectional at Hoffman Estates. Five runners (2 seniors, 3 juniors) are back from that sectional team. Claire Flanigan (JR) was the team’s top runner last season. Samantha Fellman (SR) was a consistent #2 for the Lady Trevians giving this team a strong foundation in their top five. Hannah Caudill (JR), Jennifer Wiitala (JR), and Colleen Charchut round out the top five. Seniors Ally Weix, Katie Holmberg, and Elaine Skidas are some of the runners you might see this fall in their top seven. New Trier does have that tradition of tight pack running. Their split is projected right now at 53 seconds on their scorers. It could be as low as 35 seconds before the state meet. A key is lowering that split while moving the pack closer to the front.

 

22 Quincy

 

Coach: Eric Davis | Western Big Six Conference

 

Preview – the Blue Devils will have a somewhat home course advantage if they make it to their own sectional at the end of October. This is the first time that this team has been ranked in any of the rankings that I have done. This team deserves that distinction. Quincy won their conference title a year ago. They followed that up by finishing fourth at the Granite City Regional and then ninth at the Normal Sectional. Six runners are back from last year’s top seven. This is a good team that could extend their season into November.

 

Anna Scheuring enters her final year of high school running with a chance to finishing in the top 25 at Detweiller Park. Scheuring finished 33rd at the ShaZam Club Championships. Reese Torstriep was the team’s second runner in the sectional race should be a fixture again in their top five. Alexandria Meyers (JR), Olivia Scheuring (SO), and Cameron Vaughn (JR) are also expected to be in the top five. Natalie Goerlich (SR) is also a runner to expect in the top five. Quincy should have a 12 to 14 second split from their second to fourth runners which is good. However, the split from one to two could be near 60 seconds. The split from four to five is just over 100 seconds. Those need to be fixed if this team has the goal of making it to the state meet.

 

23 O’Fallon

 

Coach: Neil James | Southwestern Conference

 

Preview – The southern most 3A sectional in the south continues to get tougher. The teams continue to improve. O’Fallon is one of those teams. They would have advanced to the state meet if there was one. The Panthers finished second in the Granite City Regional and then seventh in the Normal Sectional. Four of their top five runners are back. Their #4 runner Hannah Zura has moved with her family to Delaware.

 

“The girls did a great job of handling last season and putting in the work on their own,” said their coach, Neil James. “Our team had a lot of fun last year as they were all so excited to be together. I really think it helped us step back and not take things for granted.”

 

Their top three is extremely strong led by Peyton Schieppe (SR). She missed her 2019 season due to an injury. The senior missed track last spring with another injury. She is back at full strength and will enter this season with the talent to finish in the top 10 in the state. Julia Monson (SR) and Ellie Peterson (SR) could be separated by 20 seconds in races but solidify the two-three positions. With Zura gone, O’Fallon will have a transfer from Mt. Vernon, Britney Brown (JR), who could step into that spot. Catherine Gould (SR), Jane Dayton (JR), Elly Parks (JR), and Sarah Davis (JR) will be among the runners to challenge for the other three spots in their lineup. Schieppe will get a low point total in her first position. The team’s split on their top five, however, could be close to three minutes. Working that split down will be something to watch from this team.

 

24 Huntley

 

Coach: Matthew Kaplan | Fox Valley Conference

 

Preview – Huntley made it through last fall finishing second in their conference meet, winning the Guilford Regional, and then placing seventh at the Lyons Township Sectional. “Last season was a tough experience in general. The daily or weekly updates/changes made for too much mental stress on what we'd be able to accomplish every day,” said their coach, Matthew Kaplan. It reinforced the idea that we can only control our own actions and attitudes towards what life throws our way. I thought the girls did the best they could to keep their focus on our season goals even with all the challenges. Overall, it was a successful season, and I was very proud of what they achieved in the post season races.”

 

The Red Raiders have six runners back from their sectional team. Breanna Burak (JR) qualified in both distance events last June. We could see big things from her this fall. Molly Allen (SR) was the team’s top runner in their sectional race and could also be close to the front in races. Brittney Burak will be the team’s third runner and will give this team a strong pack in the front. It could be 25 seconds or fewer that separates that trio. Seniors Genevieve Collatz, Madison Grubbs, and Delaney Cairns will be good group or the next three spots. Brooke Garcia (JR) and Ava Allison (SO) could have an impact on the top seven. The split on the fourth and fifth runners could be close to 60 seconds. That spread should be narrowed by state series. The team needs a top five split under 74 seconds for this team to advance to November.

