(Above Photo): Audrey Ernst ran a solo 18:00 at Tuesday's Elgin City Classic. She will be one of the favorites in the Girls Individual race at Saturday's Leavey Invitational (Mike Newman Photo)

 

By Michael Newman

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The late summer hot weather that has engulfed all of Illinois over the past week will play a huge part in cross country meets in the first full weekend of action. The Hornet Red-Devil Invitational has flip-flopped their schedule moving the Boys Varsity race to 9:00 AM and the Girls Varsity to 9:30 AM. The Rochester Invitational has moved up their starting time of their meet to 8:00 AM Saturday morning.

 

Five of the six top rated teams in the DyeStat Illinois rankings will be in action on Saturday. 2A Girls #1 Yorkville will compete Friday afternoon at the Seneca Twilight in the Woods Meet but will not be running their varsity. It will be interesting to see if some of the schools decide to run a tempo pace in the hot conditions. Some of the varsity races will be early enough in the day that we could get an indication how good some of these teams actually are.

 

Here is a look at some of the meets that will take place throughout Illinois and meets outside of the state involving Illinois schools.

 

 

Hornet-Red Devil Invitational @ Katherine Legge Memorial, Hinsdale

 

The top Girls race in the state is at this meet Saturday morning. Six of the top ten teams in the 3A rankings will toe the line looking to see where they stand. #2 Palatine leads the way. They will have a solid first four led by all-state Kelly O’Brien. #3 Glenbard West will be missing Lindsay Graham, but will have the front running of Lindsey Payne and a solid pack behind her. #5 Minnoka looked strong last week at Normal with a top three of Mackenzie Callahan, Emily Shelton, and Ashley Tutt looking to finish in the top five. #6 New Trier will be looking for a new front runner since Mimi Smith has graduated. They will have a solid pack that should have a 20 second split or quicker. #7 Wheaton-Warrenville South will also have a solid pack led by junior Sara Atkins. #8 Hinsdale Central does not have all-state runner Alexa Haff this fall, but could have two runners in the top five in Annie Zaher and Grace McCabe. #12 Naperville Central, #13 Neuqua Valley, and #25 Metea Valley are other ranked teams in this meet.

 

The individual Girls race should be close with last year’s state 3^rd place finisher Kelly O’Brien and Glenbard West’s Lindsey Payne challenging for the top spot. The Minooka trio of Callahan, Tutt, and Shelton could contend for the top spot. Do not be surprised if Annie Zaher wins on her home course. Keep an eye on her.

 

The Boys race at 9:00 AM is worth getting to Katherine Legge early. Two time defending 3A state champion #4 Hinsdale Central runs on their home turf looking to start the season on a high note. Their chief competition will come from #2 Neuqua Valley who will have the front runner in Connor Horn and tight pack behind him. #10 New Trier, #19 Naperville Central, and #23 Palatine are the other 3A schools that will challenge for the top three. The team to watch in the top three could be 2A #3 Hinsdale South also running on their home course. They have the great 1-2 punch of Roman Drabchuk and Charlie Nodus. The Hornets will need to have a tight pack behind them in order to contest for the top three.

 

Blake Evertsen and Chris Brenk finished 3-4 in this race a year ago and will be up towards the front giving Hinsdale Central some low numbers. Connor Horn, who finished seventh at state last year should be the favorite in this race. Keep an eye on Hinsdale South’s Drabchuk and Nodus to challenge for the win. Highland Park’s Brett Davidson has been running strong so far this season and should also be towards the front.

 

Lions Pride Invitational @ Lyons Township South Campus, Western Springs

 

US #3 and 3A top ranked Sandburg will go up against some stiff competition on Lyons Township’s fast South Campus course. #5 Lyons Township and #9 Maine South will be the chief competition for Sandburg. 2A #14 Lincoln-Way West, Downers Grove South, and Lincoln-Way Central will challenge for a top five finish. Sandburg’s Sean Torpy will go for his second straight win in this invitational followed by last year’s runner up Connor Madell of Lyons Township. Sandburg’s Chris Torpy & Dylan Jacobs, Maine South’s Reese Jordan & Brian Sodaro, Ian Peterson of Lincoln-Way Central, Evan Mitchell of Lincoln-Way West, Vince Zona of Lyons Township, and Jack Lalonde of Downers Grove South could all challenge in this deep individual field for a top ten finish. Sandburg ran a 21 second split on five last week at Channahon Park. You can expect more of the same on Saturday.

