It was a battle of super sophomores last year between Prospect's Lily Ginsberg and Katherine Klimek of York
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Let's start things off by talking about the team battle. The Lady Dukes have been as dominating as any team on the 3A level over a three-year period. They have the hardware to show of course, including on this course and in this invitational. The highly nationally ranked team from Elmhurst is not about to ease up either with so much on the line. #1 program pride, #2 national post-season implications just in case they are needed. All of the big meet wins matter starting this weekend.
Last weekend at the Harvey Braus Lake Park Invitational, it was more of a preliminary round between York and second-ranked Prospect. The Dukes had one of their top five runners out and Prospect weren't completely loaded if you count sophomore Veronica Znadja and freshman Meg Peterson in the mix. Still, a win is a win, and went 62-82 to the Dukes of York.
What do you see happening this time? It will depend on the lineups. At this current time, Prospect coach Pete Wintermute was still mum on fully loading his squad. And it also appears that York is still without junior Margaret Owens who is rehabbing from a pre-season injury. The Dukes won last year's PND 93-171 on an ultra-tight scoring pack that was 40-seconds. As it stands, York remains the favorite because top runner senor Bria Bennis will cancel out the Knights senior Hailey Erickson up top. The best pack will then come in for the win.
There will be an opportunity for WSC Silver stronghold Downers Grove North to prove they can be a state trophy threat with a feisty and productive effort. The Trojans took third at Lake Park last weekend on the strength of a 56-second scoring field. In their wake were Maine South and Glenbard West. They all will be here looking to tangle again.
The individual race will be Glenbard North senior Grace Schager's as we all know. There is still a huge buzz in the air after her stinging 16:00.2 performance at Lake Park. Now attention turns to not only the meet record of 16:00.7 by Katelynne Hart but also Judy Pendergast's all-time record- 15:53.8. It would be like a trifecta if done by Schager whose game is perfect for Detweiller. If she can run under control and even split for the first two miles and unleash a devastating finish, the record will be hers. The adrenaline of 12,000 fans saw Pendergast go out like a possessed demon through two miles in 10:28. Schager isn't an emotional runner so she has many factors in her favor including weather and traffic-related factors.
Look for a two-race scenario within one. That's because Schager will be running solo. Brooke Johnston (Sr., Lake Zurich), Bennis, and Erickson will be battling amongst themselves for the top five placings.