 

“I was pleased with what our team did over our summer weeks,” said Kaplan. “My focus of this summer was reinforcing positive attitudes. The team is very excited about a return to the season with Saturday invitationals to look forward to. This recent track season allowed the girls a chance to return to basically a normal spring season.  Many of the girls achieved many solid efforts and hit PRs during their track season.  A big positive for this upcoming season is that our girls team returns many of last year's team.

 

25 Arlington Heights (Hersey)

 

Coach: Danielle Freeman | Mid-Suburban League

 

Preview – The Huskies have a good chance to make it to the state meet considering the sectional that they will be placed in. Hersey ran strong down the stretch in 2020 placing third in their league championships, fifth at the Loyola Regional, and seventh at the Hoffman Estates Sectional. Five runners are back for this team.

 

“Summer training has gone well,” said their coach, Danielle Freeman. “We were able to cap off July with a great showing at Detweiller at Dark which the girls really went into as a fun run so getting a trophy was an exciting surprise for us all!  Due to track ending so late, our base building period extended further into the summer than normal but that just allowed us to have more runs as a whole group which has improved team chemistry quite a bit!  We haven't set any concrete season goals at this point.... we will take it one week at a time and see where we are at.”

 

One runner that could have a solid goal is Anna Harden who could become one of the top Hersey female runners of all time. The junior had a good sophomore season that culminated with a 12th place finish at the ShaZam Club Championships. She should be among the top 10 in Class 3A this fall. Mackenzie Grider (JR) continues to improve and should be the team’s second runner. Then comes the pack with Norah Viers (SR), Isabel Frye (SO), and Jenna Sanders (JR). This team is deep. Gabi Makowski (JR) and Renee Skiera had good track seasons and will be ready to take the next step up. Emily Lifka (SO) had a great track season becoming one of the top milers on the team. She could find her way into the top five. Claire Hackmann (JR) is another runner to watch for this team. She was a member of the swim team until last spring. She ran track where she became the second fastest 3200-meter runner on the team. Great things could be in store for her. Hersey is going to sneak up on teams this fall. It will be interesting to see where they are ranked when we get to the state series.

 

26 Naperville (Central)

 

Coach: Matt Blondell | DuPage Valley Conference

 

Preview – The Redhawks will be one of many teams that will be in the hunt for a top seven sectional finish. Naperville Central finished fifth at the Oswego East Regional. They finished ninth at the Whitney Young Sectional the following week. “Last year was quite interesting with triangular and flight meets being the standard,” said their coach, Matt Blondell. “I believe the different format taught everyone how to compete on their own. I am excited to see how we race together now that we are returning to the old format. We have traditionally run well when racing in packs.

 

Naperville Central will need good pack running to advance to state. They will also need a god front runner. Blondell has one with Liv Phillips. The sophomore was the team’s top runner as a freshman last year. She improved during track last spring. It will be exciting to see her take the next step up this fall. Four other runners are back from last year’s team including Katie Tueting (SO), Ava Hendren (SO), Sergi Smith-Pariola (JR), and Addison George (JR). Julia Laird (JR) had a great track season and could be among the top five. Central has a good sophomore class that includes Abby Mogg, Becca Liaw, and Shriya Bandepallee that could be surprises in the top seven. Phillips should be in the 17’s this fall. A key will be keeping that pack within 45 seconds. Work will need to be done on lowering their top five split for a state trip to happen.

 

27 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)

 

Coach: Paul Hass | West Suburban Conference Silver

 

Preview – Perennial power Glenbard West went through a rollercoaster type season like some of teams in the state had. The Hilltoppers finished sixth in their conference, bounced back to place fifth at the proviso West Sectional, and then finished ninth at the Lyons Sectional. Their fortunate should be on an upswing this fall with five runners from their regional / sectional teams.

 

“I am sure that I speak for all coaches and athletes when I say that last season made us truly

 

appreciate what we experience in a “normal” year,” said the Glenbard West coach, Paul Hass. “Nonetheless, because we separated our team into three different pods during COVID, each assistant coach was compelled to assume greater responsibility for their respective groups which was, ultimately, a positive for both athletes and coaches alike, as group leaders emerged organically and forged tighter bonds within these pods. Cross country is such a team sport, and perhaps the biggest thing 2020 taught us is that when our team was divided due to circumstances beyond our control, we could adapt well, but we were also reminded that our team bond was not as strong as it is typically when we are able to remain together as, truly, one team.”

