Illinois HS XC Weekend Highlights - September 26, 2021

 

 

Photo: Anna Perry of Eureka on her way to the win at the East Peoria Invitational (Photo Courtesy of Brian Gordon)

 

 

By Michael Newman

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The next couple of weeks should be a busy one for teams in Illinois as they gear up for championship season beginning n the middle of October. So many things happened in and out of state this past week. Here is a look at highlights from some of those meets.

 

You can also see videos from the Naperville Girls Invitational and the Palatine Invitational Meet of Champions. *** Illinois Meet Results September 25.

 

 

Roy Griak Invitational MN (Friday) – Results

 

Illinois teams and runners had a great day at this meet on the University of Minnesota campus. A big-time performance once again from Ava Parekh of Latin School. The senior, who ran 16:27 last week at Detweiller Park, ran 17:58 to finish second in the High School Gold Division race. Parekh finished 10 seconds behind individual winner Ali Weimer of St. Michael-Albertville (17:48). #2 Naperville North finished fourth in this 45-team field scoring193 points. Lucy Westlake led the Huskies finishing 18. Her teammates Sophie Golobitsh (38th), Emma Berres (45th), Julie Pilot (46th), and Marissa Magna (55th) were next. Their top 5 split was 54 seconds. The split from Golobitsh to Magna was only 14 seconds. #21 Yorkville had a great race in finishing fifth with 233 points. Anna Hunter led the Lady Foxes (14th) followed by Ava Galloway (33rd), Makenna Edwards (51st), Margaret Hunter (52nd), and Alex Stewart (91st) followed. The team’s top five split was 103 seconds. #11 Batavia finished 16th (471 points) led by Katrina Schlenker in 13th. Olathe West KS was the Gold Division team winner (172 points) followed by Middleton WI (178 points) and St. Paul Highland Park MN (185 points). Yorkville’s Boys team finished 19th (591 points) in the Boys Gold Division 47 team field led by Brody Ferko finishing 78th. 1A #1 Latin School finished 23rd (667 points) paced by Ryan Hardiman finishing 16th and Akili Parekh placing 21st. Sam Scott of Minneapolis Southwest MN ran 15:49 to claim the individual race title. Sioux City North IA won the team title (158 points) with fellow Iowa School Dowling Catholic finishing second (165 points).

 

East Peoria Invitational @ Black Partridge Park, Metamora

 

Anna Perry of Eureka took advantage of almost perfect conditions Saturday at Black Partridge Park. The 1A state favorite ran 17:16 on the 2.94-mile course to claim the win by 26 seconds ahead of Ali Ince of Normal Community (17:42). Delaney Fitzgerald (17:43) and Zoe Carter of Normal University (18:10) finished third and fourth. Saniya Mathew of Dunlap (18:19) rounded out the top five. 1A #4 Eureka claimed the team win (78 points) just ahead of 2A #20 Mahomet-Seymour (82 points) and 2A #9 Normal University (98 points). 2A #3 Dunlap finished seventh overall but did not run all of their top seven lineup in this race.

 

The top two 2A teams matched up in this Boys race with Morton coming away with a big win. The 2A #2 Potters placed 5 runners in the top 15 to easily win the team title with only 40 points. Cade Zobrist (3rd) and Yonas Wuthrich (4th) were the top 2 runners for Morton. Then followed Josh Weeks (7th), Keegan Anderson (9th), and Layton Swoop (15th). The team ran a season’s best of a 40 second split on their top five. Kyle Nofziger ran 15:22 for the individual win by 6 seconds ahead of Urbana’s Sam Lambert. Nofziger’s win helped 2A #1 Mahomet-Seymour to finish second (80 points). The Bulldogs placed 5 runners in the top 28 with a 69 second top 5 split off Nofziger.

 

St. Joseph-Ogden Classic @ St. Joseph Road Course

 

The streets on Saturday morning in St. Joseph were busy and ready to produce some fast times. That proved true with some great performances in cool and fast conditions. Ryder James of Paxton-Buckley-Loda ran the eye opener of the day running 14:21 to easily win the Boys race. Eli Mojonnier of Bismarck-Henning ran 15:00 to finish second with Henry Laufenberg of Urbana University running 15:14 to finish third. 1A #3 St. Joseph-Ogden ran a 32 second split on their top 5 to score 65 points to capture the team championship. 1A #13 St. Teresa (104 points) and #6 Arthur-Lovington (116 points) finished second and third.

