Scouting Report: Crystal Lake Central Girls

Crystal Lake Central girls cross country team is coming off of runner-up finish in 2011. The Tigers were led by freshman Sami Staples who won the 2A individual title in 17:07. Staples returns for her sophomore year along with four other returners from last year's team. The team loses number two runner Kelly McNeeley who finished 12th at the state meet and number seven Molly Flood. It's a young squad for Coach Anthony DeStephano. In addition to Staples, Mary Fleming and Rachel Kautz also come back for their second season. Fleming was 17th at state and is the only returner on the team under 18 minutes coming into 2012. Juniors Madison Dagley (46th at state), Avery Robinson (55th at state), and Bronwyn Harper will be integral pieces in the middle part of the lineup. Senior Kelly McGuire will join the cross country team for her first year after spending the past three years participating in tennis.

Sami Staples is a frontrunner for individual honors once again in 2012. The sophomores time of 17:07 is four seconds faster than the nearest returner DeKalb's Kelsey Schrader. Look for her to have another incredible season and only to continue to improve. Fleming's season best of 17:50 should push the three thru five runners to get close to that 18:00 - 18:15 mark by the season's end. Yorkville loses five of it's top seven runners and Springfield graduates their top two from 2011. The Tigers have a great chance to equal or better their runner-up finish of 2011 in 2012.
 

Coach DeStephano Says..

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• Crystal Lake Central Team Page