Zumbach, Devils continue winning formula

October 25, 2007
By Bill Stone | SPORTS WRITER

Last season, junior Lauren Zumbach helped the Hinsdale Central girls cross country team win its first state title after realizing the detrimental side effects of a new allergy medicine just days before the race.

After battling a cold at the conference meet Oct. 20, Zumbach remedied that Saturday with a strong second-place finish to junior teammate Elaine Kuckertz at the Class 3A Proviso West Regional to help the Red Devils win the regional title with 28 points.

"I guess I hadn't felt that great last week (10th place) so I was really trying to come in, just get a fresh start and get back to where I was sort of hoping to be. It went really well for me," said Zumbach, a 2005 all-stater. "I think the team had a great (regional). We had a race plan and stuck to it, and it went really well. I sort of had my goals for the race, to stick with Elaine. It just went sort of exactly as we planned."

Kuckertz (18 minutes, 37.1 seconds for 3.1 miles) and Zumbach (18:55.9) were followed by juniors Roey Hines (5th, 19:22.5) and Heather Stevens (9th, 19:28.8) and sophomores Grace Hucek (11th, 19:40.6), Katie Kummerer (17th, 19:57.7) and Hailey Krzyston (19th, 20:08.6).

Senior Emily Cleary sat out the meet because of illness but is expected to compete at the Schaumburg Sectional at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Busse Woods. Hines also battled slight illness Saturday.

The Red Devils, No. 1 all season in the Illinois Cross Country Coaches poll, again held off conference rivals Lyons Township (51) and York (61) at regionals. They should get the necessary top-five sectional finish to return to state, but the sectional is brutally tough with nine of the state's 12 top-ranked teams.

"It's certainly true, but for us, sectionals has pretty much been like it's been for the last three years so we're used to it," Hinsdale Central coach Mark McCabe said. "A race is a race is a race. We're not approaching this race any differently than we do any other race.

"Lauren ran an outstanding (regional) race and is feeling great. Her legs are feeling snappy and she's raring to go."

The consistency of Zumbach certainly is one of the Red Devils' strengths. She was third at last year's regional, but the effects of an allergy medicine she switched to just before that race contributed to her finishing 30th at sectionals.

She and McCabe figured out the problem, and Zumbach returned to her old medicine. At state, she was 29th overall and the Red Devils' No. 2 finisher.

"(McCabe) said that that really actually was a common thing. When you switch, you can have side effects like that," Zumbach said. "I didn't want to be letting my teammates down, and they did a great job (at last year's sectional). The great thing with our team is if somebody doesn't have a good day like they usually do, someone steps in and fills in for them."

The Red Devils received a lift Saturday from Hucek and Krzyston, who finished second and first, respectively, in the sophomore race at the conference meet with Krzyston winning by .2. Hucek, who passed two LT girls down the stretch Saturday, missed the 2006 postseason with a stress fracture after being among the top seven runners early in the season.

"Just adrenaline helped me pass those girls at the end. It was a good burst of speed," Hucek said. "Last year, I was really bummed out that I didn't get to run. I was really happy for the team and they did really well, but I just really wanted to be a part of it. I'm just happy that I can be a part of it this year. It's just going to be so much fun with the whole team."

© Copyright 2007 Digital Chicago, Inc.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/sports/618496,ch-hcgirlscc-102507-s1.article