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HORNET/RED DEVIL
INVITATIONAL RECAP
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Photos
Full
Results
After a full summer of training and three weeks of
official practice at the start of the season, we always
look forward to our first meet of the year. All of the
girls are excited to test their fitness and to get a
starting point to begin their competitive season. The
Hornet/Red Devil Invitational, which we co-host with
Hinsdale South, is a great way to get things started
each year. It is the most competitive meet in the state
on both the girls and boys side on this season-opening
weekend. We have a slightly reconfigured race course
which now allows us to bypass the problematic southeast
corner of the park. The 3.0 mile course is exactly the
same distance as the old course, while the 2 mile course
is now about 15 meters short of 2.0 miles. The course at
KLM is a favorite of both runners and spectators alike
and is a “real” cross country course for the athletes.
After a great deal of rain in the weeks leading up to
the meet, the course dried up and was in great shape.
Footing was excellent and the ground was dry and firm.
Temperatures started out in the 60’s but rose to the
upper 70’s by the last races. Humidity was low and winds
were calm. Overall, the weather was warm but otherwise
excellent. From our Friday night Parent/ Athlete Kickoff
Pasta Party at Danielle D’Agostino’s house to the
volunteer efforts of so many of our parents leading up
to and on race day, and concluding with the meet itself,
it was another great Hornet/Red Devil weekend. As usual,
it was a true team effort.
The Varsity girls had a solid start to the season and
were meet champions in the 19 team field for the second
year in a row. The Lady Devils scored 53 points to
finish ahead of Stagg (69),Neuqua Valley (100), Palatine
and Wheaton Warrenville South, all ranked in the Top 15
in the State Pre-Season rankings. Elaine Kuckertz led
the way for the varsity, finishing second in 18:10 and
breaking the previous meet record of 18:11. Roey Hines
and Lauren Zumbach were close behind in 4th and 6th
place with times of 18:49 and 18:52. Grace Hucek placed
17th as our fourth runner in 19:18 and Katie Kummerer
and Heather Stevens placed 24th and 26th in 19:33 and
19:40. Katie took home the championship plaque as the
Athlete of the Meet in her first Varsity cross country
meet. Emily Cleary was unable to finish the race because
of a migraine headache but is fine and actually had one
of her best long runs ever at practice on Monday.
The Frosh/Soph girls placed 2nd in the 16 team F/S race
with 41 points, behind Wheaton W-S (20) and ahead of New
Trier (89), Naperville Central and Glenbard East.
Wheaton W-S had a number of their varsity girls start
off at this level for the first meet of the season.
Hailey Krzyston was the meet champion, winning in 19:39
and setting a new meet record in the process. Her time
was also the second fastest F/S time ever run on the KLM
course. Hailey had three teammates follow her into the
chute in the top 10, with Colleen Leahy, Rita Kuckertz
and Nicole Lang finishing 7th, 8th and 10th in 20:37,
20:45 and 21:11 respectively. Lauren Roush was our 5th
runner in her first high school race in 15th place with
a time of 21:21. Lauren Emery and Brianna Lynch rounded
out our top 7 in 20th and 34th places. Colleen Leahy was
the Athlete of the Meet as the F/S girls had a very
promising opening meet performance.
The Open/JV race will be the only 2 mile race any of the
girls will run this season (all others are 3 miles) and
our girls took full advantage of this competitive
opportunity, winning the team title in the 16 team field
with only 32 points. Following the Lady Devils were
Palatine (36), Wheaton W-S (54), Neuqua Valley and
Evanston. The course is now 15 meters short of 2 miles
so the girls will add 5-10 seconds (depending on their
finish time) to get a 2 mile equivalent time. Niamh
McCarthy was the individual champion, winning by 21
seconds with a fine time of 12:34. We packed four more
runners into the top 10, with Victoria Glatz, Allie
Emery, Maddie Metcalf and Margaret Cavenagh earning that
honor. Catherine Bruns and Corine Samaras rounded out
our Top 7 in 16th and 18th place. Corine took home the
award for the weekend as the Athlete of the Meet.
We do not have any meets this week and will use that
time to get in a quality week of training. Our next
competitions will be next Thursday, Sept. 13, at KLM vs.
LT and Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Peoria Notre Dame
Invitational. Check this site often for meet results,
directions and lots of other HC Cross Country
information.
One thing we pride ourselves on in the HC Cross Country
program is our belief that each girl and every level of
our team matters and is important. Everyone contributes
and everyone shares in the good things that come our
way. When each and every one of us is working hard to be
the best we can be, then good things will follow. The
Hornet/Red Devil weekend has gotten us off to a great
start for the 2007 season and we are all looking forward
to our best season ever. All FOR ONE! |
