Girls-
Katelynne Hart will be off to the races once again this Saturday
Race Times:
Girls- Frosh-Soph 9a, Varsity 9:40a, Open 10:20a
Ranked teams:
3A- #4 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West), #12 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #13 Geneva, #14 Oswego, #15 O'Fallon, #16 Lincolnshire (Stevenson), #17 Palatine, #20 Elmhurst (York), #23 Park Ridge (Maine South)
2A- #6 Mahomet-Seymour, #16 Aurora (Rosary)
1A- #3 St. Joseph-Ogden, #18 Champaign (St. Thomas More)
Glenbard West is heavy favorite-
Last year the Hilltoppers easily won 73-159 over Wheaton-Warrenville South on the strength of Katelynne Hart and Lindsey Payne. It could be the same outcome once again as the sophomore sensation Hart is back and better than ever after posting a more than stellar 16:08 last weekend at the Lake Park Invitational. After the tough 1-2 Hilltoppers punch is junior Katie Hohe who has provided another low stick for her team in two meets. It may all that Glenbard West needs to overcome a big and expected 1-5 split which is overrated because of Hart.
The early season identity of several teams will be decided before high noon Saturday. Wheaton-Warrenville South is one of those teams that is looking to separate themselves from a crowded pack. Although the Tigers do not have a true front runner, sophomore Maria Rucoba has stepped up. Rucoba won last weekend's Wauconda Invitational in 17:39- the team's best recording. The supporting cast was solid but needs to get better than 75 seconds.
Geneva finished second at Wauconda but has yet to run a full squad. This is usually the time when coach Bob Thomson finishes his early season experimenting. Look for the Vikings to have their best race of the season... Oswego ran their best race of the season last weekend at the Joliet Invitational on the strength of senior Grace Pagone. All-stater junior Isabelle Christiansen may be ready to bust this Saturday. If so, look for her to have a big race... the rest of the best will show out this weekend. York is emerging into a threat in the WSC Silver. Palatine's youth will be on display as will O'Fallon from the southern sector.
Individually, it will be the Hart show. We may see a record run on Saturday of some sort. The all-time fastest regular season is 16:05 by former Naperville North superstar Judy Pendergast. That could be challenged on Saturday. When Pendergast ran her state championship record 15:53 two years ago, she opened the first mile in 5:08! Hart certainly can do the same. The goal may or may not to go that fast. We all will be waiting for the sophomore phenom.