http://www.pioneerlocal.com/hinsdale/sports/highschools/1149383,ch-hccctry-090608-s1.article

Updated 9/6: Central races to Invite title victory

September 6, 2008
By Bill Stone

For the third year in a row, the Hinsdale Central girls cross country team won its season-opening Hornet-Red Devil Invitational Saturday at Katherine Legge Memorial Park.

The Red Devils, who return six of their seven runners from last year’s fourth-place Class 3A state lineup, are ranked No. 2 in the Illinois Cross Country Coaches Poll pre-season rankings behind defending state champion Geneva.

On Saturday, they put their six finishers in the top 20 to edge No. 4 Palatine 42-51 for the title with No. 12 Wheaton Warrenville South (108 points) and No. 5 Neuqua Valley (120) third and fourth. The invite allows unlimited entries in the varsity race.

Senior and two-time all-stater Elaine Kuckertz led the Red Devils by taking second (18 minutes, 11.1 seconds for 3.0 miles), followed by senior Heather Stevens (4th, 18:47.3), juniors Katie Kummerer (7th, 18:59.6) and Hailey Krzyston (10th, 19:10.5), senior Lauren Zumbach (19th, 19:30.7) and junior Grace Hucek (20th, 19:36.1). Senior Roey Hines dropped out of the race with a foot injury after being among the top 10 the first mile.

Hinsdale South had just three varsity finishers — sophomore Deirdre Rudolph (49th, 20:36.9), senior Amanda Gauthier (51st, 20:37.9) and junior Mandy Disrud (77th, 21:07.2). Sophomore and 2007 state qualifier Meagan DeSalvo dropped out of the race with a leg injury.

Palatine sophomore Sara McIntosh won the race in 18:04.5. The Pirates’ top five finished 1-5-13-14-18.

In the boys race, defending Class 3A champ and top-ranked Neuqua Valley (32 points) easily outdistanced No. 5 Palatine (82) and Wheaton Warrenville South (101). Neuqua senior Danny Pawola (15:08.7) and junior Aaron Beattie (15:25.4) were first and second.

Hinsdale Central (150) and Hinsdale South (188) were fifth and seventh with two top-25 finishers apiece.

Hinsdale South senior Max Rodrigues (15:39.4) was sixth and sophomore Matt DeSalvo 19th (16:11.8). Hinsdale Central junior Arash Darbandi was 14th (16:03.0), and senior Doug Moore was 21st (16:16.7).

Other top-seven finishers for Hinsdale Central were sophomore Billy Fayette (28th, 16:29.8), senior Alex Orton (47th, 16:52.4), junior Nick Tyson (62nd, 17:04.4), senior Eric Olson (68th, 17:09.6) and junior Kyle Henshaw (69th, 17:10.1).

Other top-seven finishers for Hinsdale South were junior Andrew Lonergan (59th, 17:02), senior Michael Moreno (67th, 17:08.7), juniors Eric Guth (71st, 17:11.1) and Nouman Ali (121st, 18:07.3) and senior Paulius Dragunas (134th, 18:18.9).

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