Illinois HS XC Roadmap to the Weekend - September 29, 2023

By Michael Newman

Here is a look at where some of your favorite teams will be heading on Saturday. You can also read previews of the Peoria Central Invitational and the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational.

St. Charles North Invitational @ Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve

Girls Teams – #12 Sandburg, #13 Lyons Township, #22 Lincoln-Way Central, #27 St. Charles North, #28 Metea Valley; Addison Trail, Aurora Christian, Aurora West JV, Bartlett, Bolingbrook, Cary Grove, Elgin, Glenbard North, Grant Community, Highland Park, Huntley JV, Jacobs JV, Lyons Township, Rockford Auburn, South Elgin, Streamwood, Waubonsie Valley

Boys Teams – #10 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #13 Naperville Central, 2A #12, Marmion Academy, 2A #15 Prairie Ridge, Addison Trail, Aurora West JV, Bartlett, Batavia, Belvidere North, Cary-Grove, Elgin, Geneva, Glenbard North, Grant Community, Huntley JV, Jacobs JV, Lyons Township JV, Metea Valley, Rockford Auburn, Sandburg JV, St. Charles East JV, St. Charles North, South Elgin, Streamwood, Waubonsie Valley

Notes - It looks like Lyons Township will not run their complete Varsity Girls team in this race focusing on Naperville next Wednesday. Sandburg and Lincoln-Way Central should challenge for the Girls team win. Lindsey Gerhardstein of Sandburg and Brea Counihan of Lincoln-Way Central are the runners in the front in the Girls race. It could be a sweep in the Boys race with Josiah Narayanan the individual favorite and Wheaton-Warrenville South challenging Naperville Central for the team title.

Wheaton North Flight Classic @ St James Farm, Wheaton

Girls Teams - #1 York, #6 Hersey, #8 Wheaton North, #14 Glenbard West, #16 Oswego East, #18 Lincoln-Way East, #19 New Trier, 2A #23 Rosary; Loyola Academy, Geneva, Lockport, Neenah WI, St. Charles East

Notes – Top ranked York won six of the top seven flight meets in winning last year’s meet. Eight of the 14 teams in this meet are ranked. The championship race should feature Katherine Klimek of York, Sofia Borter of Geneva, Margaretha Grabske of Hersey, Morgan Dick of Oswego East, and Maura Hanrahan of Lincoln-Way East. Flight 2 should also be a great race with York’s Maggie Owens, Jane Lynch of Loyola Academy, Emily Offutt of Wheaton North, and Hannah Falk of New Trier all near the front.

Elmwood Invitational @ Maple Lane Country Club

Girls Teams – 1A #4 Eureka, 1A #6 Delavan, 1A #8 El Paso-Gridley, 1A #9 Pleasant Plains, 1A #10 Knoxville, 1A #14 Elmwood, 1A #18 Sherrard, #22 Lowpoint-Washburn, Abingdon-Avon, Astoria, Bushnell Prairie City, Canton, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Downs Tri-Valley, Farmington, Franklin, Havana, Illini Bluffs, Illinois Valley Central, Kewanee, Lewistown, Manito Midwest Central, Mercer County, Minonk Fieldcrest, Monmouth United, Peoria Christian, Peoria Heights, Petersburg PORTA, Princeville, Rock Island Alleman, Toulon Stark County, Tremont

Boys Teams – 1A #4 Eureka, 1A #7 Elmwood, 1A #14 Pleasant Plains, 1A #17 Petersburg PORTA, 1A #18 El Paso-Gridley, 1A #21 Delavan; Abingdon-Avon, Astoria, Bureau Valley, Bushnell Prairie City, Canton, Deer Creek Mackinaw, Downs Tri-Valley, Farmington, Franklin, Havana, Illini Bluffs, Illinois Valley Central, Kewanee, Lewistown, Lowpoint-Washburn, Manito Midwest Central, Mercer County, Minonk Fieldcrest, Peoria Christian, Princeville, Rock Island Alleman, Sherrard, Toulon Stark County, Tremont

Notes – Girls race in this meet is loaded with eight Class 1A ranked teams leading this meet. Eureka packed it up last week at East Peoria and will be one of the team favorites with 1A #6 Delavan, El Paso-Gridley, Pleasant Plains, and Knoxville all capable of winning the team title. Eureka and Elmwood are the top teams in the boys race. Isaiah Hill will be the favorite on his home course.

