 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IL Wheaton North Recap
A recap of the events of the 25th annual Wheaton North Flighted Invitational.
Wheaton IL
Bob Geiger
Energy was in the air as the 25th annual Wheaton North Flighted Invitational started. With over 2,000 competitors and nearly 4,000 spectators,
this years classic had the makings for something special. The energy had transfered to the runners as the early flights took off to a cool and crisp day.
In the seventh flight, Freshmand Grace Klein of Hinsdale Central and Junior Emily Grissom battled ahead of the rest of the field after the mile mark.
It became quite evident that the two west suburban teams would be looking for each other at every flight.
Lyons Township runner Meggie McDonald finished 3rd in her final Wheaton North appearance, edging out Sophomore Kasey Zaremba of
Lincoln Way East.
 The sixth flight, which took off four minutes after the seventh, saw seniors Lauren Zumbach of Hinsdale Central and Alexis McAdams of Naperville North
square off before Zumbach opened a 23 second lead. Fremd sophomore Emi Sudo finished 3rd, four seconds behind McAdams.
In the fifth flight, the opening mile saw a pack of twelve runners come through the mile mark before Hersey Junior Ashley Martin
and Hinsdale Central Junior Graylin Harrison pulled away, with Martin finishing the race three seconds ahead of Harrison in 18:47.
Lyons' Junior Kelsey Kilrea held on for third in 18:58.
Zumbach of
Hinsdale Central
The fourth flight was a battle of Freshmen, and saw a tight pack make their way through the course.
Jacqueline Thate of Downers Grove Southheld off fellow freshman Stephanie Sanders of Lockport, and Junior
Christina Rei of Naperville North.
Thate of Downers Grove
Flight three was perhaps the most competitive of all flights. By the time the third flight took off (10:00 am), temperatures had wrmed up
and the ground had been well matted down.
The third flight saw a pack of 9 to 10 runners stay together through two miles. Traversing along the north side of the park's pond, the
pack began to thin out and three runners stood alone, Lavinia Jurkiewicz of newcomers Whitney Young, Jamie Schertz of Naperville North, and Hinsdale Central's Katie Kummerer.
The trio stayed together until the end, and with 200 meters left in the race, it was still anyones race to win. Schertz was the first to start her kick, and ended up
winning in 18:49, holding off Kummerer (18:51) and Jurkiewicz (18:54).
In the second flight, two freshmen went right to the front and ran toe to toe for the entire 3.05 mile race.
Megan O'Brien of Lockport, individual runner up at the Peoria Woodruff Invitational this year, ended up outkicking
Mallory Abel of St. Charles East, 18:04-18:06. Fellow Freshman Lauren Mordini of Wheaton Warrenville South, standing just under 5 feet tall,
conquered many giants to take third in 18:13.
The Championship flight was set to go with perhaps the toughest girls field set to line up this season.
The race included favorite Lindsay Flannagan of Lake Park, undefeated on the season and having already boasted two sun 17:00
three mile performances. Not to be outdone, two time Championship Flight winner Janna Mitsos of Lockport.
Added to the field in 2008 was Warren Township High School and their star runner Heather Olson. Not to be overlooked was
Argo Champion Monica Hahn of Lincoln Way Central, Hinsdale Central's Elaine Kuckertz, Hersey Freshman Salena Clohisy, Lyons Katherin Rehn, and York's Meghan Frigo.
The field was loaded and ready to go.
    
Flannagan sent a message early, going out in under 5:30 for the firlst mile and opening up a 50 meter lead on the rest of the field.
 With world Cross Country competitor Emily Brown (left) of New Balance looking on (18th in the world XC Championships in 2008), Flannagan continued to
open her lead. With her high knee lift and strong arm swing, Flannagan appears to be on a mission.
"I was kinda sick all week, so my goal was to come in and just try to run as fast as I could today", Flannagan later stated,"I hope to be able to
break the state course record this year, then move on to compete nationally at Foot Locker and Nike Cross Nationals."
The race for second was 30 seconds behind Flannagan, as she ran a course and meet record, 17:21 for 3.05 miles.
Not to be outdone, Lizzy Hynes of St. Charles and Olsen separated themselves from the rest of the pack
with Hynes holding on to finish second in 17:50. Olsen later stated "It was a great day and great weather. I feel really strong now I will keep training like I have been and hopefully I'll get faster and will be right up with (Flannagan) at the end of
the season."
Despite his teams win over Naperville North, Coach Mark McCabe expressed, "We were very solid today, not our best day, but still a very good day. It is always our plan to be the best we can be at the end of the year." The Red Devils have a dual meet this next week against Lyons before their conference meet on October 18th.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
