Illinois HS XC Roadmap to the Weekend – September 8, 2023

 

By Michael Newman

 

Most of the focus this weekend will be at Detweiller Park for the 202 team First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday morning. The Harvey Braus Invitational at Lake Park’s East Campus course will put up some fast times especially in the Girls race that features three of the top four Class 3A teams in the state.

 

You can travel just a tad west of the Mississippi River to downtown St. Louis in Forest Park where Dylon Nalley and Gavin Genisio could put up some fast times on that course.

 

Here is a look of where your favorite Illinois High School XC teams are headed to throughout this state. You can read about the First to the Finish Invitational by clicking on this link.

 

Lake Park Harvey Braus Invitational

Girls Teams - #1 Prospect, #2 York, #4 Downers Grove North, #8 Maine South, #22 Huntley, #23 St. Charles North, 2A #8, St. Ignatius College Prep; Bartlett, Conant, Elgin, Elk Grove, Glenbard North, Glenbard West, Glenbrook North, Lake Park, Lincoln Park, Machesney Park Harlem, Maine West, New Trier JV, Niles North, Plainfield East, St. Charles East, , Schaumburg, South Elgin, Streamwood

 

Boys Teams – #10 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #11 St. Charles East, #17 Wheaton North; Bartlett, Deerfield JV, Elgin, Elk Grove, Glenbard North, Glenbrook North, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Lake Park, Lane Tech, Lincoln Park, Machesney Park Harlem, Maine West, New Trier JV, Plainfield East, St. Charles North, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Wheeling

 

Notes – This is the first of a three week run between top 3A teams of Prospect, York, and Downers Grove North. The teams will also face each other next week at the Richard Spring Invitational and the following week at the Palatine Meet of Champions. Prospect ran away with the win over a good field last week at Hinsdale Central without one of their top runners, Lily Ginsberg. The senior is expected to race on Saturday and be close to their top runners Veronica Znajda and Meg Peterson. York more than doubled the score on a good Barrington team last week at St. Charles East. Katherine Klimek led the team last week with Maggie Owens just under 18-minutes. Michaela Quinn did not have her best race last week but should be closer to Klimek in this race. Two big things to watch is how Prospect’s and York’s 4-7 pack compare to each other. York had a 17 second split on their 4-7 last week and being 27 seconds behind Owens. The split from last week’s third runner Ireland Wildhart and their fourth and fifth runners was 50 seconds. Ireland was 43 seconds behind Znajda and Peterson. York may have the edge this week. The second question is how Downers Grove North compares to the two above mentioned teams? Lily Eddington will be one of the individual favorites in this race. She was 23 seconds ahead of McKenzie Willard last week at Lyons Township. The split on their second through five pack last week was 55 seconds. Sofia Arcuri of Maine South could be up front in her opening race of the season. Haley Rahman of Huntley is making some noise in her freshman season and should be in the mix for a front spot position.

 

Wheaton-Warrenville South ran well last week at Hinsdale Central led by top 10 finishes from Josiah Narayanan and Aidan Noel and will be one of the team favorites along with ranked Wheaton North and St. Charles East. Lane Tech will be running in their opening invitational and could have a factor in this meet. Aidan Murphy of Wheaton North won last week at Pleasant Valley IA and will be in the discussion on who wins this Boys race. Tommy Nitz of Huntley ran a good race in finishing second last week at St. Charles East and will challenge Narayanan, Murphy, and Noel in the front. St. Charles East had a nice pack last week with Oscar Frontjes, Greyson Ellensohn, and Jedidiah Wilson within eight seconds of each other and within 10 seconds of Nitz. Will Kozlowski of Lane Tech is another runner that we can see in the front in this race.

 

Joliet Central Steelmen Invitational @ Channahon Park

Girls Teams – #19 Lincoln-Way Central, #25 Lincoln-Way East, 2A #12 Benet Academy: Andrew, Chicago (Noble/Butler), Fenwick, Joliet Central, Joliet West, Lincoln-Way West, Lisle, Neuqua Valley, Oak Lawn, Oswego, Plainfield Central, Plainfield South, Providence Catholic, Reavis, Romeoville, Waubonsie Valley

 

Boys Teams – #19 York, 2A #2 Benet Academy; Andrew, Bloom Township, Fenwick, Joliet Central, Joliet West, Lisle, Lincoln-Way West, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Oswego, Plainfield Central, Providence Catholic, Reavis, Romeoville, Thornwood

 

Notes – Defending individual champion in this meet Marcellus Mines of Joliet West will not race again this week. The door opens up where Finn Richards of Benet Academy. Tyler Schick of Plainfield Central, and Nathaniel McKillop of Fenwick being able to take home the win. Benet Academy is one of the top Class 2A teams. The Redhawks finished ninth at Hinsdale Central in a 3A majority team meet without one of their top seven runners. They should be the Boys team favorite. York lost the core of their senior squad from last year’s team. This is their first invitational of the season where their lineup with be dominated by a good junior group. The Dukes should challenge Plainfield Central for the second spot. Lincoln-Way Central ran well last week at Verona WI and should be the team favorite challenged by district rival Lincoln-Way East. Benet Academy, Neuqua Valley, and Waubonsie Valley could challenge for the third spot.

