Illinois XC Roadmap to the Weekend – September 10, 2021

 

 

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

 

Most of the eyes in the state will be on Peoria for the 195 team First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday. If you look around, there are some pretty good meets throughout the state. We do have some teams that will travel west of the Mississippi River to compete. There are four schools that will compete in the Forest Park Classic in St. Louis. 1A #2 Riverside will travel west to the Luther College All-American Meet in Iowa.

 

We looked at some of the meets to watch for on Saturday. Not all the meets are listed that will take place this weekend. Not all the teams that are competing in these meets are listed. This just gives you an idea what to watch for.

 

PREVIEW FOR THE FIRST TO THE FINISH INVITATIONAL

 

Lake Park Harvey Braus Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 3A: #11 Wheaton North, #13 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #15 St. Charles East, Jones College Prep, St. Charles North, Bartlett, Glenbard North, Lane Tech, Lincoln Park, Maine West, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Machesney Park Harlem, Glenbrook North, Plainfield East, Lake Park, South Elgin, Wheeling.

 

Girls Teams -  3A: #1 York, #3 Prospect, #9 Glenbard West, #12 St. Charles East, #16 Downers Grove North, Bartlett, Glenbard North, Jones Prep, Lane Tech, Lincoln Park, Maine West, Elgin, Huntley, Machesney Park Harlem, Glenbrook North, Maine South, Plainfield East, Lake Park, Schaumburg, Niles North; 2A: #12 St. Ignatius

 

Notes – The top “non-Peoria” meet of the weekend. A great matchup in the Girls race between two of the top three teams in Class 3A. #1 York did not run their full lineup last week at the hill. They will on Saturday on this fast course. #3 Prospect came within four points in winning at Hinsdale last week with one of their top five runners. Their full lineup will be ready this week ready to challenge York. #9 Glenbard West, #12 St. Charles East, and #16 Downers Grove North are the other 3A ranked teams in this meet. The individual race should be great with Grace Schager of Glenbard North leading the way. Schager ran 17:27 on this course last week. Audrey Allman of Glenbard West, Brooke Berger and Michaela Quinn of York, Breanna Burak of Huntley, Evelyn Hett of Jones Prep, and Hailey Erickson of Prospect are some of the runners to watch for. Naomi Ruff of South Elgin and Jenna Buchanan of Bartlett will not race in this meet.

 

A great three team battle headlines the Boys Varsity meet. #11 Wheaton North had a strong first three in winning at last week in winning at Pleasant Valley IA and could make another statement in this meet. #13 Wheaton-Warrenville South had a strong showing at Hinsdale last week and will look to finish ahead of their cross-town rival. #15 St. Charles East will be at full strength this week and have the talent to win this meet. Jones Prep will be running for the first time this fall and figure to be a factor in this race. Micah Wilson of St. Charles East was on a college visit last week and did not race. It will be interesting to see what kind of fast time he puts up. Michael Atkins of Wheaton-Warrenville South and Ryan Schreiner of Wheaton North are some of  the runners to watch in this meet with Wilson.

 

Joliet Central Steelman Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 3A: #1 York, #3 Oswego, Joliet West, Joliet Central, Lincoln-Way West, Schaumburg; 2A: #8 Fenwick, #27 Benet Academy, Providence; 1A: Joliet Catholic

 

Girls Teams – 3A: #30 Neuqua Valley, Lincoln-Way East, Oswego, Waubonsie Valley, Joliet Central, Joliet West, Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way West, Plainfield Central, Plainfield South, Andrew; 2A: Fenwick, Providence; 1A: #10 Joliet Catholic

 

Notes – The top ranked team in the state #1 York opens their invitational schedule at Channahon Park. In past years, some of their athletes have taken ACT tests on this date. We should expect more of the same this year. #3 Oswego had only a 27 second split last week at UW-Parkside and could be the team favorites in this race. Watch for 2A #7 Fenwick in the Boys race. They had a good start to their season last week at Hinsdale. They could do some damage in this meet. Marcellus Mines of Joliet West, who was all-state for 1600-meters as a freshman in June, could be the runner to watch in this meet.

 

#30 Neuqua Valley is the only ranked team in the Girls race after a strong run last week at Hinsdale. Lincoln-Way East and Oswego were previously ranked and will challenge for the win. Kate Guderjan of Lincoln-Way East and Audra Soderlind of Oswego are some of the runners to keep an eye n in the front.

 

Reavis Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 3A: #4 Sandburg, Reavis, Homewood-Flossmoor, TF South, Oak Lawn, AA Stagg, Argo; 2A: Marist, Brother Rice, TF North, Solorio Academy, Marian Catholic, Evergreen Park, Oak Forest, Tinley Park.

 

Girls Teams – 3A: #18 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #24 Plainfield North, Eisenhower, Reavis, Mother McAuley, Homewood-Flossmoor, TF South, Oak Lawn, Sandburg, AA Stagg, Argo; 2A: #28 Marist; TF North, Solorio Academy, Marian Catholic, Hinsdale South, Evergreen Park; Kaneland, Oak Forest, Tinley Park

 

Notes – It is doubtful we will see the top seven from #4 Sandburg in this race. The Eagles could still win this meet with their 8 to 14 runners. Jake Phillips of Marist might be the runner to watch in this race. #18 Wheaton-Warrenville South and #24 Plainfield North have strong freshman squads. Whether we see them on the Varsity level in this meet, we will find out at race time. Caroline Schoen of Homewood-Flossmoor finished second last week at the Verona Invitational in Wisconsin. She will be the favorite if she races.