 

Audrey Allman (SR) went through a rocky fall overcoming injuries to end finishing fifth in her sectional race. She rebounded in the spring to earn all-state runners in the 800 Meter Run. Good things should be in store for her this fall. Carlin Hass (JR) has improved immensely over the past year and should challenge Anna Nickoley for the second spot.  Paige King (JR), Hannah Moffatt (JR), and Devyn Carr (JR) should all be fighting for top five spots. Maggie Hibbard (SO) has improved over the past season where she could be a surprise in the top seven. Allman being in front will be a plus. This team needs to stay healthy to make it to Peoria. Their second to fifth split should be close to 60 seconds. Closing that gap on Allman will also help moving this team to middle of the WSC-Silver for starters, and then in the top seven in their sectional race.

 

“We did make a few changes to our summer training but nothing that the late start precipitated. Consequently, many girls will use the early part of the season to improve their conditioning, and the many meets on our schedule will allow these athletes to work their way into race shape,” Hass said. “Where we end up at the end of the season as a team depends upon how hard the girls are willing to work not only at practice, but also in doing the things to maintain their health away from practice. In that respect it is really no different than previous years but stumbling in this discipline may be felt more profoundly this season.”

 

28 Wheaton-Warrenville South

 

Coach: Rob Harvey | DuKane Conference

 

Preview – This might not be your typical Wheaton-Warrenville South team to start the season. It could be by the time we get to the state series. The Tigers had their ups and downs at the end of last season. They first finished fourth in their conference meet and then fourth again at the Proviso West Regional. They would have made it state last year if there was a state meet placing sixth at the Lyons Township Sectional. This is a different year,

 

“It was very refreshing to get back to a more normal training and practice routine,” said their coach, Rob Harvey. "Back to the basics - The Little Things" was our unofficial theme. We spent a lot of time focusing on getting stronger and building our very aerobic strength after a speed focused track season. We will have a long-term season approach using every workout and race to build momentum.”

 

Four runners are back from the regional and sectional teams. Their top three runners have graduated including team leader on and off the course Samantha Poglitsch who is now at the University of Illinois. “We have a large and great senior class,” added Harvey. “Positive leadership should not be an issue for us. They have all stepped up to welcome our underclass athletes into the program.” What could be ignored by some is that there was experience in the front, but the rest of the team was young with no varsity big meet experience. The races of 2020 could speed the process up for this group. Annie Macabobby (SR) had a good track season and good summer of training and should lead tis team at the beginning of the year. Returning runners Allie Facke (SO), Kira Mothershed (JR), Kylie James (SR), Sofia Olivito (SR), Jenna Bachara (SO), and Miya Dueberer (SR) all played a part at some point last season in the top seven giving this team good depth and a good place to start with their packing.

 

What could give this team a boost around their conference meet and the state series is the development of a good freshman class. Ashlyn Adams, Nicole Poglitsch, and Frida Martinez have taken to the early high school training. We will see how that translates to racing in September. Harvey has a history of bringing his young runners along slowly putting them in the varsity line-up at the right time. It is a team that some will dismiss by looking at their stats on paper. This team could look better than they do in print. “We will need every competitive opportunity and workout to reach our full potential,” concluded Harvey.

 

29 Barrington

 

Coach: Debbie Revolta | Mid-Suburban League

 

Preview – The Fillies had a strong finish to a COVID-19 filled season including placing second in their league championships, second at the Loyola Regional, and third at the Hoffman Estates Sectional. It could be a rebuilding year to start with their top two runners having graduated and four other runners from their sectional team back. We have seen this team in a situation like this in prior years.

 

“With last year being so different, we learned that we are resilient and can push through tough times if we stick together,” said their coach, Debbie Revolta. “To not take anything for granted and to appreciate each day we get to be together. Summer training was different this year. There was less time to prepare (especially with freshmen) since the track season ended so late.  Our mileage was not a high as previous years, so I am expecting a slow start to the season.”

 

Maddy Ziebarth (SO) stepped up to be the team’s third runner in the sectional race. Kari Drage (SO) was among their top five last fall and will be asked, along with Ziebarth, to step into the #1 position in races. Allie Edwards (SO) and Gaby Andrews (SR) have that big meet experience and will be counted on for their strength in the top five. Ella Holtermann (SR), Annika Llerma (SR), and Lauren Bergman (JR) could also step into the top five along with freshmen Claire Thorne and Scout Storm. Their pack on the first five made be near 90 seconds to start the season. Watch for it to fall under 60 seconds as the season progresses.