 

Forest Park XC Festival @ Forest Park, St Louis MO

Illinois Schools – 1A #28 Belleville Althoff Catholic, Benton (B-1A #1) , Marion (B-2A #8), O’Fallon (B-#4, G-#28), O’Fallon First Baptist Academy

 

Notes – The Boys Green Division Individual race is in the spotlight in this meet. Dylon Nalley of Marion ran 14:08 to win last week at Granite City. Dylan Ybarra of O’Fallon was 25 seconds behind last week. He could be closer on Saturday. Gavin Genisio of Benton easily won his opening race a week ago at Murphysboro and will push Nalley in this race. Conditions will be good for this race where we could see Nalley under 15-minutes on this 5k course. We could see some extraordinary times in that race. O’Fallon edged St. Louis University by two points last week. We could have another close race between those two teams on this Forest Park course. Keep an eye on both Benton and Marion. Benton could have 3 runners in the top 15 with Genisio, Gabe McLain, and Cole Buchanan. Marion has reloaded with Cade Parks transferring back to Marion from Oklahoma and freshman twins Raphael and Gabriel Greer giving this team a boost.

 

Shelbyville Trail Invitational @ Dacey Trail-Forest Park

Girls Teams – 1A #3 Shelbyville, 1A #20 Effingham St. Anthony; Altamont, Dieterich, Litchfield, Louisville North Clay, Marshall, Mattoon, Moweaqua Central A&M, Mt. Zion JV, Neoga, Newton, Pana, Piasa Southwestern, Sullivan, Toledo Cumberland, Villa Grove.

 

Boys Teams – Altamont, Cowden-Herrick, Dieterich, Effingham St. Anthony, Litchfield, Louisville (North Clay), Marshall, Mattoon, Moweaqua Central A&M, Mt. Zion JV, Newton, Oakland, Shelbyville, Sullivan, Toledo Cumberland, Villa Grove

 

Notes – Shelbyville should roll to the Girls team title on their home course after a great race last week at Charleston. The individual race should be dynamite with Isabella Keller of Effingham St. Anthony being challenged by Shelbyville’s Tessa Bowers for the individual race title.

 

Other Illinois Meets

 

DePaul Ram Invitational @ Horner Park, Chicago

Girls Teams – #14 Loyola Academy, 2A #9 DePaul College Prep; Amundsen, Chicago Academy, Chicago Washington, Cristo Rey Jesuit, Fenton, FW Parker, Harvest Christian Academy, Hancock, Hope Academy, Jones Prep, Kennedy, Kenwood, Lake View, Leyden, Lindblom Academy, Noble/ITW Speer, Noble/Muchin, Noble/Pritzker, North Shore Country Day, Northside College Prep, Payton Prep, Proviso East, Regina Dominican, Rickover Naval Academy, St. Laurence, Senn, Solorio Academy, Taft, Von Steuben, Wheeling, Whitney Young

 

Boys Teams – #23 Whitney Young, 2A #11 Payton Prep, 1A #9 Northridge Prep, 1A #25 Harvest Christian Academy;  DePaul College Prep, Amundsen, Chicago Academy, Chicago (Mt Carmel), Chicago Washington, Cristo Rey Jesuit, Elgin Academy, Fenton, FW Parker, Hancock, Hope Academy, Jones Prep, Kennedy, Kenwood, Lake View, Leo Catholic, Leyden, Lindblom Academy, Loyola Academy, Marist, Niles Notre Dame, Niles West, Noble/ ITW Speer, Noble/Muchin, Noble/Pritzker, North Shore Country Day, Northside College Prep, Proviso East, Rickover Naval Academy, St. Laurence, St. Patrick, Senn, Solorio Academy, Taft, Von Steuben

 

Wauconda Al Wilhoit Invitational @ Matthews Middle School

Girls Teams – 2A #30 Crystal Lake Central; Chicago Noble/Butler, Glenbrook South, Grayslake North, Kaneland, Lane Tech, Maine East, Mundelein, Richmond-Burton, Stevenson, Warren Township, Wauconda, West Chicago