 

Valparaiso IN is back to defend their team championship but could be challenged by host Lyons Township, 2A #9 Marist, 2A #16 Lincoln-Way West, and 2A #17 Glenbard South will also challenge for a top three finish. Defending champion Mary Clare Leonard of Marist is the big favorite in the Girls race.

 

Leavey Invitational @ LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, St. Charles

 

Outside of the Hinsdale meet, the Girls field in this invitational is also loaded with eight ranked teams in the 3A top 25.  The team favorites could be Upstate Eight Pre-Season favorites #9 Batavia & #10 Geneva. #11 Oswego will have a tight pack that they will need to rely on if they want to contend for the championship. Keep an eye out on #21 Barrington who has a great duo in Jocelym Long and Lauren Conroy. #17 York, #19 St. Charles North, #20 Wheaton North, and #23 St. Charles East will challenge for a top five spot. The individual race should be a dandy. Audrey Ernst of St. Charles North started her season with a fast 18:00 on the hilly Lords Park course Tuesday. Jocelyn Long of Barrington broke her home course record on Tuesday in a dual meet. The two sophomores should challenge for the win. Hannah Ewald of St. Charles East, Emma Stephens of Batavia, Mackenzie Altmayer of Geneva, and Lauren Conroy of Barrington should all be challenging for a top ten spot.

 

The Boys team race is up for grabs. #18 Downers Grove North is the top ranked team in the field. If they move their sophomores up to varsity, they could challenge for the win. #20 Waubonsie Valley has a solid pack and could leave the course with the team championship. Marmion Academy is tough and could also challenge for the win. St. Charles East on their home course is always tough to beat at home. Jacobs and Benet Academy could be surprise teams in this race.

 

Alec Danner of Downers Grove North is coming off of a 15:22 win last week on his home course and should be the favorite. Andrew Burroughs and Michael Ronzone of Marmion Academy, and freshman Cam Reedy of Jacobs could also be towards the front.

 

Fenton Early Bird Invitational @ Fenton HS Campus Course, Bensenville

 

The Boys race could be one of the best individual races of the weekend if all the expected runners toe the line. Irwin Loud of Oak Park-River Forest did not run in his team’s triangular meet on Tuesday. If he is on the line Saturday, he will be one of the favorites. Kevin Salvano of Buffalo Grove started off his season last week running a quick 14:34 on Stevenson’s 3 mile course. The two could give us an early preview of what could happen in November. 2A third place finisher from last fall Shane Williamson of Vernon Hills could be towards the front as well as Eric Neumann of Glenbard West. The team battle is wide open in this meet. #8 Oak Park-River Forest is the top ranked team in this meet.  #15 Hoffman Estates, #21 Buffalo Grove, and #22 Glenbard West are the other 3A ranked teams in this meet. #9 Vernon Hills, #11 Wheaton Academy, and #16 Fenwick are the top 2A teams. Keep an eye on Prospect. They could be the sleeper team in this meet.

 

#15 Downers Grove North should be the favorite in the Girls meet. Prospect, Downers Grove South, 2A #20 Vernon Hills, and Glenbrook South could be among the teams to challenge North. It should be a tight individual race with Brooke Wilson of Prospect the favorite. Emma Moravec of Downers Grove North, Kaitlyn Ko of Buffalo Grove, Vivian Overbeck of Vernon Hills, and Lizzy Shaw of Glenbrook South could be the top challengers to Wilson.

 

Pleasant Valley Spartan Invitational @ Bettendorf IA

 

US #2 Naperville North and 3A top ranked Naperville North starts the defense of their state championship west of the Mississippi River in Bettendorf IA. The Huskies should roll in this meet. Judy Pendergast, Sara Schmidt, and Clare Hamilton will try to go for a 1-2-3 sweep. Pleasant Valley’s McKenzie Yanek could get into that pack.

 

Chrisman Cowchip Classic @ Chrisman

 

The top 1A Meet of the weekend. The idea is to run fast while trying to avoid the “cowchips” throughout the course. This is a flight meet so we will not really see the team dynamics in action. Defending 1A and top ranked St. Joseph-Ogden leads the girls teams in this meet. #3 Urbana University, #5 Monticello, #7 Tolono Unity, and #12 Effingham St. Anthony will also challenge for the team championship. Two time state champ Anna Sophia Keller of St. Anthony ran 17:21 last year and will try to better that on Saturday.

