2007 AAA Girls Cross Country Preview

by: Tony Jones- illinoisprep@yahoo.com 

New changes abound this season as the IHSA has implemented an additional class.  Nothing really changes for AAA expect for a few key teams moving down to AA.  A talented East Peoria team drops to the lower division as does defending state champion Caitlin Comfort (Peoria Notre Dame).

Hinsdale Central is the overwhelming favorite to defend their championship.   The Red Devils return to form after all returnees had excellent track seasons.  Illinois has always been an excellent state when it comes to cross country depth and this season will be no exception.  A host of teams that include Barrington, Lockport, Wheaton North, and Chicago Mother McCauley will not only garner attention here statewide but also in the Midwest region and on the national season as the season progresses.

Individually, the championship crown will change hands because of a new division as  the defending large class champion has moved down.  This year’s champion could very well be Crystal Lake South’s Kristina Aubert.  She won the 3200m title this past spring and word has it she has enjoyed a superb summer of training.  Lizzy Hynes (St. Charles East) and Kailyn Kuzmuk Tinley Park Andrew will contend.  Lockport has perhaps a double force in Liz Phillips and Janna Mitsos.  That of course will depend on how the team is constructed.  Kristin Sutherland was state runner up and there is only way to go of course.  Finally, the question that has to be answered is senior Lauren Haberkorn (Chicago Marist).  Lauren won the state title back in 2005.  She had rough 2006 before calling it quits because of injury.  Word is that she is once again healthy and will be taking things slow to moderate as the season progresses.

#1 Hinsdale Central-

Status quo: 2006 state champion; 10^th Nike Team Nationals; undefeated in regular season.

Key Returnees: Elaine Kuckertz Sr. (9^th), Lauren Zumbach Jr. (29^th), Lizzy Hines Jr. (30^th), Emily Cleary Sr. (86^th), Heather Stevens Jr. (89^th).

Outlook: one of the top teams in the nation look to return as state champs.  The Red Devils blitzed the competition last year on route to their program’s first harrier crown.  This fall campaign should be more of the same.  Veteran head coach Mark McCabe has developed a smooth formula of getting his getting his girls to perform at their best in late October and November.  Kukertz placed a surprising 9th in ’06 but continued her swift ways running a blazing 5:02 1600 this past spring.  Zumbach should run in tandem as she showed consistency throughout her tenure.  Add the 9:14 4x8 to the mix from the previous track season and Grace Hucek (So.) (11:21- 3200m).  Forget state the Red Devils might be fighting for the national championship come December.

#2 Barrington-

Status: 2006 state runner up; lost just one affair in ’06.

Key Returnees: 6 of top 7 return.

Outlook: if there is a team that can slow down Hinsdale Central it will be the Fillies.  Coach Deb Revolta’s squad will have another talented team to just that.  On paper this year’s edition appear to be much better than last season and perhaps more talented than the ’03 that won state.  Look for Samantha Learch (21^st) and Rebecca Tracy (54^th) to be the glue that sticks.   Tracy might just contend for the individual title if the outstanding track season she had.  The Fillie youngster produced monster times of 5:00 and 11:06.  The versatile Molly Glantz (51^st) has the potential at all-state status based on her competitive nature (multiple all state track athlete in a variety of events: mid-distance, hurdles, sprints). 

#3 Chicago (Mother McCauley)-

Status: 4^th place in state in ’06 (219 pts)

Key Returnees: top six return.

Outlook: The Mighty Macs should be strong as ever with a year experience under their belt.  The team from the far southwest side of Chicago will not hide under the radar as they did much of last season.  The Macs enjoyed a sweet track season that should parlay into this upcoming cross country season.  Just one point prevented them from attaining a state trophy.  In order for state trophy status to occur the Macs will need a top running from Junior Annie Hurley (20^th).  Hurley dedicated much of her time running the 4x8 relay instead of individual events.  The McGreal twins Megan and Beth (sophomores.) both placed in the top 50 at state and will look to move into top 25 this November.  Senior Carly Condon (82^nd) should add depth and leadership to the fold.

#4 Palatine-

Status: 8^th place state meet (258 pts.)

Key returnees: 5 of 7 are back

Outlook: last year’s team appeared to be in a rebuilding mode but placed in the top ten at state anyway.  Coach Steve Currins now has a loaded and experienced bunch back.  The expectations are very high season.  The Pirates often relish in naysayer’s overlooking them.  That observation will be hard after many of the returnees had an outstanding track season this past spring.  For starters, Colleen Standridge (Sr.) was 33^rd at state XC and was a key member of the state runner up 4x8 this past spring.  The team’s best runner may be Tory Wright (Jr.) who ran 2:18 and 5:12.  She can also lay it down on the XC course as well.  Emma Maslanka (Jr.) should add depth.  Maslanka was injured throughout much of the track season but did run 5:22 during the winter campaign.  The biggest surprise for the Pirates will not be Ruth Allen (So.).  Allen flew under the radar until the state track meet where she popped a 2:18 and 5:14.  Allen was on the JV team last season.  It is safe to say that the Pirates streak of top 10 state meet performances will continue.

