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3A Boys ranked field: #2 Hinsdale Central, #3 New Trier, #5 Downers Grove North, #9 Neuqua Valley, #12 Waubonsie Valley, #13 Edwardsville, #14 Minooka, #16 Plainfield South, #17 Lyons Twp., #23 Plainfield North, #25 St. Ignatius, 1A#2 St. Joseph Ogden, 1A#21 Freeburg
3A Girls ranked field: #2 Naperville North, #3 Minooka, #5 Yorkville, #8 Lyons Twp, #11 Naperville Central, #12 Batavia, #13 Winnetka (New Trier), #14 Lockport, #22 Barrington, #23 Edwardsville, 1A#7 St. Joseph Ogden
Boys: Hinsdale Central had a terrific performance last weekend at their home digs Hornet-Devil Invite. In it, they defeated several talented squads. The Red Devils appear ready to roar ahead for another win and cement themselves as one of the premier teams in the early stages of the season. A short-handed New Trier team is back and fully loaded. Their star runner Nick Falk will be on the line to race and challenge Red Devil ace Daniel Watcke for the individual crown.
We are expecting to see a strong Downers Grove North squad really show off this weekend. The Trojans have yet to be tested in two contests thus far. Senior Roy Llewellyn is destined to have a big race. Watch for it. Emerging forces in the name of Neuqua Valley, Plainfield South, Minooka, Lyons, and Waubonsie Valley will see where they stack up after the weekend. Edwardsville will be short-handed because star Ryan Watts is sitting out.
Girls: Some pundits have dismissed Naperville North prior to the season but as always the Huskies speak with their feet and keep it moving. Coach Dan Iverson's bunch is fresh off of a season-opening winner in Iowa. At the Spartan Classic, the Huskies defeated not only a fleet of great Iowa teams but the best team in Minnesota and perennial national power US#8 Edina. Senior Lucy Westlake led the charge with a third-place finish. The 44-sec spread is scary if they can duplicate on the ultra-fast Detweiller race track.
Minooka has worked their way into the trophy talk during the opening three weeks of the season on the strength of a strong top three: Jocelyn Host, Gabby Kics, and Gabriella McCollum. It was a four-point winner at the Hornet Devil Invite without Host who collapsed with less than a quarter-mile to go and did not finish. They are going to need all personnel to step up if they desire one of the coveted team trophies.
Yorkville has done very well here in past years and once again the Foxes have an outstanding team. The twin's Anna Hunter and Margaret Hunter will lead the way. But Makenna Edwards will be right there on their hips. If the fifth runner can drop some time, then things will look good. Upstart Lyons and Naperville Central ran well in their season-opening invites at the Lyons and Hinsdale last week. They cannot have a letdown on Saturday. Batavia will open its "A" team roster. Barrington and Lockport will be loaded up as well.The individual race should be a good one despite the heat factor. Senior Katrina Schlenker won this race in her historic freshman season. She is reportedly healthy and if the reports are true, she could be the merged star of the day. Lyon's Catherine Sommerfeld was impressive at home on her 5k loop. Perhaps she can challenge for the win.