 

Fast times were had also in the Girls race. Kate Ahmari of Urbana University ran 17:25 to claim the win with Mabry Bruhn of Monticello running 17:29 to finish second. 1A #3 Tolono Unity had the final say in the team race placing 5 runners in the top 17 to win with 56 points. Erica Woodard led the Rockets with a 5th place finish. Their top 5 split was 59 seconds. 1A #2 Monticello finished second (66 points) behind top 10 finishes from Bruhn, Estella Miller (7th), and Sylvia Miller (8th). 1A #6 St. Joseph-Ogden finished third (87 points) led by Savanna Franzen and Ava Knap finishing third and fourth.

 

Bartlett Flyin’ Hawk Invitational @ Bartlett HS Campus Course

 

#24 Jacobs placed 4 runners in the first 11 to win the Girls team title with 48 points. They were followed by 2A #8 Crystal Lake South (65 points), #20 St. Charles North (67 points), and South Elgin (128 points) placed second through fourth. Naomi Ruff of South Elgin ran 17:35 on this 2.97-mile course to claim the course record and the win by seven seconds ahead of Isabella Gonzalez of Crystal Lake South (17:42), then Bella DiCrosta of St. Charles North (17:47), and Kelly Carpenter of Jacobs and Jenna Buchanan of Bartlett who both ran 17:59. Jacobs ran an 83 second split on their top five that included Carpenter, Bailey Schwartz (9th), Elisabeth Kania (10th), Ella Tamburrino (11th), and Avery Mason (19th). Jacobs made it a sweep with a team win in the Boys race. The Golden Eagles edged DeKalb 83-86 for the team title behind a 10 second split on their first four runners led by the eighth-place finish from Aidan DeMuth. Riley Newport of DeKalb had a 14:53 to cruise to the win by 14 seconds ahead of Caden Simone of Lincoln-Way Central (15:07). Carter Eid of Bartlett finished third (15:35).

 

Culver Academies IN Invitational - Results

 

Mason OH had a strong run in the Boys race placing 5 runners in the top 9 scoring only 24 points for the win. Mason’s Isaac Schachleiter ran 15:57 for the individual win on the 5k course with Lyons Township’s Charlie McLawhorn finishing second (16:00). #12 Lyons Township scored 65 points to finish second placing their top 5 runners in the top 25. McLawhorn was followed by teammates Hayden Constas (10th), Nicholas Strayer (16th), Cillian Henning (17th), and Finn Gallagher (25th). Their top 5 split was 47 seconds. #8 Neuqua Valley had a 38 second split on their top 5 to score 90 points to finish third. Noah Schalliol was the team’s top finisher as he ran 16:12 to finish fourth. Ryan Palmer (21st), Zac Close (22nd), Nick Rohlwing (26th), and Charlie Rook (27th) followed with only a 7 second split on the group. Neuqua Valley finished eighth in the Girls race led by the 14th place finish from Ashley Robinson. Lily Cridge of Bishop Chatard ran a fast 17:17 to win the Girls Individual title by close to 80 seconds.

 

Midwest Invitational @ Blackhawk Golf Course, Janesville WI - Results

 

Luke Wiley of  Warren tuned up for next week’s big race at Detweiller Park running 15:05 on this rolling 5k course to win by 9 seconds ahead of Austin Henderson of Neenah WI. A 12th place finish from David Lara helped #11 Warren to score 120 points to finish second behind team winner Homestead WI who scored 98 points for the win. #8 Hinsdale Central received top 10 finishes from Catie McCabe (2nd), Louisa Brorson (7th), and Sarah Fischer (10th) to help the Red Devillettes to easily win the Girls team title with 63 points. Madison West WI scored 190 points to finish second. Freshman Mackenzie Babcock of Monona Grove WI ran 17:54 to claim the individual win five seconds ahead of McCabe. Warren’s Mia Pasha ran 18:22 to finish third.

 

Naperville Girls Invitational @ St. James Farm, Warrenville (Friday)

 

#7 Naperville Central dominated their own meet placing 5 runners in the top 15 to score 40 points to win the team title. Plainfield North (86 points) and #17 Oswego East (97 points) finished second and third. #6 Downers Grove South finished fourth (98 points) without 2 of their top 5 runners. Kelsey Casella was not scheduled to race on Friday. Sophia McNerney was a last-minute scratch. South’s Holly Johnson came from behind to win the individual race crossing the line on this 3-mile course in 17:45. Benet’s Louisa Diamond pushed the pace early in this race leading at the mile. Johnson caught Diamond just before 2-mles and rolled to a 32 second win. Liv Phillips of Naperville Central was second (18:17) followed by Diamond (18:27). Central had a 70 second split on their top five runners.

