By Michael Newman

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It was a busy weekend for Illinois teams within the state as well as out. Those teams out of state came back across the border with some additional hardware. Here is a look at meets from this weekend.

 

The recap of the Palatine Invitational can be found here.

 

 

St. Joseph-Ogden Spartan Classic

 

Meet organizers decided to change the distance for the Girls race in this meet from two miles to three miles. It made sense since the state meet has been running that distance for girls since 2002. The change paid off in a big way as Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) ran the fastest 3 mile time this year for a high school girl traveling the course in a sizzling 16:14. She won the race by 100 seconds ahead of Arielle Summitt (Urbana University HS) who ran a fast 17:54. Keller hinted after the race that she could be running next Saturday at the Peoria Central Invitational at Detweiller Park.

 

The Girls team battle was close with some of the top teams in the state in attendance. 1A #1 Urbana University used Summitt’s second place finish along with their top five runners in the first twenty three to win the team championship 63-66 ahead of host #6 St. Joseph Ogden. The Spartans ran their best race of the year so far this season placing five in the first twenty-five paced by Faith Houston’s ninth place finish. #2 Tolono Unity scored 98 points and was third paced by another strong run by freshman Jordan Harmon who finished third overall in the race.

 

It does not matter what surface that #1 Tolono Unity runs on, they still have dominated this season. The Rockets again looked strong putting five runners in the first twenty to score only 43 points to win the Boys team race. Andrew Warnes pulled away to run 14:49 for the win 11 seconds ahead of Marcus Skinner (Shelbyville HS). “The second mile is where I wanted to be,” Warnes said after the race. I was in the front of race and threw in a surge. Marcus and I were neck and neck until we got to the track.”

 

#3 St. Joseph-Ogden, paced by top ten finishes by Brennan Guido (7^th) and Justin Phillips (10^th), scored 91 points to place second overall. #2 Shelbyville, behind Skinner’s 2^nd place finish, scored 116 points to place third. #4 Monticello ran a 28 second on their first four to place fourth with 127 points. #10 Carlinville used Cory Landon’s fourth place finish to propel them to fifth overall with 150 points. Nick Porter’s third place finish gave #9 Paxton-Buckley-Loda to 158 points and a sixth place finish.

 

Macnider Invitational

 

The meet was moved to Harper College’s campus and their cross country course. Harper College and former Schaumburg High School coach Jim Macnider said that the course was longer than 3 miles and just a little short than 5000 meters. Nevertheless, the finishing times on the course by the quality of athletes up front are pretty legitimate.

 

Irwin Loud (Oak Park-River Forest HS) pulled away in the final mile from Dustin Macuiba (Warren Township HS, Gurnee) to cross the line in 14:44.4 on this hilly but fast course. Macuiba ran 15:09 to finish second with Connor McCue (West Aurora HS) third. #6 Oak Park-River Forest relied on the win by Loud and a 6^th place finish by Kimathi Johnson to win the team championship with 61 points. Their 2 to 5 split off of Johnson’s finish was 41 seconds. Their overall five man split was 99 seconds. #14 Hoffman Estates put Bryan Gamboa (5^th), Shiv Patel (9^th), and Jack Worman (10^th) in the top ten to place second with 78 points using a 61 second split on their first five. Oswego scored 124 points to place third five points ahead of #23 Waubonsie Valley who was missing two of their top five from the lineup.

 

#4 Minooka showed that they have the stuff to win a trophy in the 3A Girls State Meet placing five in the first seven to easily win the team race with only 20 points. Ashley Tutt (Minooka HS) stormed away from the pack for her second invitational win as in many weeks crossing the line in 17:26. Teammate Emily Shelton was 22 seconds behind in second place. Emily Stegmeier (Elk Grove HS) broke up the top three Minooka sweep finishing third (18:03.4) five seconds ahead of Minooka’s Mackenzie Callahan. Minooka have their best five runner split of the year at 100 seconds. Oak Park-River Forest finished second scoring 80 points. Hoffman Estates, led by the fifth place finish by Meagan Biddle, placed third with 83 points.

