Naperville North Girls Dominate Their Twilight Invite

Naperville North was as dominant as one can get on both levels Friday evening 

PHOTOS I VIDEOS I RESULTS

Naperville IL-

No matter the format of the annual Naperville Twilight Invitational, Naperville North High School has been as dominant as one team can be. The Huskies have been victorious since the inception of the event according to Milesplit IL records. Friday night appeared to be another day at the office once the dust settled. 

The first race of the day was the junior varsity girls which in all intents and purposes was an opportunity for some talented runners to get in one last quality race before coaches start paring their rosters for the post-season. Immediately and from the gun, Huskie senior Molly Morton and a fleet of her teammates dashed off the races. After 19:10 later, Morton was victorious and four of her scoring teammates follow suit in the 15 point masterpiece. Keep in mind that Morton has run a personal best of 17:40 (44th last year at state) and in the Team Nationals for 2019. She could easily be a top runner for other teams in the state.

The featured races got started as twilight hit the masses. Anna Riggs of Waubonsie Valley won the first varsity section, the white race in 19:47. Next up was the varsity blue race. #7 Batavia split several of their top runners into two sections. This enabled the usual third runner Lauren Hunecke to step in the spotlight. The first mile was negotiated in 5:57 and it was a perfect set up for someone to run a lifetime best. Hunecke would stretch out a lead to 20+ meters inside the final mile and hold on for the win in a personal best 18:28. This is the type of effort that the Broncos will need entering the post-season.

The "Orange" division or championship featured of course the top-ranked Huskies. It also contained the likes of Wheaton-Warrenville South, St. Charles East, Neuqua Valley, and Benet Academy- all ranked teams. There were also some top-notch individuals worthy of competing with the big dogs. 

As expected the pace went out fast for more than a few and it was interesting to see the host squad all off its scoring upfront and all under 5:50 at the first mile. Team ace Maggie Gamboa was in charge with Batavia's Katrina Schlenker, and Sam Poglitsch of Wheaton South checking at 5:38. Audrey Mendrys and Lucy Westlake of Naperville North was there in 5:40. 

The second mile saw Gamboa, Schlenker, and Poglitsch break apart from the group. They hit the second mile at 11:27. Schlenker and Gamboa were clear of Poglitsch several minutes later.

The two entered the track one last time and about 400m to go in an even stance. With less than 200m to go, Schlenker got a few steps on Gamboa and put her foot full blast on the accelerator and cross the line for her first Twilight Invitational win in a season-best 17:09. Gamboa checked in four seconds later in 17:13. Poglitsch was third in 17:23 followed by four Huskies who polished off the massacre- Westlake (17:37), Mendrys (17:41), Campbell Petersen (17:44), and Sophie Golobitsh (17:55).