#1 York vs #2 Prospect Girls Battle Is Set For Lake P Invite

Lake Park "Harvey Braus" Invitational
Tony Jones


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Date: September 10, 2022
Location: Lake Park HS- East campus; Roselle, IL
Time schedule:
8:30am- Jr/Sr Boys
9am - Varsity Girls
9:30am - Varsity Boys
10am - JV Girls
10:30am - FS Boys
11:00am - Girls Open
Twitter social media: #harveybraus22
Key girls teams: #1 Elmhurst York, #2 Prospect, #6 Downers Grove North, #13 Maine South, #14 Glenbard West, #15 St. Charles East, #17 Huntley, #23 St. Charles North; 2A- #7 Chicago (St. Ignatius)
Key boys teams: #12 Wheaton North, #14 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #17 Chicago Lane, #20 Chicago Jones
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The Lady Dukes of York had their way with the competition by placing all five scorers among the top 15 in which they amassed 35 points to runner up Prospect's 78. Now, it's a year later with plenty of experienced returners, York is the favorite but it would not be wise to think Prospect will lay down and surrender. In order to beat the Dukes, a team is basically going to have to split up their lead pack led by senior Bria Bennis. They had a 1:09 split at the St. Charles East Leavy Invitational. The Knights won the massive Hinsdale Hornet Devil Invite last weekend on the strength of a strong closing pack. They did it without running two of its top runners in the varsity race and the chance of overthrowing the Lady Dukes will depend on whether sophomore Veronica Znadja and freshman Meg Peterson are added in. Senior Hailey Erickson won the HRD and will be expected to lead the charge. Add in junior Lily Ginsberg to step up her game for the Knights.

While the team race is infringing with Downers Grove North and six other ranked teams in the field, it's also the individual race to keep an eye on. Grace Schager (Sr., Glenbard North) has been on a roll in the season's early going with two easy victories. The most recent one came on August 31 in a tri-meet on this Lake Park course. Schager clocked a state-best 16:35 which ended the month as the fastest-ever performance by an Illinois girl. Schager is the defending meet champion and could eye some impressive marks. The all-time record is 16:08 by the great Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West. That may be out of reach but getting to the #2 mark by Kaylee Flanagan of Lake Park- she ran 16:27. 

Some other girls to watch in the front pack, aside from the aforementioned York and Prospect packs, are Sofia Arcuri and Olivia DeLuca from Maine South, Claire Pyne leading the Downers Grove North pack, Juliet Frum of Glenbrook North, and Breanna Burak and Brittney Burak of Huntley.

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The boy's field may not be as talented overall as the girls but it will be compelling. Defending champion St. Charles East will be hard pressed in maintaining its vice grip over another title. That's because graduation has hit the Saints program pretty hard. Gone is star Micah Wilson now running for the University of Wisconsin. It's time to usher in some emerging teams...

Wheaton South last competed a week ago at the Hinsdale Hornet-Devil Invite where they placed seventh in a loaded field. The Tigers were led by Lucas Yonkers (Sr) who placed 20th in 16:00. The scoring five behind him was a scant 35 seconds. Things could be a bit better if they bring up sophomore Josiah Narayanan who won the frosh race in 15:51. 

Wheaton North took third in the Pleasant Valley Invite a weekend ago in Iowa against several of that state's top programs. The Falcons put three runners inside of the top ten led by Caleb Youngstedt (Sr) who ran 16:27 for 5000m. The key to winning will be to drop the scoring split under 1:00.

Chicago Public League favorites Lane and Jones will make their season debuts on Saturday. Lane will look to improve on a fourth-place finish a year ago. The Champions will be without the services of ace Hunter Whitney (Sr) who is coming off of a long track and field season that nearly stretched into July. Will Kozlowski (Jr) is expected to step in and lead the charge.

Jones took third a season ago on the strength of lead man Sam Berlinghof (Jr). He is not expected to compete until the following weekend at the Richard Spring Invitational in Peoria. The Eagles have a formable pack and that could come into play if close points are counted. Matthew Desantis (Sr) has enjoyed a great summer of training and he is eager to show it off.

The race for the individual crown is a mystery but Mitch Garcia (Sr., St. Charles East), Youngstedt, Kozlowski, Yonkers, and Desantis appear as the pre-race choices to watch. Of course, it's a new year and someone could protrude out of the wood work and take the crown.