#5   Lockport-

Status: 6^th place in ’06 state meet (239pts)

Key returnees: top 7 runners return

Outlook: the Porters are a very hard team to figure out.  On paper they have a unit capable of dominating.  They had three all-staters in Janna Mitsos Jr. (3^rd), Liz Phillips Sr. (5^th), and Erin Lakie Sr. (24^th).  The problem is that their 4-7 runners can’t even remotely match the trio.  The Porters fifth runner was 1:20 behind #3 runner.  Gina Montagno Sr. (140^th) is certainly better than the performance she gave last year.

In addition, the Porters aces didn’t have a particularly great track season.  Phillips and Montagno opted for the 4x8 and Mitsos didn’t run.  The question will be “what team are getting from Lockport” says an astute observer.  “It’s either gonna be a star studded team destined for greatness or three young women out there running.”

#6 Roselle (Lake Park)-

Status: 5^th place- ’06 state meet (227 pts)

Key returnees: six of top seven runners return.

Outlook: the Lancers were one of those teams that many people overlook until it was too late.  That will not happen this season.  The LP attack only loss was graduated Sangeeta Hardy (59^th).  The team is still relatively young with solid pack running behind Trisha Ehrhardt Jr. (42^nd), Juliet Vogel Jr. (87^th), and Ashley Prochanzka So. (189^th).  But the team leader is going to be Lindsay Flannagan Jr (85^th).  Flannagan is Ms. Everything for the Lancers.  She had a great track season running in the 5:10 range for the mile and being the stop gap on a solid 4x8 that produced numerous 9:30 marks.  Expect the Harvey Braus led team going for another top 5-10 finish this November.

#7 Naperville North-

Status: 9^th place- ’06 state meet (270pts)

Key returnees: five starters return

Outlook: coach Dan Iverson is confident that the 2007 Huskies will overcome some of the fallacies that plagued them a year ago.  For one, all of his key runners are healthy.

The top group will start with Michelle Stratton Jr. (46^th).  Stratton had a solid spring track season and great training summer, will be followed closely by Joanna Brodecki (So.), Jamie Schertz (So.), and Elle Metz (Sr.).  The rumors were true of the Huskies having a super newcomer class.  Freshman Alex Wernette will lead along with fellow freshman Adrienne Schertz.  Add veterans Erica Schertz (Sr.) and Marissa Speckmann (Jr.) along with 11:30 two-miler Emily Grissom (So.) the Huskies become a title threat of two seasons ago.  Coach Iverson indicated that he is excited about the prospects of this season but cautions “we have the most depth I’ve ever seen from us through the summer , but have a long way to before I’d make any really bold predictions about where we could be!”

#8 Wheaton North-

Status: 11^th at ’06 state (325 pts)

Key returns: six of top seven runners return

Outlook: the Falcons should be a top five team again after a somewhat down season.  WN return former all-state runner and leader Jackie Laesch (Sr.) after she missed the state series due to injury.  Jamie Orewiler Sr. (23^rd) was the team’s lone all-state runner from a year ago.  However, she is far from the lone talent returning.  Four outstanding sophomores will contribute to success: Kelsey Tharnstrom, Emily Delaney, Katina Bolos and Meggie Exner.  Contributing runners include seniors Elle Renier and Shannon Mueller; junior: Felicia Speranske; freshmen: Alexa Reinecke, Maggie Westwater, Karen Jensen and Jose Koener.

Assistant coach Frank Anderson believes this year’s team is very deep in talent, and could end up being the most talented in school history.

#9 LaGrange (Lyons Twp)-

Status: 7^th- ’06 state meet (256 pts)

Key returns: six of top seven runners are back.

Outlook: the Lions started out last season under the radar mainly because several of the team’s top runners were underclassmen or not in shape.  Jane Simpson Sr. (18^th) was not the team’s #1 runner until late in the state series.  Simpson came on strong and finished among the best despite having a so-so overall season.  Katherin Rehn So. (68^th) was the team’s ace for the vast majority of the season.  Rehn will be out to prove that last year was not a fluke.  Fellow sophomores Emily Meingast (92^nd), Alexa Adducci (132^nd), and Eliza Dudley (149^th) should move up into the fold as the season progresses.  The key to returning to another top ten state finish for coach Julie Metz will be senior Keegan Kilrea (66^th).  Kilrea had a good track season and that will hopefully carry over this fall.

#10 Edwardsville-

Status: 17^th place- ’06 state meet (418 pts)

Key returns: five of top seven runners return.

Outlook: coach John Cunningham is excited about the prospects of the upcoming season and he should be.  The Tigerettes success in cross country is usually predicated on what happens the previous sports season.  His wonderful middle distance runners parlayed a 9:20 4x800 relay at the state meet and three of the four legs will contribute mightily this harrier campaign.  For starters, Courtney Smith Jr., Liz Speicher Sr., Lia Saunders Sr., Kaci Smith Sr., and Kristin Hodge Sr. will lead a strong upperclassmen group.  Coach Cunningham loses graduated ace Leah Bateman (now at Central Missouri State) but adds stop gaps Stephanie Dalla Riva (So.), Ellen Atwood (So.), and incoming talented freshman Alex Wever, who was an IESA state medalist in XC last season.