 

Top ranked Tolono Unity leads the Boys field. #3 St. Joseph-Ogden, #5 Robinson, #6 Monticello, and #8 Urbana University make this meet a competitive one. Jon Davis of Oakwood won by 12 seconds ahead of Unity’s Andrew Warnes. The two will face off again on Saturday with Nick Porter of Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Noah Tennison of Robinson top five contenders in the championship flight.

 

Charleston Invitational @ EIU Campus Course

 

The Boys race should be the one to watch at Eastern Illinois Saturday morning. 2A top ranked Mahomet-Seymour could have their hands full with 1A #2 Shelbyville. Mahomet’s Alex Keeble should be the favorite in the individual race.

 

Granite City Invitational @ Wilson Park, Granite City

 

2A #4 Springfield, #21 Chatham Glenwood, and #22 Carbondale are among the top teams that will compete Saturday morning. Springfield’s Heath Warren will not run. He will be out of town on a college visit. Granite City’s Will O’Keefe, Springfield’s Logan Besalke, and Carbondale’s Micah Cherry will be among the favorites in the individual race.

 

O’Fallon and Edwardsville will challenge 2A #18 Chatham-Glenwood in the Girls team race. The individual race is wide open with Sarah Duffy of O’Fallon, Aly Goff of Springfield, and Alex Singleton of Bethalto Civic Memorial among the favorites.

 

Galesburg Silver Streak Invitational @ Lake Storry Park, Galesburg

 

2A #3 Dunlap will be the favorite on the rugged Lake Storry Course. #23 Metamora, Galesburg, and Rock Island Alleman will be among their biggest challengers. Dunlap’s Frannie Verville and Miranda Krusiwyk along with Galesburg’s Anastasia Beetler will be among the individual favorites.

 

Six 2A ranked team head the Boys field with #11 Metamora, #13 Normal West, #24 Sterling, and #25’s Geneseo & Rock Island Alleman. East Moline United will also play a factor in the team battle. Watch for Jake Gillum of Metamora, Michael Church of East Peoria, Kyle Riege of East Moline United, Tyler Dunn of Normal West, and Jon Landis of Sterling to be among the front runners in the Boys individual race

 

Rochester Invitational @ Community Park, Rochester

 

Area rivals 2A #8 Rochester and 1A #2 Petersburg PORTA will be the favorites in the Girls race. Maria and Adrienne Brauer of PORTA will be the favorites in the Girls race. 1A #9 Pleasant Plains, #12 Carlinville, and Taylorville will challenge for the Boys team race. Cory Landon of Carlinville, Josh Cable of Rochester, and Tyler Johnson of Pleasant Plains will be the favorites in the individual race.

 

Racine Horlick Invitational @ UW-Parkside National XC Course, Kenosha WI

 

3A #6 Lake Zurich head to UW-Parkside’s course to start the season. They should be the favorite in the Boys team race along with 2A #8 Prairie Ridge. Watch for Lake Zurich’s Matt Pereira and Brian Griffith to lead up front.

 

Crystal Lake South Invitational @ Veteran Acres Park, Crystal Lake

 

The hot weather along with one of the toughest courses in the state will make things interesting in this meet. 3A Schools #16 McHenry, #24 Crystal Lake South, #25 Fremd along with 2A #10 Belvidere North will battle for the Boys team title. Crtystal Lake South’s Jack Miller, Luke Beattie of Woodstock, Eryk Yunk of Belvidere North, Matt Stelmasek of Johnsburg, and Michael Hahndorf of McHenry will be the leaders up front in the Boys race.

 

3A #24 Grant missed a chance to run Wednesday at the Lake County Invitational. They will be running at this meet on Saturday and will be one of the favorites. 2A’s #5 Belvidere North, #19 St. Teresa, and #21 Woodstock will also challenge for the team title. Kate Jacobs of Woodstock and Jenna Lutzow of Belvidere North should be the front runners in the Girls Varsity race. Abigail Jones of Marian Central, Madison Romig of Grant, Kiley Britten of Crystal Lake South, and Jordan Peterson of Harvard will be among the front runners.

 

Plainfield Central Invitational

 

Highly touted #11 Whitney Young will be the big favorite in the Boys race. Joliet Central could be their biggest challenger. Defending champion Raul Rosendo of Joliet Central, Caleb Washington of Shepard, and Clayton Mendez of Whitney Young will be the runners to watch in the Boys race.

 

The Girls race should be dynamite with 3A #4 Lockport Township and 2A #2 Lemont chasing for the team championship. Lockport’s Morgan Bollinger and Lemont’s Taylor Campos should be the individual favorites.