 

“We will be to build throughout the season while getting the freshmen to gel with the returning varsity runners,” said Revolta. This year’s sophomores and incoming freshmen do not have the experience of running in big varsity invites (like First to the Finish in Peoria), so with every meet they run they will hopefully become more confident as we build toward the big meets at the end of the season.  As always, the goal will be to qualify for the State Meet and run our best race of the season at Detweiller in November.” 

 

30 Lake Zurich

 

Coach: Jeremy Kauffman | North Suburban Conference

 

Preview – The one thing that Lake Zurich will need to do (as will other North Suburban Conference schools) is racing against competition from other schools. The conference athletic directors determined last fall that teams would be able to race against each other but could not be on the course at the same time. It did not made sense, but AD’s do know more than the coaches they employ. The Bears are a sneaky good team that will be in the front in races and rankings when the moment is right. They did finish fourth in both their Loyola Regional and Hoffman Estates Sectional. The Bears finished their season placing ninth at the ShaZam Club Championships.

 

“We learned that that this sport is amazing and a community like no other. The running community was never better across our league, area, and State,” said their coach, Jeremy Kaufman. “I was so amazed by the support every program gave each other and how the kids just seemed to be running to CELEBRATE running every day.  There was just magic in the air last year as kids used the sport to get them through the pandemic and what was crazy as I thought the State had one of their BEST years TOO…no coincidence in my mind. Personally, I learned why we as coaches always want to do what’s best for kids, because they simply were brave, humble, and a joy to be around last season and helped ME get through those obstacles as well.”

 

Four runners are back from their sectional team. They have a solid front two that any coach would want to start their foundation with. Brooke Johnston (JR) continues to improve with every race as we saw at the end of last fall and throughout track. Johnston placed ninth in the Shazam race. This junior could be one of the top 3A Girls’ runners in the state. Kristin Loftus enters her senior year on the verge of having a great season. She gives Lake Zurich a solid #2 runner if she can stay healthy. Her time dropped in the mile to 5:11 during track. She did finish sixth in her sectional race. Good things could happen for her including finishing in the top 25 in Peoria. Louisa Hogan (JR) and McKenzie Bergfield (SO) were in the state series top seven and should contribute to this season’s top five. Sarah Richards (SR) was the team’s sixth runner in their conference meet. You could also see her in the first five runners for this team. Sophia Babcock (SR) is out for the team for the first time and could surprise some people. Kayla Krinninger (SR), Nicole Polites (SR), and Lindsey Blitzer (SO) are some of the runners that had good summers according to Kauffman and could be ready to take the next step up. “The split will be huge from Johnston / Loftus to the rest of the pack. Plenty of work will need to be done with that split to get this team to the state meet.

 

“It has been a Summer of slowly and patiently building the mileage correctly,” stated Kauffman. “This is a team that has two outstanding runners leading the way in Brooke Johnston and Kristin Loftus; however, we also have lost our #3-5 runners to Graduation and will be relying on many runners that have never ran on the Varsity level. Having said that this group of Seniors have led the way as they have had one of their best summers overall and that has trickled down to our Juniors and Sophs who could really help this team along the way. They appear to not only be a very close group that just loves to be together, but they also appear to be very excited to see where their 2021 XC journey will take them as well.” 

 

Teams to Watch (In Alphabetical Order)

 

Algonquin (Jacobs)

 

Coach: Kevin Christian | Fox Valley Conference

 

Preview – The Golden Eagles concluded their season last year placing fifth in their conference meet, third at the Guilford Regional, and then 12th at the Lyons Township Sectional. This team should improve on those finishes with five runners from their sectional team all back.

 

“We learned that we have some girls that will fight through anything,” said their coach, Kevin Christian. “When Covid hit in March after they had won the 4x800 at indoor conference, we had a group of girls that refused to stop training.  As the track season kept on getting postponed, they kept training harder and harder, refusing to believe that the season was going to be cancelled.  It made this group want it more during track this season after missing last season, and they understood that you aren't guaranteed anything, leading to them having an even better track season and getting 13th at state in the relay.  They also realized that the senior from the group last year missed this opportunity, and they all made sure to message her how she was part of it.  Our team was split, a good group of girls fought harder through Covid and some just gave up.”

 

Kelly Carpenter (SR) emerged as the top runner for this team last fall. Christian has high hopes for his star runner. “Kelly has vastly improved again this summer, dropping some longer tempo times we have not had in a long time,” he said. “I expect another time drop from her.  She is the most coachable athlete I have ever seen, and it has shown in her improvement year-to-year. The top of the FVC is loaded, but she will mix it up with anyone. Can't wait to see what she does at the local and state level.” Adeline Gorman (JR) and Avery Mason (SO) will be solid in the second and third positions. Elizabeth Kania (SR), Madeline Osmanski (SO), Ella Tamburrino (SR), Alyssa Madera (JR), and Bailey Schwartz (FR) all will give their top five a boost.