 

Wauconda Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 3A: #19 Warren Township, Aurora East, Glenbrook South, Maine East, Round Lake; 2A: #11 Crystal Lake Central, #29 Lakes, Grayslake North, Wauconda; 1A: Richmond-Burton

 

Girls Teams – 3A: Glenbrook South, Warren Township, Aurora East, Maine East, Round Lake; 2A: #13 Lakes, #15 Crystal Lake Central; Grayslake North, Wauconda; 1A: Richmond-Burton.

 

Notes – Warren Township is in this meet but is not expected to run their top runners in their home invitational next week. 2A #11 Crystal Lake Central had a good race at McHenry County and could be the favorite in this meet along with 2A #29 Lakes and Glenbrook South. The same three teams should challenge for the Girls race with 2A #13 Lakes the slight edge ahead of 2A #15 Crystal Lake Central.

 

Lanphier Lee Halberg Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 3A: Normal Community, Quincy, Mundelein; 2A: #1 Mahomet-Seymour, #10 Chatham-Glenwood, Bloomington, Springfield, Springfield Lanphier, Taylorville, Urbana; 1A: #15 Monticello, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.

 

Girls Teams -  3A: #26 Normal Community, Quincy; 2A: #4 Chatham-Glenwood; Bloomington, Springfield, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Southeast, Taylorville, Urbana; 1A: #2 Monticello, #18 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.

 

Notes – 2A #1 Mahomet-Seymour comes off a strong opener last week at Charleston and will challenge for the win Saturday at Lincoln Park. #10 Chatham-Glenwood will be running all put in this race and will make it close with the Bulldogs. Springfield, Urbana, and Quincy will challenge in the front. Fiker Rosen of Quincy could be the runner to watch in the Boys race. The Girls race should be great with 2A #4 Chatham-Glenwood and 1A #2 Monticello challenging for the team win. Ali Ince of Normal Community should be the favorite in this race if she runs. Ava Gorrie and Nia Gibson of Chatham-Glenwood, Estella Miller and Mabry Bruhn of Monticello, along with Anna Schuering of Quincy and Olivia Hartke of Normal Community are some of the runners to watch in the front pack.

 

Paxton-Buckley-Loda Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 2A: Rantoul; 1A: #1 Arthur-Lovington, #11 Herscher, #20 Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Tolono Unity, Bismarck-Henning, St. Thomas More, Clifton Central, Downs Tri-Valley, Kankakee McNamara, Peotone

 

Girls Teams – 2A: Rantoul; 1A: Arthur-Lovington, Bismarck-Henning, St. Thomas More, Clifton Central, Downs Tri-Valley, Herscher, Kankakee McNamara, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Peotone.

 

Notes – The Boys race should be great in this meet with #1 Arthur-Lovington the team to watch. They were short-handed last week. Watch for the top four split and then how close their fourth and fifth runners are in this race. #11 Herscher held their pack back last week at Seneca. Let’s see if it moves forward in this race. Host #20 Paxton-Buckley-Loda is the only other ranked team in this race. Drew Rogers of Herscher is the favorite in this race with Ryder James of Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Eli Mojonnier of Bismarck-Henning his closest competition in what should be a great race. There are no ranked teams in the Girls race. The individual race should be fun to watch with Gabby Moreman of Bismarck Henning and Trixie Johnson of Paxton-Buckley-Loda the top runners to watch for.

 

Other Meets to Watch

 

Shelbyville Trail Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 2A: Effingham; 1A: #30 Shelbyville, Effingham St. Anthony, Marshall, Neoga, Toledo Cumberland, Tuscola.

 

Girls Teams – 2A: Effingham; 1A: Marshall, Shelbyville, Effingham St. Anthony; Neoga, Toledo Cumberland, Tuscola.

 

Royal Cadet Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 3A: #30 Lincoln-Way East, Geneva, Glenbard East; 2A: Marmion Academy

 

Girls Teams – Oak Park-River Forest, Geneva, Glenbard East; 1A: #3 Rosary

 

Belleville West Invitational

 

Teams – 3A: Alton, Belleville East, Belleville West, Collinsville 2A: Mascoutah, (Girls: #16-2A) Waterloo.

 

Princeton Gary Coates Invitational

 

Boys Teams – 2A: LaSalle-Peru, Morris; 1A: Amboy, Sandwich, Sterling Newman Catholic, Kewanee, Knoxville, Lowpoint-Washburn, Bureau Valley, Princeton, Sherrard, Spring Valley Hall, Rockridge.

 

Girls Teams – 2A: #21 Morris, LaSalle-Peru; 1A: #19 Sherrard; Knoxville, Amboy, Kewanee, Knoxville, Lowpoint-Washburn, Bureau Valley, Princeton, Spring Valley Hall, Sterling Newman Catholic, Rockridge.

 

Forest Park Classic (MO)

 

Illinois Teams – O’Fallon, 1A #24 Belleville Althoff Catholic, 1A-#17 Benton, Breese Central