 

Freeburg Invitational @ Smithton Park

 

Gavin Genisio set a new course record of 14:47 at Smithton Park claiming the Boys individual win by 38 seconds ahead of Waterloo’s Joe Schwartz (15:25) with Landon Swiney of DuQuoin finishing third (15:31). 1A #8 Benton scored 88 points to claim the Boys team championship ahead of Bethalto Civic Memorial (104 points). Troy Triad scored 124 points to finish third. It was a great Girls race as freshman Elena Rybak of Father McGivney ran 17:20 to win the Girls individual race with Olivia Phillips of DuQuoin (17:36) and Eres Nelson of Althoff Catholic (17:38) finishing second and third. 2A #24 Waterloo, led by a 6-7 finish from Angelynn Kanyuck and Danielle Mudd, won the Girls team title (69 points) finishing ahead of 2A #26 Troy Triad (82 points) and 1A #8 DuQuoin (95 points).

 

Harvest Christian Academy Mid-Season Classic

 

A 1- 3 finish from Keely Behr and Sarah Maggio helped #29 Metea Valley win the Girls team title with 53 points. 2A #18 St. Ignatius Prep finished second (82 points) followed by 2A #22 St. Francis (121 points) and 1A #12 DePaul Prep. Behr’s winning time of 19:13 edged Carly Manchester of IC Catholic Prep by two seconds (19:15). Maggio ran 19:21 to finish third. #11 St. Francis placed their top five between 7 and 14 places with only an 18 second split to win the Boys team championship with 45 points. 2A #6 Riverside-Brookfield was without two of their top five runners Cooper and Hayden Marrs in this race. The Bulldogs finished second with 119 points followed by 1A #2 DePaul Prep who scored 122 points. Daniel Winkelman of Harvest Christian ruled his home course as he ran 15:56 in claiming the Boys individual title. Kieran Subra of Lycee Francais Chicago ran 16:35 to finish second with Paul Proteau of Riverside-Brookfield running 16:40 to finish third.

 

JT Taylor Grant Invitational @ Grant Bulldog Athletic Complex

 

It looked to be an easy win for Aly Negovetich on her home course with a fast time in the course of her win. Negovetich ran a solo 17:22 to win the Girls Individual title by 83 seconds ahead of Audrey Luell of Zion-Benton (18:45). Grant placed 3 runners in the first 4 to win with 37 points in this six-team race. Carmel Catholic scored 47 points to finish second. 2A #12 Woodstock won the team title (40 points) behind the individual win from Ishan Patel. The sophomore’s time of 16:23 was seven seconds faster than that of Zion-Benton’s Eric Barajas (16:30). 2A #18 Vernon Hills finished second (73 points) with Grant scoring 98 points to finish third.

 

Macnider Invitational @ Hoover School, Schaumburg

 

#3 Oswego placed 5 runners in the top 8 to easily win the Boys 8-team meet title with only 26 points. #17 Minooka scored 48 points to finish second ahead of Chesterton IN (81 points). Ethan Forsell led Oswego with the individual win ahead of Minooka’s Zachary Balzer (15:55) and Daniel Schalk (16:07). Oswego’s top 5 split was 41 seconds. #19 St. Charles East used a 5-6 finish from Morgan Sandlund and Brooklyn Walker to help them win the Girls team title 49-51 ahead of #4 Minooka who did not have two of their top five runners Jocelyn Host and Gabrielle Kics in this meet. Glenbrook North claimed the first 2 spots in this race as their freshmen Maria Polyakov took home the individual title (18:25) ahead of teammate Juliet Frum. Huntley’s Breanna Burak finished third (18:45) to lead her team to a third-place finish with 61 points.

