Two-time defending state champion Naperville North will be ready to compete for another NXN appearance
Additional storylines by Tony Jones and Mark Dywer
The team to beat here is no other than Naperville North. The Huskies breezed through their school season with ease including signature wins at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational and the Illinois State Championship. At one time the Huskies were rated US#1 ahead of Fayetteville-Manlius NY and Great Oak CA. Despite winning the 3A title in cumulative record time last weekend, the Huskies were not overly pleased with their efforts. The big goal is Portland and nabbing one of the big plaques if not the Gold plated one in December. Indiana University signee Sarah Schmitt and junior Alex Morris are the go to girls. They have placed inside of the top five in every race outside the Griak Invite this season. Senior Hannah Ricci is a rock solid #3 girl whose personal best 17:01 (3m) is nothing to sneeze at. For added support, the Huskies have one of the best closing packs in the country.
Centerville OH is a traditionally strong team from the Buckeye state who just got a close win in their D1 big class state championship last weekend by 15 points over Ursuline Academy. The Elks was led by freshman Emma Bucher at state despite junior Grace Kilroy leading them all season. Bucher was 18:16.40 for 12th overall and Kilroy was 18:25.00 for 18th overall. The top four scorers for their squad are eligible to return next year, so this team is built to last. Their 1 -5 time avg was 18:43 - that's pretty solid.
Yorkville IL will be on full alert in this year's race after finishing second in the 3A title last weekend. The Lady Foxes have run extremely well this season and fought valiently against Naperville North in several meets this season. They also know finishing in the top three is important especially if Indiana champion and highly ranked Zionsville is in the field. Ft. Wayne Carroll and Carmel IN are the next best squads from the Hoosier state... Lyons Twp, Wheaton-Warrenville South, Downers Grove South, Dunlap, and 1A champion Unity are the Illinois teams to watch.
The individual race will be a great one to behold with the defending champion Katelynne Hart in the field. Hart had a close affair last weekend in the 3A state meet against Enyaeva Michelin of Evanston. In that contest, Hart could not shake Michelin until the final 600m where she won by a scant 9 seconds- her lowest of the season. Hart has hinted all along that her training has been geared more toward the post-season march to nationals. Now that time is here in a field loaded with individual talent.
Emma Wilson (Greencastle IN) may have stunned some foes with a state finals win over previous defending champion Tyler Schwartz (Dekalb) who finished third. But keep in mind that Wilson was the state 3200m champion and finished her IHSAA xc season without a loss. While Wilson did not garner the respect of other FLO 50 ranked runners, she will be at the top of the pack and ready to advance to Portland. Last year's finalist Anne Forsyth (Ann Arbor MI) joins an already loaded Wolverine state field.