Flashback Friday: A Look Back At The 2019 Lake Park Sec

We take a look back at one of the top sectionals in the entire state, which featured superstar talent at the time on both the boys' and girls' sides of the game. Before the championship races, it had snowed in the area, which prevented teams from conducting pre-meet runs on the course. The opening line was, "Unexpected snow on Thursday and a last-minute decision allowing all Chicago Public Schools to run sectionals provided lots of uncertainty and chatter at the Lake Park Sectional." Additionally, on race day, the course was incredibly soggy, which presented another challenge for the runners. As it turned out, it was another great day for cross country races.

Girls-

#9 Wheaton-Warrenville South came in as the predicted winner after a strong season led by junior Samantha Poglitsch and a solid supporting cast behind her. However, #8 Glenbard West, on the strength of superstar senior Katelynne Hart, has the advantage of her always low-stick presence. If she could get another top-notch performance out of her sophomore teammates Audrey Allman and Delaney Engel, they would be hard to beat. Hart, of course, was able to keep up her end of the bargain, and Allman and Engel. These two teams battled it out clear of the other three teams, who were trying to punch their tickets to Peoria.

York battled WSC Silver foe Oak Park-River Forest in taking third. Both squads lack a true front-runner, but they have strong packs. OPRF showed strong fortitude after essentially running by themselves last weekend at the Lincoln Park Regional, which was void of teams due to the CPS teachers' strike. 

#20 New Trier, which was surprised by an upstart and newly minted #19 Loyola Academy last weekend at the Niles West Regional, made sure that it would not happen again. The Trevians were able to tighten up their scoring and put their top seven players in front of the Ramblers team, amassing 104 points.

Individual girls take---

Boys-

The boys' race was more of a pressure-packed chess match compared to the girls' speed gate affair. For one, the course was tremendously chewed up, and the ground thawed a bit to a slight rise in the mercury. Secondly, #2 Wheaton-Warrenville South beat #3 York in last weekend's regional. The ball was essentially in the Duke's court, and so often they had been inconsistent in performing at the highest level of competition this season.

It turned out to be one of the best sectional meets hosted by the Lancers' athletic department. York ultimately took the title, placing all five runners within the top 15 for a total score of 40 points. The Tigers ran strong but could not overcome the 18-second scoring split by the Dukesters. #5 New Trier made a few lineup changes from last weekend's disappointing regional performance to beat the CSL Conference foe #7 Maine South. To no fault of their own, #22 Wheaton North qualified for the state meet over Loyola Academy by a mere three points.