Minooka girls will look to get the jump on the competition (Steven Bugarin photo)
Girls-
Teams: #1 Naperville North, 2A #1 Yorkville, #2 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West), #3 Minooka, #7 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #13 Naperville (Neuqua Valley), #16 Naperville Central, #19 Hinsdale Central, Aurora (Metea Valley), Aurora (Waubonsie Valley)
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This affair could be one of the most exciting match ups between a bevy of teams as we have ever seen in a small field. There are only ten teams but the top four overall squads in the state are here! What is interesting about this contest is this is the only time that we will see Naperville North, Yorkville, Glenbard West, and Minooka go head to head. Yorkville is in the 2A classification and Glenbard West, Minooka, and Naperville North are all in different state qualifying meets. So it is a remote possibility they will not meet again this season. This potentially could be bigger than the state meet in terms of race excitement.
Top ranked Naperville North will be locked and loaded this time. The Huskies coach Dan Iverson was seething a bit after suffering a defeat to Yorkville at the First To The Finish Invitational last month. His team was beaten handily 69-101. Although they did not have two of their top five runners in that match up, Iverson indicated that his team's lack of execution would not have mattered. Now they have another opportunity to prove to themselves that they are the best team in the land of Lincoln. The Huskies appear to be back on track after smashing a tremendous field up in Minnesota at the Roy Griak Invitational two weeks ago. #1 runner senior Judy Pendergast finished second there but the 2-5 scorers were the difference in the victory. It is going to take another duplicate effort.
Yorkville is a great team in their respect with four straight state championships under head coach Chris Muth. This year has been a special one thus far for the Foxes who have been absolutely dominant in two major invitationals. The key to the team's success has been superb pack runner. In the two contests at FTTF and Palatine, the five scorers ran :23 and :12. This unselfish team does not have a dominant runner since senior Skyler Bollinger moved away to California to join US#1 Great Oak. On any given day Alexis Grandys (Jr.), Nicole Greyer (Fr.), Summer Pierson (Sr.,), Maddie Dearborn (Jr.), etc. could hold the mantle. Despite all the accolades the Foxes have earned over the past five seasons, they seem to be under appreciated. Even after beating Naperville North their accomplished seemed to be dismissed. Despite all that has been mentioned, Muth is extremely excited about the opportunity before him and his team. "You have no idea how excited I am for [this] test," he said ahead of the big meet. "As a program we have worked so hard to be in the conversation with these teams and we will see if we belong. I can't wait!!"
Glenbard West hasn't exactly flown under the radar with solid performances all season long. While the team lost senior Lindsay Graham, who happens to be the defending 3A state champ, the Hilltoppers have gained a formable front runner in Lindsey Payne. Payne has been super this season with victory after victory including the dismantling of 2A beast senior Maryjeanne Gilbert of Peoria Notre Dame at the Richard Spring Invite. Gilbert has been revered as the state's top runner in many respects. But the Lady Hilltoppers are not a one woman team as a consistent 2-5 scoring spread has proven this season. The highly touted Richard Spring meet was won because #2 runner senior Kathryn Kenwood is having an outstanding season and her scoring mates have kept sight of her. The team produced a 35-second finishing flourish after her. Expect Glenbard West to continue its strong running ways Wednesday evening.
Minooka is a great team this season on the strength of its three-headed monster: juniors Ashley Tutt, Mackenzie Callahan, and sophomore Emily Shelton. The state's top trio has been nothing short of spectacular with top 10 finishes in every race this season. Tutt and Callahan ran 16:55 while Shelton clocked a smooth 17:13 for season bests. They are a coaches dream because of their extremely low scoring marks on a consistent basis. The team's signature win was over Glenbard West at the Hinsdale Hornet-Devil Invite 72-75. It could have been by a larger margin had it not been the team's Achilles Heel on the back end of the scoring. The #5 position at times has run two minutes off the pace. This can't happen against Naperville North and Yorkville if the Indians expects to compete for a top two spot. Despite those concerns head coach Kevin Gummerson is still excited: "I love a great weekday battle, but this is a whole new level. It's going to be a great test."
Wheaton-Warrenville South is a solid program with juniors Sara Akins and Allison McGrath leading the way for the Tigers who will fight for a top 3-4 placement.
Neuqua Valley has been in the top 20 all season long and this will be an opportunity for the Wildcats to make a statement and move on a few of the state's elite teams. Junior Caitlin Horn is the leader of her emerging team that possesses six girls under 19:00- 46 seconds separates Horn from #6.
Naperville Central on the strength of junior Alana Austin is a squad that has not fallen off despite the graduation of some veteran leadership. The key question might be 'will this be a team that is capable of picking of a top five finish and carry that momentum into the upcoming post-season?'
Don't discount Hinsdale Central either. The Devilettes have had some injury issues but still should be considered a very dangerous team. The sophomore duo of Grace McCabe and Reilly Revord have proven time and again they can compete with the best of them.
The individual race will be a state preview between Pendergast and Payne. Both girls have been absolutely dominate this season. Pendergast comes in with a personal best of 16:18- the fastest ever time during the regular season. Payne is no slouch with her IL#2 mark of 16:28. The over/under is very high in that the fans will see a blazing opening pace. At FTTF Pendergast clocked 5:25 for the mile and stated that it felt comfortable. Payne can sit on the same fast pace too. If the weather conditions are ripe and the course a runner friend one, we could see a monster time. Tutt, Callahan, and Shelton will be in the mix for a top finish as they usually are.