Rest of the best: Downers Grove South- coach Doug Plunkett’s Mustang squad was very competitive and strong last season.  The Mustangs were among the top 15 much of the season but had the misfortune of being in the toughest sectional in state history a year ago- they finished 10^th at Lockport.  More of the same could happen but expect veteran runners Nicole Thate (Jr.), Grace Magliola (So.), Casey Harms (So.), and Jessica Pacholski (So.) to lead the way.  The fifth runner appears to be an issue and that will need to be corrected for the Mustangs can think about moving beyond the sectional round.  Palos Hilis (Stagg) was stopped cold at the Lockport sectional last season but Annette Glaz Sr. (14^th- state) and Kara Moylan Jr. (16^th) proved their efforts on behalf of the team were not in vain. Coach Julie Bertola would like to add the remaining cast this season though for a trip to Peoria. Look for Kara’s twin sister Krista to rebound from a bad sectional and join in on the fun this fall.  She ran 5:13 for the 1600 during the spring… Oak Park-River Forest will look to improve on their 12^th place state finish behind ace Katherine Rack (10^th).  The Huskies will be strong behind a solid group of sophomores… Mt. Prospect (Prospect) returns their top five runners from a 21^st finish at the state meet.  Sophomore Annette White (28^th) is fast becoming one of the best young distance runners out of the tough MSL conference… St. Charles East will be led by super runner Lizzy Hynes Jr. (5^th).  East finished a very disappointing 22^nd last year at state after having top five visions… St. Charles North came on when it counted last year- the state meet.  Stephanie Strasser So. (8^th) was a big contributor in the team’s first successful trip to state that resulted in the team finishing 13^th… Coach Bob Geiger’s Chicago Whitney Young team is poised to become the first public league team to advance to state this fall.  In order for this to happen his sophomore trio of Rachel Joravsky, Devyn Thompson, and Lavinia Jurikiewicz will need to step it up another notch.  Joravsky placed 55^th at state last season and has big plans for much more this season.  Thompson, primarily a middle distance ace, can run the longer distance when called upon.  The key will for the Dolphins will be the placement of their 4-7 runners as the season progresses… Orland Park Sandburg has another solid team back with state runner up Kristin Sutherland (Sr.) and splendid middle distance runner Erin Czuprynski (Jr.) who ran 5:05 during the spring, as excellent showstoppers.  If somehow the Eagles can survive a tough regional and sectional then state will be a piece of cake.

-Top AAA Girls-

(In no particular order with ’06 state XC performances and/or 2007 track marks)

Kristin Sutherland (Sr.) Orland Park Sandburg- state XC runner up

Kailyn Kuzmuk (Sr.) Tinley Park Andrew- 4^th XC; 5:01.87/11:05.77

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Hynes (Sr.) St. Charles East- 6^th XC; 5:01.30

Kalli Dalton (So.) Hoffman Estates Conant- 7^th XC; 2:15.0/5:01.30/11:29

Liz Phillips (Sr.) Lockport- 5^th XC

Kristina Aubert (So.) Crystal Lake South- 72^nd XC; 5:01.30/10:51.12- state 3200m champ.

Stephanie Strasser (So.) St. Charles North- 8^th XC; 5:12/11:04

Katherine Rack (So.) Oak Park-River Forest- 10^th; 5:06.48/11:09.86

Heather Olson (Jr.) Gurnee Warren- 17^th XC; 5:02.70/11:29

Rebecca Tracy (Jr.) Barrington- 54^th XC; 5:00.56/11:09

Elaine Kuckertz (Jr.) Hinsdale Central- 9^th XC; 2:15r/5:02.27

Janna Mitsos (Jr.) Lockport- 3^rd XC

Annette White (So.) Mt. Prospect Prospect- 28^th XC; 5:11/11:29

Ashley Verplank (Sr.) Bloomington- 58^th XC; 2:07.59/4:54.95/11:09

Amber Stack (Sr.) Wheeling- 25^thXC; 11:10

Lauren Zumbach (Jr.) Hinsdale Central- 29^th XC; 5:12/11:07.50

Erin Czuprynski (Jr.) Orland Park Sandburg- 52^nd XC; 5:05.78

Regina George (Jr.) Gordon Tech- 17:30 3mile in 2005; 2:10.95/5:20

Annette Glaz (Sr.) Palos Hills Stagg- 15^th XC; 5:11/11:11

Mckinzie Schulz (So.) Lisle Benet Academy- 13^th XC; 2:14/5:04+

Kara Moylan (Jr.) Palos Hills Stagg- 16^th XC; 11:19

Lauren Haberkorn (Sr.) Chicago (Marist)- 2005 state AA champion; 10:54 and state runner up in 3200m.