 

Roy Griak Invitational

 

State top ranked Naperville North’s Girls team made their annual trip to Minneapolis and left with some hardware. The Huskies placed five runners in the first twenty-six to easily win the Gold Division race with 77 points. Edina MN placed second with 142 points followed by Lake Braddock VA scoring 202 points. Judy Pendergast ran 18:16.5 to finish second. Seventh grader Grace Ping (Cotter MN) won the race in 18:12.5 in a surprise to most of the observers at the course.

 

Naperville North ran a good 34 second split on their two to five runners. Emory Griffith led the pack finishing 12th followed by Sarah Schmitt (13^th), Claire Hamilton (24^th), and Jenny Gibson (26^th). Their overall five runner split was 99 seconds.

 

Culver Academies Invitational

 

#3 Lyons Township’s Boys team traveled east to Indiana and came back with their second straight championship of the Elite Division of this meet. Paced by a third place finish by junior Vince Zona, the Lions scored 61 points for a convincing win. Mason OH placed second with 118 points followed by third place Lake Central IN with 118 points. Downers Grove South also ran in the elite division placing 12^th overall led by the 35^th place finish by Stephen Pipilas.

 

Lyons Township had a 44 second split on their first five. Connor Madell followed Zona placing 7^th. Sophomore Danny Kilrea was next in for his team placing 10^th. Teammate Matt Begeman was five seconds behind Kilrea placing 14^th. Alex Pall was the team’s fifth man placing 27^th.

 

Illiana Christian repeated their Open Division championship scoring 62 points behind the 1-2 finish by Colin DeYoung and Nick Wondaal. DeYoung’s winning time was 16:14.9. The Vikings ran an 81 second 5 man split.

 

Springfield Invitational

 

Heath Warren (Springfield HS) announced on Friday that he made a verbal commitment to the University of Oklahoma. He celebrated that announcement Saturday morning with a win on his home course. The race was tight for the senior as he ran 15:27 to win by three seconds ahead of Tyler Johnson (Pleasant Plains HS) who ran 15:30. Carl Way (Danville HS) and Will O’Keefe (Granite City HS) finished within two seconds of each other in third and fourth. The Boys team competition was also tight as Central State Eight rivals Springfield and Chatham Glenwood were separated by two points. The #9 Senators edged #11 Chatham-Glenwood 63-65. Landon Skelly led the Titans with a fifth place finish.

 

2A #4 Rochester came back from their off week strongly. The Rockets won the Girls Varsity race with 61 points led by the second place finish of Katherine Petty. She challenged fellow freshman Katelyn Robbins until the end. Robbins ran 17:54 to win by only three seconds. Rochester had an 110 second split on their first five but only a 42 second spread from their second through fifth runners. #12 Chatham-Glenwood scored 111 points to place second. #24 Springfield finished third with 133 points only eight points ahead of #21 St. Teresa. 1A #4 Liberty was fifth with 166 points.

 

ACC Charger Classic

 

The two division meet separates the small and big schools by enrollment not multiplier. There were some fast times again on the Oakhurst Park course. The starting line had to be moved up 30 meters because of trees planted by the old starting line by the Forest Preserve.

 

The fastest time in all of the Girls races came in the small school Blue Division. Kyleigh Spearing (St. Ignatius Prep, Chicago) was allowed to run in the race. She was scheduled on a recruiting trip and could not change her travel arrangements. The meet organizers were nice enough to allow her to run. She responded with running 17:09 to win the race. Karina Liz (Aurora Central Catholic HS) ran a good 18:03 to finish second. Wheaton Academy placed five runners in the first eighteen to win the Blue team race scoring 55 points. Aurora Central Catholic scored 77 points to finish second. Metea Valley put five runners in the first sixteen to win the Gold Division team race with 39 points. 2A #15 Normal University finished second scoring 72 points. Burlington Central’s Megan Safranski ran 17:49 to win the race by six seconds ahead of Nicki Cast (Metea Valley HS, Aurora).

 

#2 Neuqua Valley did not bring their full varsity squad to run in the Gold Boys race. They did show their depth taking three of the first five places to score 39 points to win the division. Patrick Wolak led the Neuqua Valley charge winning the individual race winning by two tenths of a second ahead of Rockford Christian’s Nick Monkemeyer (14:54.8 – 14:55.0). Louisville Eastern KY scored 151 points to place second just ten points ahead of third place St. Charles East’s JV squad. Tanner Chada (Aurora Christian HS) looks fully recovered from his knee injury that sidelined him the entire track season. Last year’s 3^rd place finisher in the 1A winner ran 15:02 to win the Blue Division race by 38 seconds ahead of Nick Brouch (St. Francis HS, Wheaton).  Antioch ran a tight 21 second on their top five to win the team race with 73 points. They were eight points ahead of second place St. Francis.