 

“Our numbers are down, but the ones who came out put in the work,” Christian said. “We have a group of 4 seniors who really stepped up this summer, and now that the younger group will get a full season they will hopefully follow along.  We took a long break between cross country and track last season, this summer we didn't take a break after track.”

 

Aurora (West Aurora)

 

Coach: Anthony Rizzo | Southwest Prairie Conference

 

Preview – West Aurora could be a surprise first on the conference level and then on the regional and sectional areas. The Blackhawks finished fifth in their conference meet. They missed making it to sectionals finishing seventh at the Oswego East Regional. The top four runners from their regional team are back.

 

“With the track season ending late I think it impacted our summer drastically,” said their coach, Anthony Rizzo. “I'm not saying in a negative way I think in a positive way to where athletes were in better shape coming into the summer months where they have not been before. I think the enthusiasm though is going to wear off sooner rather than later because of having the long season and then transitioning right into cross-country training and our cross-country season. I hope I am wrong, but I don't know at this point it's anybody's guess, and I don't think any coach can predict that everything's going to go hunky-dory when athletes have been running and training for the greater portion of February until now where they've normally had some break time.”

 

Maritza Carlos (SR), Daizy Lustrup (JR), Devon Tomas (SR), and Kendall Byrne (SO) were all within 34 seconds of each other in their regional race which is a good place to start your foundation. Emelin Tellez (SR) could be the fifth runner. They do have a good group of freshmen that could step in.

 

Batavia

 

Coach: Chad Hillman | DuKane Conference

 

Preview – The Bulldogs are a team that we see in the top 10 every year. This year they just missed the first 30 squads. If 2020 is any evidence in what this team can accomplish, Batavia could be among the elite teams in the state by the time we get to the state series. They finished second in both the Proviso West Regional and Lyons Township Sectional before placing fifth at the ShaZam Club Championships. They will miss their second and third runners who have graduated. They do return the rest of their top seven.

 

“TEAM is what we were reminded of last year. We learned about TEAM long ago but were reminded, the hard way, about the value of getting to work together after many months of having to work alone,” said their coach, Chad Hillman. “Throughout the process of spending time training alone some of our girls benefited from not relying on their groups to control the outcome of training. They learned to find their own limits and maximize their abilities.”

 

It all starts with Katrina Schlenker and her final year of high school running. A show of her perseverance is when she did not have a good race in the 800 Meter Run. She came back and earned all-state honors in the 1600 Meter Run. She is sweet on the outside, tough on the inside when the gun goes off. She again will be one of the top runners in the state.

 

Who will step up int the second and third positions will be interesting to watch for with this team. Liliana Bednarek (JR) had a good summer of training and should take that jump up. Brooke Sibernagel (JR), Alexis Wasmund (SR), Ava Thomas (JR), and Olivia Parmalee (JR) all have the talent to be in that group behind Schlenker. Keeping that spit on the group under 62 seconds will be something to look for. Hillman has a good freshman group coming in with Olivia Gebhardt, Madison Wnek, Mary Fornelli, and Sasha Semanision all capable of being in the top seven by state series time.

 

Carpentersville (Dundee-Crown)

 

Coach: Ronald Delamente | Fox Valley Conference

 

Preview – The Chargers are continuing to take the steps up the tough Fox Valley Conference ladder finishing ninth in that meet last year. They followed that by finishing fourth at the Guilford Regional and then 15th at the Lyons Township Sectional.

 

“Because of track season-ending a little later, after a couple weeks off it was an easy transition to get back into running as a whole group,” said their coach, Ronald Delamente. “Our girls had the most consistent summer they've had in the last 3-4 years. With a young group, we're hoping to crack the top half of a very competitive FVC as well as qualify for Sectionals for the 2nd year in a row.”

 

Melina Garcia (JR) and Kaylee Brodie (JR) are interchangeable in the front for this team. Paulina Tinajero (JR), Pundit Tetteh (SR), and Gabriella Myslo (SR) could be expected to jump into their top five.