Other Meets on Saturday in Illinois

Locktoberfest Invitational @ Dellwood Park

Boys Teams – #15 Lincoln-Way Central, #21 Riverside-Brookfield, #23 Lincoln-Way East, #25 Glenbard West, #26 Naperville North, #30 Wheaton North; Berwyn-Cicero Morton, Bolingbrook JV, Bloom Township, Crete-Monee, Downers Grove South JV, Joliet Central, Lemont, Lincoln-Way West, Lockport Township, Neuqua Valley JV, Oak Lawn, Plainfield North JV, Plainfield South JV, Shepard, Stevenson, Thornridge, Waukegan, Whitney Young

Pat Savage Invitational @ Niles West HS Campus Course

Girls Teams – 2A #11 Lake Forest; 2A #18 DePaul College Prep, 1A #25 Montini Catholic; AA Stagg, Argo, Berwyn-Cicero Morton, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Chicago University, Cristo Rey Jesuit, Deerfield, De La Salle, Downers Grove South JV, Elk Grove, Elmwood Park, Fenton, Fenwick JV, Glenbard East, Glenbrook North JV, Glenbrook South JV, Hinsdale South, Jones College Prep, Lake Park, Lake View, Leyden, Libertyville, Lincoln Park, Loyola Academy, Machesney Park Harlem, Marian Catholic, Mother McAuley, New Trier JV, Niles North, Niles West, Oswego, Prospect JV, Proviso East, Proviso West, Regina Dominican, Resurrection, Rich Township, Ridgewood, Rockton Hononegah, Round Lake, Saint Viator, Southland College Prep, Taft, Trinity, Vernon Hills, Von Steuben, Wauconda, Whitney Young, Willowbrook, Willows Academy, Wolcott, Woodstock North

Boys Teams – 2A #5 St. Ignatius College Prep, 1A #8 Niles Northridge Prep, 1A #13 Montini Catholic;  Argo, Blue Island Eisenhower, Bradley Bourbonnais, Buffalo Grove, Chicago University, Cristo Rey Jesuit, Deerfield, De La Salle, DePaul College Prep, Elmwood Park, Evanston Township JV, Fenwick JV, Glenbard East, Glenbrook North JV, Glenbrook South JV, Jones College Prep, Lake Park, Lake View, Leyden, Lincoln Park, Loyola Academy, Maine South JV, Marian Catholic, Marist, New Trier JV, Niles Notre Dame, Niles North, Niles West, Oswego, Oswego East, Proviso East, Rich Township, Ridgewood, Round Lake, Saint Viator, St. Laurence, St. Patrick, Southland College Prep, Taft, Vernon Hills, Von Steuben, Wauconda, Wheeling, Wolcott, Woodstock North,

Lisle Mane Event @ Lisle Community Park

Girls Teams – #20 Hampshire, 2A #10 Wheaton St. Francis; 1A #7 Chicago Christian;   1A #30 IC Catholic Prep; Aurora Central Catholic, Aurora East JV, Aurora IMSA, Burlington Central, Chesterton Academy, Dundee-Crown, Elgin Larkin, Elgin St. Edward, Evergreen Park, Glenbard South, Herscher, HL Richards, Joliet Catholic, Joliet West, Kankakee, Kankakee McNamara, Lisle, Neuqua Valley, Peotone, Plainfield East, Plano, Reavis, Riverside-Brookfield, Timothy Christian, West Chicago, Westmont, Wheaton Academy, Wilmington

Boys Teams – 2A #1 Glenbard South, 2A #24 Wheaton St. Francis, 2A #27 Burlington Central, 1A #5 Aurora Central Catholic, 1A #16 Herscher;  Aurora East JV, Aurora IMSA, Benet Academy JV, Chesterton Academy, Chicago Christian, Dundee-Crown, Elgin Academy, Elgin St. Edward, Evergreen Park, Hampshire, HL Richards, IC Catholic Prep, Joliet Catholic, Kankakee, Kankakee McNamara, Leo Catholic, Lisle, North Schore Country Day, Peotone, Plano, Reavis, Rockton Hononegah, Romeoville, Schaumburg Christian, Timothy Christian, Walther Lutheran, West Chicago, Westmont, Wheaton Academy, Wilmington.