 

Rock River Run @ Sterling

 

2A #5 Belvidere North placed five runners in the first twenty led by the individual win by Jenna Lutzow to win the Girls team championship with 50 points. Lutzow ran 18:00 to win the individual race by 18 seconds ahead of Madison Ronzone (Rosary HS, Aurora).  Hononegah scored 73 points to finish second. Hampshire finished third (124 points) just five points ahead of #20 Kaneland. #10 Rosary finished fifth but ran some of their top five in the Frosh/Soph race.

 

Belvidere North made it a sweep winning the Boys team race behind the 1-4 finish by Eryk Yunk and Eli Walker. The #8 Blue Thunder scored 47 points to easily win by over 60 points ahead of second place LaSalle-Peru. #22 Sterling was 11 points behind in third (124 points). #19 Dixon scored 128 points to place fourth. Yunk won the individual race running 15:27 nine seconds ahead of Stephen Poorten (Sycamore HS). Brayden Hamblen (Rock Falls HS) finished third three seconds behind Poorten.

 

Bartlett Flyin’ Hawk Invitational

 

Audrey Ernst (St. Charles North HS) won her second invitational of the season at Sunrise Park on Saturday running 17:58 to win the Girls Varsity race. She was 14 seconds ahead of second place Madison Marasco (Schaumburg HS). #12 Schaumburg ran four runners in the first eleven to win the team championship with 49 points. Huntley was twenty points back in second. #3 Batavia was entered in this meet but did not run their varsity.

 

#18 Huntley took three of the first four places in the Boys race. It was good enough to hold off #21 Fremd 54-65 for the team championship. Keagan Smith (Huntley HS) ran 15:14 to win the race by 12 seconds ahead of Danny Peterson (Fremd HS, Palatine). Jacobs scored 86 points to place third.

 

East Peoria Invitational

 

2A #1 Mahomet-Seymour put their top five in the first eight including sweeping the first four places to win the Boys race Saturday at the Illinois College course in East Peoria. The Bulldogs scored only 18 points for the win. Pekin was a distant second with 138 points. Dunlap was third with 150 points. Alex Keeble won his third invitational of the year running 14:48 and winning by 34 seconds ahead of teammate Andrew Walmer. Mahomet had a 44 second split on their first four and 70 seconds overall on their top five.

 

#2 Dunlap was without their second runner Miranda Kruiswyk but still rolled to the team title putting five runners in the first thirteen scoring 37 points. #7 Washington ran a 43 second split on their top five to place second with 70 points.  #25 Mahomet-Seymour scored 104 points to place third. Meagan Moreno (Morton HS) was the surprise winner running 18:19.3. She was four seconds ahead of all-state runners Lauren Whitehouse (Mahomet-Seymour HS) and Frannie Verville (Dunlap HS).

 

JT Taylor Grant Invitational

 

#6 Lake Forest placed four runners in the first nine to win the Girls team championship with 40 points Saturday morning at the Camp Henry Horner course. Host #19 Grant scored 55 points to place second behind the individual win by Danielle Osmon. The freshman ran 18:42 to win the race by three seconds ahead of Emma Milburn (Lake Forest HS). 2A #14 Grayslake Central finished third led by Megan Girmscheid’s fourth place finish. #19 Carmel Catholic was only six points back in fourth place. Lake Forest’s top four split was only 40 seconds with an overall scoring split of 94 seconds.

 

2A #2 Grayslake Central was again without top runner Jack Aho. The Rams still dominated the Boys team race scoring 29 points while placing five runners in the first eleven. They had a 61 second split on their top five. Luke Beattie (Woodstock HS) was an easy individual winner running 15:35. He finished 15 seconds ahead of Matt Aho (Grayslake Central HS) and another three seconds ahead of Matt Myers (Lake Forest HS). Crystal Lake South was a distant second with 98 points. Lake Forest scored 127 points to take third.