 

Chicago (Jones College Prep)

 

Coach: Lauren Ayala | Chicago Public League

 

Preview – Lauren Ayala steps in as the new Girls Coach. The Eagles were on the doorstep of winning the city championship finishing third last year and missing the title by five points. It could be different this year with seven runners from their regional and sectional team all coming back. Jones Prep finished third in their regional and 12th in their sectional hosted by Whitney Young. It could be tough to get out of what could be a strong sectional at Hinsdale Central. Jones Prep Boys’ Coach Andrew Adelmann feels that the top runner of this team Evelyn Hett (JR) took a major step up in her training. She did run 110:09 for the 3200 Meter Run last spring. Let’s see how that translates to this fall. Hastings BaCote (JR) and Sophie Kantoff (SO) lead the pack behind Hett. The pack is projected to have a 40 second split from two to five. The gap between the group and Hett needs to close to under 76 seconds.

 

Geneva

 

Coach: Peter Raak | DuKane Conference

 

Preview – The Vikings will look to continue improving on their finishes of sixth in their conference meet, fifth at the Lake Park Regional, and 13th at the Lyons Township Regional from a year ago. This team will be young even though they will have six back from the sectional team. Sarah Hahn was the team’s second runner in their regional and sectional meets. She should step into the #1 position. Lily Ryan (SR) will lead a pack that could include Agnes Bolender (SO) and Kelsey Olsen (SR). “This will be a year of growth for the team, but thankfully we do have some good seniors to lead the way,” said their coach, Peter Raak. “We have a good crop of sophomores that we will need to step up and continue to play a big role on varsity. Also with a small team, we will need to stay consistent and healthy with our training.”

 

Glenview (Glenbrook South)

 

Coach: Meaghan Fastert | Central Suburban League

 

Preview – Glenbrook South will host a regional this year on their home course. They could also challenge to run in the state meet. The Titans finished second last year n the Hoffman Estates Regional and then 11 in the sectional held at the same location. The core of this team is good with six runners back from their sectional team. “I have learned one thing from the pandemic, take everything one day at a time,” said their coach, Meaghan Fastert. “The future is never promised, so how do we live in the moment and enjoy the journey of running no matter where it takes us?  With that being said, I have taken each day and am thankful that we have a practice and that we have a season.  We have been running practices the same way I have done for every season in the past, that is what my girls expect from me and that is exactly what I will do regardless of what the future may bring.”

 

Maggie Jortberg (JR) and Molly Durow (SR) appear to be the front runners for this team. Jackie Millott (SO), Maya Malecki (JR), and Grace Tauber (SO) will be some of the runners challenging for top five spots. 15 seconds could separate Durow and Jortberg. The three to five split could be near the same split time. It is closing a possible 80 second split between the two groups.

 

Gurnee (Warren Township)

 

Coach: Jacob Buddell | North Suburban Conference

 

Preview – It could be a time of rebuilding for the Blue Devils. Warren finished third in the Grant Regional and then ninth at the Hoffman Estates Sectional. They return four runners from their sectional team. “We had 34 girls come out for XC summer camp and each girl was able to improve by the end of camp,” said their coach, Jacob Buddell. “The summer training was more condensed than usual, but overall, the objective was the same as per past summers. The girls got some time to build a base and be ready to handle the training stress of practice and meets on a weekly basis coming up.”

 

Mia Pasha (JR) continues to improve and will be the top runner on this squad. Pasha is coming off a track season where she qualified for state in the 3200 Meter Run. She could be among the top 30 3A Girls’ runners this fall. Emma Leung (SO) looks to rebound after injuries slowed her down in her freshman season. Justyce Sieber (FR) is new to the program. Don’t be surprised if she ends up in her team’s top five. Juniors Caralyn Whalen and Athena McGinn are some of the runners to watch in challenging for positions in their starting lineup.

 

Libertyville

 

Coach: Megan Sharp | North Suburban Conference

 

Preview – A team that could surprise some this fall. The Tigers finished fourth in the Grant Regional and then followed that by placing 10th at the Hoffman Estates Sectional. Six runners that had regional or sectional experience last season are back. Bree Ponchak (SR) dropped her personal best in the 1600 Meter Run down to 5:16 and was the #1 runner for team in last fall’s conference meet. Sheila Tucker (JR) qualified for state in the 800 Meter Run and should be leading with Ponchak. Ava Torres (SO), Katharine Meyer (SR), and Margaret McGormley (SO) should be some of the runners to watch in that pack.

