http://www.pioneerlocal.com/clarendonhills/sports/highschools/1155857,ch-hcgirlsxc-091108-s1.article

Stevens, Devils don't surrender invite dominance

By BILL STONE

Senior Heather Stevens and her Hinsdale Central girls cross country teammates remember the disappointment after finishing fourth at the 2007 Class 3A state meet.

This season, Stevens would rather continue feeling the way she did after Saturday's Hornet-Red Devil Invitational.

In her final season opener on the home Katherine Legge Memorial Park course, Stevens finished a personal-best fourth as the Red Devils won for the third year in a row.

Hinsdale Central, ranked No. 2 in this week's Class 3A Illinois Cross Country Coaches Poll, topped No. 4 Palatine 42-51 in the 20-team field.

"It was an amazing feeling when we all finished and you kind of know your teammates did well," said Stevens, a three-time state competitor.

"It was a really good race (for me), and I think the best part is I know that I can improve on it because I didn't even feel that tired coming out of it."

Senior and two-time all-stater Elaine Kuckertz took second (18 minutes, 11.1 seconds for 3.0 miles), followed by Stevens (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).

One setback was that senior Roey Hines was among the leaders before dropping out just past the one-mile mark suffering from plantar fasciitis in her right foot.

Hines sat out last season's sectionals with plantar fasciitis in her left foot and was hampered by the injury at state (125th place). After a 2006 state title, the Red Devils missed a third straight team trophy by five points.

"We all just felt a terrible feeling that we never want to feel again, and that's something that we're going to try to avoid at all costs," Stevens said. "I think it's a good thing that we experienced a little bit of disappointment so that we know what we can accomplish this year, and we want it that much more."

Just like the theme written on this season's team T-shirts -- Never Surrender -- Kuckertz held second in the invite for the second year in a row behind Palatine sophomore Sara McIntosh (18:04.5). Kuckertz and Hines had been side by side when Hines dropped out.

"At first, I was like, 'Oh no, Roey's gone.' I was upset at first. I guess as it went on, I was kind of like, 'She's not here, but I can still do well. The team can still do well.' " Kuckertz said. "We've all learned something from (last year) and that's why the theme, I feel, is very appropriate. When something bad comes your way, just go around it and still do your best."

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