 

Tolfree/Farley Invitational

 

2A #8 Lemont placed five runners in the first eleven to win the Olympic Division Girls team championship. The Indians scored 28 points behind the 1-2 finish by Gabby Voltarel (18:50) and Taylor Campos (18:52). 1A #13 Chicago Christian was second with 65 points. 2A #13 Marist placed five runners in the first twelve to win the Championship division with 38 points. Lincoln-Way East and Joliet West finished second and third. Maddie Blaauw (Joliet West HS) ran 18:53 to win the individual race by eleven seconds ahead of teammate Charlotte Youell.

 

Paul Milkus (Shepard HS, Palos Heights) ran 16:05 to win the Olympic Division individual race by 15 seconds ahead of Jason Mallo (Richards HS, Oak Lawn). Shepard, without top runner Caleb Washington, scored 55 points to win the division championship. They were sixteen points ahead of second place Bremen. Raul Rosendo (Joliet Central HS) led three runners under 16 minutes as he won the Championship Division team race with a 15:48 winning time. He won by seven seconds ahead of Lincoln-Way East’s Scott Platek. Rosendo’s win led Joliet Central to the division title with 76 points. Lincoln-Way East and Brother Rice finished second and third.

 

Ziomek Invitational

 

Whitney Young won the Girls team championship with 42 points led by the individual win by Ella Behrens. Her 18:51 winning time was 15 seconds faster than second place finisher Katie Glew (North Shore Country Day, Winnetka). Payton College Prep scored 82 points to place second. Jones College Prep scored 100 points to place third.

 

Clayton Mendez (Whitney Young HS, Chicago) ran 15:10 to win the individual race by ten seconds ahead of Jaime Marcos (Von Steuben HS, Chicago). Walmer Saavedra (Lindblom Academy, Chicago) ran 15:27 to finish third two seconds ahead of freshman Sam Rivera (Whitney Young HS, Chicago). Whitney Young did not run their full top seven. The #15 Dolphins won the Boys team championship with 52 points. Lindblom Academy scored 75 points to place second.

 

Freeburg Invitational

 

The 6-7-8 finish by Kayla Whitworth, Kristen Collier, and Ashley Gilmore was enough to give host 1A #10 Freeburg the Girls team championship with 48 points. They were only 12 points ahead of #22 Breese Mater Dei who scored 60 points. Waterloo and Troy Triad finished third and fourth. Freeburg’s five runner split was only 63 seconds. Abi Richter (Triad HS, Troy) ran 18:22 to win the individual race by only a second ahead of freshman Jenna Schwartz (Waterloo HS).

 

The 1-3 finish by Charlie Parrish and Alex Mack led the way for #8 Freeburg to win the Boys championship with only 39 points. They placed five in the first thirteen with only a 77 second split on their first five. Parrish and Jake Schwartz (Waterloo HS) crossed the line with the same time (16:06) with Parrish just edging Schwartz at the line. Waterloo scored 64 points to place second.

 

Roger Schmidt Invitational @ Winnebago

 

1A #12 Sterling Newman placed all seven runners in the first twenty to win the Boys team championship with 43 points. Rockford Boylan and Harvard finished second and third. Newman’s Chris Ahlers ran 14:56 over the 2.85 mile course at Fuller Forest Preserve to win the individual race by 16 seconds ahead of PJ Nordgren (Hiawatha HS, Kirkland).

 

The 1-2 finish by Delaney Appino and Grace McLaughlin powered 2A #23 Rockford Boylan to 41 points and the Girls team championship. 1A #11 Winnebago scored 66 points to place second. Byron finished third.

 

Kewanee Boiler Invitational

 

1A #24 Amboy placed three runners in the top ten, led by the third place finish by Megan Grady, to win the Girls team championship with 64 points. Knoxville scored 78 points to place second just two points ahead of third place #21 Ottawa Marquette. Haley Weidner (Bureau Valley HS, Manlius) ran 19:21 to win the individual race by seven seconds ahead of second place Katherine Schneider (Illinois Valley Central HS, Chilicothe).

 

 

The Boys team race was close as #21 Galva-Mid County won the team championship with 53 points and only 1 point ahead of #16 Illinois Valley Central. Putnam County scored 81 points to place third. Roland Aguilar (Kewanee HS) won the individual race on his home course. His time of 16:29 was nine seconds faster than second place Owen Habeger (Illinois Valley Central HS, Chilicothe).