The Downers Grove North girls' cross country program finished 8th in 2009, 10th in 2010, and 21st in 2011 at the 3A IllinoisState Cross Country Championships. It isn't really the direction you want to be headed, but Coach Tim McDonald believes this year is different. He says the team is looking good and the chemistry with the girl is a complete 180 from a year ago. Also, good for the Trojans is that they return six of their top seven runners from last year's team that competed at the state meet. The group is led by senior Gabrielle Hesslau who has made it to state all three years she has been on the team. She finished in the top fifty in 2009 and 2010 and was Downers Grove North's top place in 2011 crossing the line in 63rd place and a time of 18:06.00. Other returners include senior Jillian Kothanek, juniors Meghan Bonfield and Michah Pfotenhauer, and sophomore Rachel Krusenoski. All four have season bests under 19:00 and will round out the top five. Sophomore returner Jenna Murphy who was the team's number seven runner last year at state looks to round out the group and compete for a spot in the top five as well.
The strength of this year's squad is depth. The Trojans have a strong one thru six, but after that have a slew of freshman, and upperclassmen waiting in the wings. Coach McDonald says the incoming group of freshman could be one of the strongest he's had since he's been at DGN. The four freshman he says who have potential to contribute on the varsity level this year are Grace Maletich. Kaitlyn Bonfield, Anna Lauterbach, and Maci Schaub. Other returners who could be in the mix on varsity are senior Emma Burkhardt and juniors Stephanie Urbancik, Katie Portman, Sandra Dipauli, and Michaela Nicholson. Class 3A is one of the toughest in the state and 2012 will be no exception with nationally ranked New Trier heading up the group. Look for Downers Grove North to send this senior classout with their top finish in the past four years.
Coach Tim McDonald Says...
"Our team goal is simply to come together and be running our best at the end of the season and we would like to walk away from Detweiller feeling like we had a great race. Last year, the goal became to just make it to the state meet and we did not perform how we should have. This year we just want to finish the season feeling that we gave it our best shot."
2012 Returner's Top Times
Girls Three Mile Run (XC) |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 17:42.00 | Hesslau, Gabrielle | Richard Springs Invitational |
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| 18:12.00 | Kothanek, Jillian | Richard Springs Invitational |
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| 18:29.00 | Pfotenhauer, Micah | Illinois State Cross Country Championships |
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| 18:37.00 | Bonfield, Meghan | Illinois State Cross Country Championships |
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| 18:54.50 | Krusenoski, Rachel | West Suburban Silver Conference Championship |
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| 19:18.00 | Bates, Jessica | Richard Springs Invitational |
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| 19:23.00 | Murphy, Jenna | Illinois State Cross Country Championships |
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Girls 3200 Meter Run |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 11:48.48 | Proffitt, Allison | Weber Invitational |
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| 12:03.90 | Pfotenhauer, Micah | Homewood-Flossmor Girls Invitational |
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| 12:34.62 | Burkhardt, Emma | Weber Invitational |
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Girls 1600 Meter Run |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 5:16.52 | Hesslau, Gabrielle | Homewood-Flossmor Girls Invitational |
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| 5:29.93 | Krusenoski, Rachel | Homewood-Flossmor Girls Invitational |
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| 5:50.03 | Portman, Katie | Weber Invitational |
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| 5:52.74 | Murphy, Jenna | Weber Invitational |
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