 

Naperville (Neuqua Valley)

 

Coach: Bruyn Yunk | DuPage Valley Conference

 

Preview – The Wildcats would have made it to state last year in we had a state meet. Neuqua Valley finished fourth at the Oswego East Regional and sixth at the Whitney Young Sectional. They finished the season by placing 14th at the ShaZam Club Championships. Four runners are back from their sectional starting lineup. “I was worried about potential injuries if we brought in any workouts too soon,” Coach Bruyn Yunk said. “Our training became focused on base runs at a faster pace than we traditionally have run, and a lifting program. By building strength all summer, I feel confident that when we start workouts in August, we will have such a good base we won't face as many injury issues. We returned 4 of our top 7 from last year and we have our eyes set on being State Qualifiers for the second year in a row. We will need multiple runners to step up to get there, but the parts are there.”

 

Carissa Hamilton (JR) came on strong as the team’s top runner in regionals and the ShaZam Meet. She should lead the team again. Ashley Robinson (SR) was the fourth runner at sectionals. She is a good runner to lead their pack with. Alyssa Mead (SR), Gretchen Leland (JR), Abby Apeland (JR) along with freshmen Sienna McEneaney, Maggie Kalish, and Grace O’Malley are some of the runners that you could see in their top seven.

 

New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)

 

Coach: Ryan Stapinski | Southwest Suburban Conference

 

Preview – t could be a rebuilding year for the Knights after finishing second in the Andrew Regional and eighth at the Normal Sectional. Three runners that competed in the sectional race are back for Lincoln-Way Central. This team is young with predominantly juniors and sophomores among their top runners. Claire Carter (SO) is their only runner back from last year’s top five. Nancy Flais (SO) and Ella Maldoraddo (JR) will lead the pack followed by Nadia Bowden (SO).

 

New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West)

 

Coach: Matt Bowden | Southwest Suburban Conference

 

Preview – West could start with a 93 second top five split when this season starts. It should go lower especially with six runners back from the sectional team that finished tenth at the Normal Sectional. “Some of the girls' track lingering aches and pains affected their ability to run as many miles as possible this summer,” said their coach, Matt Bowden. “As a result, kids trained hard, but we didn't emphasize high mileage weeks.  The focus was getting the work in, but it may take the team awhile to get rolling as the invitational season starts.  By October, we hope to challenge for the SWSC Red title and be in the mix at sectionals.”

 

Gianni Arizzi (JR) leads the pack followed by Vanessa Evans (SR) and Hailey Novak (SR). Sophomores Annie Pinciak and Morgan Sallese should strengthen their scorers in the top five.

 

Orland Park (Sandburg)

 

Coach: Tony Pena | Southwest Suburban Conference

 

Preview – It will be interesting to see how the Eagles progress as the season goes on this fall. Sandburg finished fourth in the Marist Regional and then 10th at the Whitney Young Sectional. They concluded their season by placing 16 at the ShaZam Club Championships. Five runners are back from that ShaZam race. “With the track season going into June and our desire to give our girls a few weeks off from running between seasons, it meant a good portion of June was spent as a rest period instead of a build period,” said their coach, Tony Pena. “So, the girls have been great and have done exactly as we have asked them but compared to previous years, we are behind in what we typically do from a macro perspective.”

 

Ava Giblin (SO) missed regionals and sectionals but ended up as the  team’s top runner at ShaZam. Katie Roche (SO) was the team’s top sectional runner and combines a good pack up front with Giblin. Another sophomore, Lily Malloy, should lead the pack behind Giblin and Roche. Faith Murphy (SR) again should solidify the teams top seven. Freshmen Gabby Dittmer, Kayla Siefert, and Julia Bieszke-Parzuch could also step up into those spots. “We graduated a great senior class that helped to build an upward trend in the culture and competitiveness in our program over the past 3-4 years. We look to continue that trend this year,” said Pena. “The question for us is who will step into the #s 5-7 spots, who will give us a high-quality 5th scorer. We have numerous returners that we hope can fill that role as well as a few talented freshmen that can be best described as wildcards.”

 

Park Ridge (Maine South)

 

Coach: Jeff Downing | Central Suburban League

 

Preview – A team that we could see n the top 30 sooner than later. The Hawks are a team that could also be state meet qualifiers. Maine South returns five runners from the state series teams that finished fourth at the Lake Park Regional and tenth at the Lyons Township Sectional. It is the runners that were not on the roster last year we will start with. Sofia and Luisa Arcuri were successful and in club running and in middle school. They could be among the top runners for this team. “We always count on a few freshmen to help us in our top 14, and we know that we have 2 girls that should make an impact this season,” said their coach, Pete Dowling. “We have a set of twin sisters who have competed very well in the IESA cross-country as well as indoor track.  The Arcuri sisters (Sofia & Luisa) also recently competed in the USATF junior nationals with Sofia winning the 3000 m in 10:33.  Both competed in the 800, 1500, and 3000 and should be very successful high school runners for Maine South.”