Dan Moy Jacksonville Invitational @ Community Park (Flight Meet)

Girls Teams – 1A #17 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Chatham Glenwood JV, East St. Louis-Senior, Greenview, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Macomb, Mt. Sterling Brown County, Rochester, Springfield JV, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Springfield Southeast, Taylorville Troy Triad, Williamsville

Boys Teams – 2A #10 Taylorville, 2A #18 Troy Triad, Chatham Glenwood JV, East Alton-Wood River, East St. Louis-Senior, Greenview, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Macomb, Mt. Sterling Brown County, Rochester, Springfield JV, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Springfield Southeast, Troy Triad, Williamsville

Freeport HS Invitational @ Highland Community College

Girls Teams – 2A #15 Rockford Boylan, 1A #21 Winnebago; Dakota, Durand, East Dubuque, Forreston, Freeport, Fulton Unity Christian, Geneseo, Lanark Eastland, Oregon, Rochelle, Rock Falls, Rockford East, Rockford Jefferson, Rockford Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Savanna West Carroll, Sterling JV, Stockton, Sycamore.

Boys Teams – 2A #17 Geneseo, 1A #11 Winnebago; Dakota, Durand, East Dubuque, Forreston, Freeport, Fulton Unity Christian, Lanark Eastland, Machesney Park Harlem, Oregon, Rochelle, Rock Falls, Rockford Boylan, Rockford East, Rockford Jefferson, Rockford Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Savanna West Carroll, Sterling JV, Stockton

Lincoln Prairie Conference Meet @ Lake Land College

Girls Teams – Argenta-Oreana, Arthur-Lovington, Broadlands Heritage, Cerro Gordo-Bement, Neoga, Sullivan, Villa Grove

Boys Teams – 1A #25 Toledo Cumberland, 1A #26 Cerro Gordo-Bement; Argenta-Oreana, Arthur-Lovington, Broadlands Heritage, Oakland, Sullivan, Villa Grove

Solorio Sun Warrior Invitational @ Marquette Park, Chicago

Girls Teams – #3 Downers Grove North, #23 Wheaton-Warrenville South; 2A #5 St. Ignatius College Prep, 2A #22 Nazareth Academy; Acero Garcia, Acero Soto, Agricultural Science, Amundsen, Back of the Yards, Blue Island Eisenhower, Curie, Hancock, Hubbard, Kaneland, Kennedy, Kelly, Kenwood, Lindblom, Little Village, Marist, Northside College Prep; Oak Lawn, Prosser, Rickover Naval Academy, Rolling Meadows, Senn, Shepard, Solorio Academy, Steinmetz, Thornton, Washington (Chicago)

Boys Teams – Acero/Garcia, Acero/Soto, Agricultural Science, Amundsen, Andrew, Back of the Yards, Brother Rice, Hancock, Hubbard, Kennedy, Kelly, Kenwood, Little Village, Lindblom, Mather JV, Mt. Carmel (Chicago), Nazareth Academy, Northside Prep, Prosser, Rickover Naval Academy, Senn, Solorio Academy, Steinmetz, Thornton, Washington (Chicago), Willowbrook

Tom Oakley Invitational @ Bob Mays Park, Quincy

Girls Teams – Burlington IA, Carthage Illini West, Clark County MO, Hamilton-West Hancock, Hannibal Area Home School MO, Liberty, Palmyra MO, Pittsfield, Pleasant Hill IL, Quincy, Quincy Notre Dame, Rushville-Industry

Boys Teams – Burlington IA, Camp Point Central, Carthage Illini West, Clark County MO, Hamilton-West Hancock, Liberty, Marion County MO, Palmyra MO, Pittsfield, Pleasant Hill, Quincy, Quincy Notre Dame, Rushville-Industry