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Niles West Sectional
This sectional had a battle between the state's top 2 teams for Class
AA boys. York and Lyons Twp. went head-to-head yet again, and Lyons won.
Lyons beat York in a very close, exciting matchup, 38-44. Team scoring
went like such:
Lyons: 3,5,8,9,13,19,55.
York: 1,2,10,15,16,23,24
The other three teams that did a great job to make state were: Oak Park-River
Forest (139), Downers Grove North (141), and Willowbrook (142). As you
can see it was very close for those final spots. Individually York senior
Adam Manta won the race over his sophomore teammate Sean McNamara 15:05-15:06.
Both ran a blazing final 600 to hold off Lyons' top runner, junior Brad
Topol, who was third in 15:09. Rounding out the top five were Alan Jackson
(Hinsdale Central) and Sam Watson (OPRF). Great job to both Lyons Twp.
and York. Their state match-up should be exciting.
On the girls side York dominated. They will be shooting for a state trophy
for sure next weekend. York won with a mere 49 points, beating second
place Benet, who scored 112 points. Lyons Twp. was third with 116 points,
while Hinsdale Central and Oak Park-River Forest tied for the final spot,
both scoring 118 points. Individually York senior, Kara Henry, won the
race in 18:08. She beat second place runner Lisa Bokios (Lyons) by seven
seconds.
Schaumburg Sectional
Sam Romanoski (Lake Zurich) won in the last half mile of the race, even
though he was increadibly sick earlier in the week and was still recovering.
Romanoski showed guts to outrun Micky Cobrin (Stevenson) in the final
half mile to beat Cobrin 14:54-15:00. It was a great individual race.
Junior Andy Napier (Antioch) was a suprise third running 15:11, while
Dan Stock (Prospect) and Hunter Sheldon (Vernon Hills) rounded out the
top five, both running 15:14. In the close team race New Trier won. They
scored 112 points to win over second place Stevenson, who scored 140 points.
Prospect was third with 149 points, Wheeling was fourth (150), and Schaumburg
was fifth (153). All the teams ran great. Stevenson's hard-working summer
is paying off for them big time, while Wheeling made it even though their
number one runner, Gerardo Herrera, was 47th.
On the girls side, Barrington suprised and won, scoring 73 points. Schaumburg
was second with 99 points beating third place Palatine by seven points.
Rounding out the top five spots were New Trier (177) and Fremd (194).
Wheeling sophomore, Jessie Morgenthal, won yet another meet this season,
this time winning in a good time of 18:09. Barrington junior Christina
Fiduccia led her team with a second place finish in 18:12. Carrie Moffett
(Lake Zurich) was third in 18:13, while Suzy Turner (Palatine) was fourth
and Collen Byrne (Maine West) was fifth.
Rich East Sectional
Andrew junior Matt Withrow won yet again this season, as he ran tough
to win the sectional over Brother Rice senior Brent Cunningham 14:25-14:34
on the 2.9 mile course. Naperville Central senior Sean Hardy was third
in 14:42, while Neuqua Valley's unheralded Ben Barron was fourth in 14:46
and Dan Curran (Nap. North) was fifth in 14:49. In the team race, Naperville
North won the team title, running a great race scoring 84 points, just
beating second place Neuqua Valley, who scored 88 points. Lockport Twp.
was third, despite a bad race by Jeremy Williams, as they scored 95 points.
Brother Rice was fourth in 103, and Naperville Central took the last team
spot with 108 points.
On the girls side Naperville North's Lisa Bonistalli won the individual
crown in 17:22, just beating junior Kim Archer (Sandburg), who ran 17:23.
Sandburg also took the next two places, with Maureen Nelligan and Melanie
Glander both running 17:31 to take 3-4. Sandburg won the team race easily,
as they dominated scoring only 45 points to take the team title. They
are looking so strong heading into the state meet. Neuqua Valley was second
with 83 points to take second, while Lockport Twp. (118 points), Naperville
North (119), and Naperville Central (121) rounded out the other qualifying
teams.
Stephen Pifer (Edwardsville) won his sectional easily, as did Meghan
Braffet (Normal West). They are the two state favorites going into the
state meet. However, Romanoski and Withrow will challenge Pifer strongly.
Braffet is the easy favorite. Sandburg is the favorite for Class AA girls,
Wheaton Academy is the favorite for Class A girls, Winnebago is the favorite
for Class A boys, while Lyons and York will be the top two favorites for
the Class AA boys race.
Next weekend is going to rock.
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