 

If it is not for the Acuri sisters, then last year’s top runners Olivia DeLuca (SO) and Maria Marcucci (SR) leading the way. Rachel Smith (SR), Mary Claire Koch (JR), and Ryan Mullorkey (SO) are some of the runners that could be in their top five. “It was a really nice summer of training, and we hope that the motivation that these have constantly displayed will translate into great results this season,” Dowling said.

 

Pekin

 

Coach: Cole Stoner | Mid Illini Conference

 

Preview – The Dragons return six runners from the state series teams that finished fifth at the Granite City Regional and 11 at the Normal Sectional. Lauren Filarski (JR) and Olivia Wolff (SR) should again be the top runners for Pekin. Jay Lynn Riley (JR), Emma Cox (SR), Elizabeth Deverman (SR) appears to be runners that will be in the top five looking to improve on last season’s state series finishes.

 

Plainfield (North)

 

Coach: Tammy Gummerson | Southwest Prairie Conference

 

Preview – Plainfield North will look to better their 2020 finishes of fourth at the Minooka Regional and 13th at the Normal Sectional. Six runners are back from the sectional squad that could succeed on that objective. Claire Wilson (SO) was the team’s top runner in the sectional race. Kaitlyn Ward (SO) was the #1 runner in their regional. They were the top two runners on the Frosh/Soph team last fall. They will be the runners to watch in 2021. Aminah Hussain (SR) provides senior leadership in their top five and will lead the pack that could be near 15 seconds on that front pack. Morgan Raclawski (SR) and Michelle Masis (SR) should also be a part of their top five. “We did start up just a bit later than usual to give the athletes a break,” their coach Tammy Gummerson said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what this group can do.”

 

Riverside-Brookfield

 

Coach: Blair Jensen | Metro Suburban Conference Blue

 

Preview – The Bulldogs move from 2A to 3A for the next two seasons. A team that could have trouble making it out of their sectional, but a team that I would not count out. Riverside-Brookfield did not make it out of their regional placing eighth at a tough 2A St. Francis Regional. Their top four runners are all back from that regional race. Bryce Pacourek (JR) did make it to sectionals individually finishing 15th at the Latin Sectional. She again should be the team’s top runner.  Carmin Guerrero (SR) was the team’s second runner from regionals and could be among their top five runners. Lily Kocourek (SO) did not run cross-country last fall but did have a god track season. She should contribute in their top five. Freshmen Gianna Gelb and Samira Giron are runners that you can see in the top five.

 

Rockton (Hononegah)

 

Coach: Hannah Rehfeldt | NIC-10 Conference

 

Preview – Darryl Rohrer retired as coach of the Girls team. Hannah Rehfeldt steps in as the new coach. She does have five of their top seven runners from last year to work with. Hononegah finished second in the Guilford Regional and then 11th at the Lyons Township Sectional. Hailey Henry (SR) was the team’s top runner in the conference meet and third runner at regionals. She did not run sectionals. Henry should be the top runner on this team along with Indigo Sterud (JR). Seniors Erin Collins, Ryanne Branniman, Melina Touvannes, and Amelia Pickard give this team senior experience in the top seven.

 

St. Charles (North)

 

Coach: Shari Hayes | DuKane Conference

 

Preview – The North Stars finished last season finishing second in the Lake Park Regional and fifth at the Lyons Township Sectional. They have a solid 1-2 presence in the front with four overall runners from that sectional team returning. Rachel Price will be among the all-state runners in Class 3A and again will lead this team. Bella DiCrosta (SR) improved as the season progressed last fall and should be the #2 runner on this squad. Katherine Erickson (SO) and Audrey Sheedy (SR) are also back from the top seven and jump into the top five positions. Megan Strang (JR) could be among the runners in the top five.

 

Wheaton (North)

 

Coach: Peter Anderson | DuKane Conference

 

Preview – The Falcons just missed making it to the sectionals last year finishing sixth at the Proviso West Regional. Five runners are back from that regional team. Jocelyn Johnson (SR) advanced to the sectionals individually in 2020. She will be the top runner for Wheaton North to start the season. Monica Kading (SO), Angelina Grimm (JR), and Sophia Spencer (SR) will be some of the runners you could see in the top seven. Freshmen Mackenzie Skidmore and Maddie Romaine could be in that top seven by the time they get to the state series.