 

Boys Teams – 2A #24 Crystal Lake Central; Elgin Larkin, Glenbrook South, Grayslake North, Harvard, Lake Forest, Lane Tech JV, Libertyville, Maine East, Richmond-Burton, Round Lake, Stevenson, Vernon Hills JV, Warren Township, Wauconda, Westlake Christian Academy

 

Lee Halberg Invitational @ Lincoln Park, Springfield

Girls Teams – 2A #14 Rochester; Bloomington, Decatur (COOP), East St. Louis-Senior, Franklin, Monticello, Normal Community, Quincy, Springfield, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Southeast, Taylorville

 

Boys Teams – 2A #14 Taylorville; Bloomington, Decatur (COOP), East St. Louis-Senior, Franklin, Mahomet-Seymour, Monticello, Mundelein, Normal Community, Quincy, Rochester, Springfield, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Southeast

 

Royal Cadet Invitational @ Marmion Academy, Aurora

Girls Teams – 2A #18 Rosary; Aurora East, Aurora West, CH Marian Catholic, Geneva, Glenbard East, Hoffman Estates, Illinois Math & Science Academy, Oak Park-River Forest

 

Boys Teams – #27 Lincoln-Way East; 2A #7 Marmion Academy; Aurora East, Aurora West JV, CH Marian Catholic, Geneva, Glenbard East, Illinois Math & Science Academy, Oak Park-River Forest JV

 

Belleville West XC Invitational

Girls Teams – 2A #5 Waterloo,  1A #30 Breese Mater Dei; Alton, Belleville East, Belleville West, Cahokia, Collinsville, Columbia, Granite City, Highland, Mascoutah, Roxana, Valmeyer

 

Boys Teams –2A #21 Mascoutah,  2A #25 Waterloo, 2A #26 Highland, 1A #29 Roxana; Alton, Belleville East, Belleville West, Breese Mater Dei, Cahokia, Collinsville, Columbia, Granite City, Valmeyer,

 

Carbondale Invitational @ SIU-Carbondale XC Course

Girls Teams – 2A #24 Carterville; Carbondale, Centralia, Cobden, Harrisburg, Herrin, Marion, Metropolis (Massac County), Mt. Vernon, Salem, Trenton-Wesclin

 

Boys Teams – 2A #22 Mt. Vernon; Carbondale, Carterville, Centralia, Cobden, Harrisburg, Herrin, Metropolis (Massac County), Salem, Trenton-Wesclin.

 

Gary Coates Invitational @ Zearing Park, Princeton

Girls Teams – 1A #23 Sherrard; Amboy, Bureau Valley, Kewanee, LaSalle-Peru, Lowpoint-Washburn, Mendota, Minonk Fieldcrest, Morrison, Spring Valley Hall, Sterling Newman

 

Boys Teams – Amboy, Bureau Valley, Kewanee, LaSalle-Peru, Lowpoint-Washburn, Mendota, Minonk Fieldcrest, Morris, Morrison, Spring Valley Hall, Sterling Newman

 

Paxton-Buckley-Loda Invitational @ Paxton HS

Girls Teams – Armstrong, Arthur-Lovington, Bismarck-Henning, Broadlands-Heritage, Downs Tri Valley, Fithian Oakwood, Herscher, Hoopeston Area, Kankakee McNamara, Manteno, Paxton-Bukley-Loda, Peotone, Rantoul, St. Thomas More, Westville, Wilmington

 

Boys Teams – 1A #21 Herscher, 1A #23 Tolono Unity; Armstrong, Arthur-Lovington, Bismarck-Henning, Broadlands Heritage, Clifton Central, Downs Tri-Valley, Dwight, Fithian Oakwood, Gilman Iroquois West, Hoopeston Area, Kankakee McNamara, Manteno, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Peotone, Rantoul, St. Thomas More, Watseka, Wilmington

 

Petersburg PORTA Invitational @ PORTA HS

Girls Teams – 1A #8 Delavan, 1A #10 Knoxville; Athens, Beardstown, Bushnell Prairie City, Greenview, Manito Midwest Central, Petersburg PORTA, Quincy Notre Dame, Rushville-Industry, Tremont, Virden North Mac.

 

Boys Teams – 1A #20 Petersburg PORTA, 1A #24 Delavan; Athens, Beardstown, Bushnell Prairie City, Camp Point Central, Carthage Illini West, Greenview, Knoxville, Manito Midwest Central, Quincy Notre Dame, Rushville-Industry, Tremont