 

Springfield Invitational @ Lincoln Park

 

2A #7 Chatham-Glenwood rolled to the Girls team title in this meet placing their top 5 runners in the first 11 to score only 37 points. Their first four runners (Rachel Behrens, Emma Leahy, Ava Gorrie, Nia Gibson) finished fifth through eighth separated by only 20 seconds. Their top 5 split was 59 seconds. Mascoutah (101 points) and 2A #29 Highland (102 points) were a close second and third. Becca Heitzig of Lincoln ran 18:15 for the individual win finishing ahead of Louisa Wilson of Williamsville (18:32) and Colleen Zeibert of Rochester (18:42). Brendan Heitzig claimed the second win of the day for the Heitzig family as he ran 15:46 to claim the Boys win with Lance Miller of Mascoutah 40 seconds back in second (16:26) and Camden Quarton of Litchfield and Jake Gutzman of Franklin third and fourth with the same 16:29 time. 2A # 27 Springfield scored 71 points to claim the Boys team title behind the 6th place finish from Ethan Sommers. 2A #15 Chatham-Glenwood (102 points) and Mascoutah (131 points) finished second and third.

 

Roger Schmidt Invitational @ Fuller Forest Preserve, Winnebago

 

1A #1 Winnebago was in control on their home course with 5 in the first 7 and scoring only 21 points. Marissa Roggensack won her home course covering the 2.05-mile layout at Fuller Forest Preserve in 12:18. Isabella Anderson of Boylan Catholic was second in a close 12:21 time. Grace Erb (3rd), Kaylee Woolery (4th), Sophia Martino (6th), and Renee Rittmeyer (7th) comprised the rest of Bago’s top five that had a 30 second split n the group. Boylan Catholic (56 points) and Byron (83 points finished second and third. Boylan Catholic led by the individual win from Alex Valerio won the Boys team race 37-38 ahead of Rockford Auburn. Valerio’s winning time of 15:29 for 2.85-miles was 9 seconds ahead of Winnebago’s Nicolai Martino who finished second (15:38).

 

Tolfree/Farley XC Invitational @ Midlothian Meadows

 

#24 Bolingbrook used a 2-3 finish from Hussein Almousawi and Ignacio Escamilla to help the Raiders win the Boys Championship Division of this meet with 41 points. Bolingbrook put 5 runners in the top 15 with a split of 51 seconds on the group. Homewood-Flossmoor (78 points) and Stagg (80 points) finished second and third. Nolan Rogers of Lincoln-Way East ran 15:37 for the individual win by almost 20 seconds. Oak Forest edged Lemont 61-63 for the Boys Olympic Division team title. Owen Forberg of HL Richards ran 16:15 for the individual win with teammate Louie Leahy running 16:21 to finish second. Caroline Schoen of Homewood-Flossmoor was dominant n winning the Girls Championship Division race. The junior ran 18:14 to claim the win by 41 seconds ahead of Gianna Arizzi of Lincoln-Way West. #16 Lincoln-Way East was without their top runner Kate Guderjan in this race. The Griffins still rolled to the team title with 22 points putting 6 runners in the top 9. Elyse DeFrank led the team with a third-place finish. Their top five split was 35 seconds. Lincoln-Way West (45 points) and Marist (80 points) finished second and third. Chicago Christian edged Lemont 58-59 for the Olympic Division title with Glenbard South  with 68 points finishing third. Claire Blotnik of Joliet Catholic ran 19:29 to win the division race by 37 seconds ahead of teammate Ella Farris.

 

Herscher Invitational @ Limestone Park

 

Drew Rogers of Herscher put up a win on his home course running 15:03 for the individual win. Mason Stoeger of Fieldcrest was the closest runner to Rogers running 15:21 to finish second. Bryson Grant of Iroquois West was third (16:14). 1A #15 Herscher edged 1A #14 Pontiac 45-48 for the team title. Jayden Lewis of Pontiac ran 19:46 to win the Girls individual title by 38 seconds ahead of Beecher’s Aaralyn Martinez (20:24). Beecher placed 3 runners in the first 8 to help them win the Girls team tile in this meet with 47 points. Herscher (62 points) and Pontiac (65 points) finished second and third.

 

Rock River Run @ Hoover Park, Sterling

 

Kaneland came to this meet and swept both team titles. Their Girls squad scored 74 points to claim the title ahead of 1A #22 Rock Falls (133 points), Ottawa (147 points), and Yorkville’s JV Team. Maddie Miller of East Moline ran 18:40 to roll to the individual win by 40 seconds ahead of Kaneland’s Alli Gonnella (19:20). 2A #13 Kaneland, behind the fourth place from freshman Evan Nosek, won the Boys team title with 55 points. 2A #3 Belvidere North finished second (65 points) without their #1 runner Evan Horgan in the race. Dale Johnson of Sterling claimed the individual win on his home course. The sophomore had a time of 15:26 that was 22 seconds ahead of second place Aidan Gonzalez of Hampshire (15:48).