Illinois HS XC Notebook - Weekday Meet Highlights - September 11, 2020

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

The normal in previous seasons was to concentrate on the meets that took place on Saturdays during the fall. Social distancing guidelines have pushed meets all over the calendar.

Rain pushed meets from Tuesday to Thursday in some cases this week only to encounter more rain Thursday afternoon. There were some great efforts over the past three days including a nation leading time Thursday by Grant Community’s Aly Negovetich.

Before we head to a busy weekend of cross country meets, let us look back at some of the highlights from the past three days.

(File photo from 2019 - Mike Newman Photo)

Grant / Grayslake Central Dual Meet @ Bulldog Athletic Complex

Aly Negovetich of Grant continues to run faster with every race. Her latest effort of 17:18 in less than ideal conditions on her home course Thursday afternoon is the fastest three-mile time in the United States this season.

It was Grayslake Central that had the final say in the Girls team race. The Rams took the next 10 places behind Negovetich in winning the team race 20-43. Freshman Bella Domier was over two minutes behind Negovetich, but still led Central finishing second (19:23) just ahead of teammate Bryn Sato by two seconds.

Winnebago Triangular Meet @ Fuller Forest Preserve, Winnebago

The Winnebago Girls team’s second race of the season was better than the first Tuesday afternoon on their home course. The top Class 1A team in the state put five runners in before Dixon and Genoa-Kingston could put a runner across the line. Winnebago won the meet 15-48 over 2A powerhouse Dixon.

Bago ran a 47 second split on their top five runners. Grace Erb led the way as she ran 16:51 for the win. Natalia Martino, who missed Winnebago’s opening meet due to an injury, ran 17:03 to finished. The next three places belonged to Winnebago’s Marissa Roggensack (17:05), Kaylee Woolery (17:22), and Katie Erb (17:38).

Jade Miller was Dixon’s first runner in as she ran 18:08 to finish sixth.

Dixon took the first eight places in the Boys race as they scored a perfect 15 points. Dixon’s top three runners were within two seconds of each other. Brayden Bock led the way running 16:10 for the win on the 2.85-mile course. Cadyn Grafton and Brock Dregenberg followed in second and third.

Benton Mr. A Classic @ Community Park, Benton

The Girls race in this quad meet was close as host Benton edged DuQuoin 26-29 in a battle of ranked Class 1A Girls teams. Benton placed five runners in the top nine led by the second-place finish from Addisyn Miller. DuQuoin’s Olivia Phillips won the individual race running 19:40 finishing 34 seconds ahead of Miller. DuQuoin placed four runners in the top eight with their top five runners in the first 11 spots.

Benton took the first four of the top five spots in the Boys race winning the team title with only 21 points. Gavin Genisio has started off the high school career on a high note. The freshman ran 15:31 for the win finishing 28 seconds ahead of DuQuoin’s Landen Swiney.

Vernon Hills / Deerfield Boys Dual @ Vernon Hills Athletic Complex

Both teams ran through some wet conditions in this meet as rain hit the area before the start of the race. Deerfield prevailed placing their first six runners in ahead of Vernon Hills as they won 15-48. Josh Puyear covered the wet three-mile course in 16:07. Deerfield only had a 25 second split on their top five runners.

St. Joseph-Ogden Quad @ St. Joseph-Ogden HS, St. Joseph

The scheduled three-mile distance for this meet was shortened to 1.5 miles due to storms that hit the area. Brandon Mattsey of St. Joseph-Ogden ran 8:09 to win the Boys race in 8:09 ahead of freshman teammate Carson Maroon by three seconds. Josiah Hortin of Tuscola ran 8:15 to finish third. St. Joseph-Ogden scored 21 points for the win in this four team meet. Tuscola was next with 40 points.

St. Joseph-Ogden took five of the first six places in the girls race scoring only 18 points. SJO teammates Malorie Sarnecki and Ava Knap finished within one second of each other. Sarnecki ran 9:47 for the win.

Lockport / Lincoln-Way East Dual Meet @ Lockport East Campus Course

Wil Kiley of Lockport ran three seconds faster on this course than he did in winning the SWSC Preview Meet on August 26. Lockport took the first three places on their way to a 19-36 dual meet win over Lincoln-Way East. Wiley’s winning time of 15:02 was 27 seconds ahead of teammate Timothy Nielsen. Austin Molitor was another six seconds back in third-place.

Buffalo Grove / Prospect Girls Dual Meet @ Willow Stream Park

It was a sweep for the Prospect Girls team as they scored a perfect 15-50 for the win at a soggy Willow Stream Park. It was more like a tempo run for the Lady Knights as only six seconds separated the top five runners. Audrey Ginsberg led the pack in her 20:27 win on the three-mile course.

Palatine / Fremd Boys Dual Meet @ Fremd HS

The annual crosstown battle of Palatine went to Palatine High School in this Boys meet Wednesday at Fremd High School. The first three runners came in together at 15:38 with Brandon Waller getting the win. Teammate Andrew Johns was second followed by Fremd’s Theodore Cunningham. Palatine placed eight runners in the top ten as they won 19-42 ahead of Fremd.

Palatine / Fremd Girls Dual Meet @ Palatine HS

It was the first time that Palatine had raced on their new campus course Thursday afternoon. What a way to open it with other than crosstown rival Fremd. The host Lady Pirates placed eight runners in before Fremd’s fifth runner entered the chute helping Palatine win a close dual 25-32. Julia Wolke of Christian Liberty Academy has a limited schedule. The Class 1A all-state runner was invited to compete in this meet. She took full advantage of that opportunity running 18:31 on the three-mile course for the win. Palatine Anne Marie Jordan ran 18:42 to finish second.

Lakes Community / Antioch Dual @ Lakes Community HS

Lakes Community won the Girls dual in a meet that was moved from Tuesday due to the weather. The Eagles placed five runners in the top seven for the 21-34 win ahead of Antioch. Lakes did this without their all-state runner Brooke Stromsland who is still nursing a minor ankle injury. Antioch’s Sarah Benes ran 19:34 for a convincing win. She was 29 seconds  Lakes’ freshman Madison Twarling (20:03).

Lakes Community clinched the win in the Boys team race capturing the first three places in the 24-32 win ahead of Antioch. Senior Ben Schneiderheinze ran 17:11 for the win ahead of teammates Micah Lind (17:15) and Gavin Murrie (17:16) on the Lakes’ three mile course.

Glenbard West / Lyons Township @ Camera Park, Glendale Heights

The Lyons Township have showed in their first two meets that they will be one of the top Class 3A teams this fall. The Lions placed five runners in the first six spots to help them win this dual against a good Glenbard West team 19-42. Owen Hays of Lyons ran 14:57 for the individual win on the 2.88-mile course. He finished 11 seconds ahead of Glenbard West all-state runner Pierce Cousins. Lyons Township ran a 36 second top five split off top runner Hays. Their split from second runner Jocqael Thorpe to fifth runner Finn Gallagher was only 16 seconds.

York / Oak Park-River Forest @ Berens Park, Elmhurst

The skies opened up just at the start of the Boys Varsity race Thursday afternoon. The course length changed from 2.96-miles to 2.67 miles due to construction on the course. The race came down to a sprint between York’s Mickey Vreeland and Ethan Summer along with Oak Park’s Eamon Cavanaugh. Vreeland made one burst in the final 20 meters of the race to outdistance Cavanaugh by less than a second in winning in 13:32.4. Cavanaugh’s time was 13:33.1 just ahead of Summer (13:34).

York placed four runners in the top five in winning the team dual 21-36 ahead of the Huskies. York’s top five split in this race was 58 seconds.