The first BIG opening weekend of statewide cross country action was indeed high in terms of performance and quality. From the south at Granite City to the central in Normal and finally up north to the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale, the runners, coaches, and fans got everything they wanted on Saturday.
The 33rd Annual Hinsdale Red Devil-Hornet Invitational is co-hosted by Central and South High Schools and they always put on a great show. On this occasion at the notable Katherine Legge Memorial Lodge grounds, the staffs of both schools worked tirelessly to get an alternative course in order because of construction on the original layout.
The boys’ varsity race would go first in this one giving them an opportunity to show the fans really how well the course can run.
The starter’s pistol shot the large throng of runners past initial pack of jubilant fans for the first 200+ meters before veering off and away. The best spots on the course (especially a new one) are the mile markers. So, as the first set of runners approached the checkpoint it appeared as if this race was going to be a fast one. Billy Magnesen (Sr., Hinsdale Central) was the first to charge past the mile in approximately 4:47. Pre-meet favorite Nolan McKenna (Sr., Wheaton –Warrenville South) was on his heals as was Palatine junior Graham Brown. New Trier had two runners in the top six in Peter Cotsirilos (Sr.) and Chase Silverman (Sr.). Highland Park senior Angel Estrada was also sandwiched in the scrum. The second pack included a fleet of Hinsdale Central red motoring through around 5:00 and in control of the race.
The second mile was essentially the same as the first with Magnesen still holding the pole position in 9:51 and a little bit more daylight on the field who were several seconds behind. The Red Devils had seized control of the race as well with six runners in the top 30. The pre-meet individual and team favorites appeared to be in trouble as the race entered the final stages.
Magnesen and his teammates continued to push hard and faded away from the chasers. The winning verdict was 14:50. Estrada cruised home in second in 15:03. Cotsirilos staved off Brown 15:06-15:08. McKenna took the fifth position ahead of Neuqua Valley senior Nick Bushelle.
The team output was obvious since the second mile but everyone needed to wait until the official results were released. The #7 Red Devil crew burned the field by placing five runners in the top 20 and scoring 59 points. New Trier took second place with 74; Wheaton-Warrenville South 83, Neuqua Valley 88, and Palatine 125 closed out the top five teams.
Hinsdale Central coach Jim Westphal was pleased with his star pupil and the team’s efforts on the day. “Billy ran well today and the boys are looking sharp so far on the season. But we still have a lot of work to do,” said the opportunistic coach.
The girl’s race was just as thrilling as the boys as the favorites got out well. New Trier’s Mimi Smith (Jr.) did not waste a second when she bolted to the front of the thundering herd. The fast pace would soon settle down quickly and the runners got into their rhythm. Smith hit the first mile in 5:44 but Lindsay Graham (So., Glenbard West), Alexa Haff (Fr., Hinsdale Central), and several others were a few meters in back. But there was no Madeline Perez (Sr., Glenbard West). Perez has yet to start her season. “I had a long track season and I got a late start on my cross country training… so I’m still doing a lot of base work still,” said Perez in workout clothes.
Lisa Luczak (Jr., Glenbard West) along with Graham are part of the three-piece train that is supposed to steam roll the competition this season. Luczak was off of the lead pace at the first mile when she hit 5:56 (not in top 10). However, it appeared as though she was doing some sort of tempo pacing because she began to pick up the pace.
Glenbard West team looked solid but not convincingly good entering the second mile. It was Palatine that had the numbers up top. Liz Cox (Sr.) was pushing as the team’s top runner with Sabina Yosif (So.) and Kelly O’Brien (So.) were the three Lady Pirates in the top 15.
Still, it was Smith holding a slim lead but Graham and Haff were closing in as they passed the halfway point in the race. Graham and Haff caught the Smith and passed just before the 2m marker in 11:42. Smith was now a step back and then it was Kendall Cast (Sr., Aurora Metea Valley), Luczak, Cox, and Katie Hoffman (Jr., Naperville Central) slid through.
Graham and Haff opened a gap on Smith with slightly more than a half-mile to go. The major surprise here was Haff. She was the unknown one that had the crowd buzzing as she moved step by step with Graham. Finally, Haff made a move and pulled away from a tiring Graham with less than 200m to go.
Haff came home comfortably in 17:29 to a big surprise of nearly everyone outside of Hinsdale. “It was a big surprise… I didn’t think that I would do this well at all,” said the giggly freshman after her race.
Graham was desperately trying to hold on to second place, but Smith is a tremendous middle-distance runner with good leg speed blazed past her just before the finish line for second place 17:34 to 17:35. Luczak completed a solid second half of the race and finished in fourth (18:00). Cast faded a bit late in the last mile but still earned the fifth spot in 18:10.
#2 Glenbard West placed second to #3 Palatine by two points 59-61. The difference some will say was Perez not running. That in essence may be true but at the same time Palatine’s #2 runner Jessica Lincoln (Sr.) didn’t have her best effort. Lincoln is usually neck and neck with Cox in races. Cox placed sixth and Lincoln was 34th (#7 girl).
Hilltopper’s coach Paul Hass remained patient with team despite the narrow loss. “I was very pleased with the effort of all the girls today,” he said. “I thought they competed well. Of course we will be more solid when Madeline [Perez] returns, but I think the seasoning we gain as a group in her absence will make us stronger as a team and more formidable when Madeline rejoins us.”
Perez was indeed at the race and not anywhere else. “I am ok and I didn’t go on a college visit although I will be going on one soon,” she said near the team camp. Perez had a few more things to say about the upcoming season. “I’ve been a little sore from workouts but nothing major. As far as the season, I’ve faded late in the post-season. I plan on running well this time around.” Perez didn’t have a time table when her first race will be. But one thing for certain is when she starts her season, it is going to be must see cross country.
Alexa Haff Interview:
More Coverage
