Above Photo: Charlie Kern Jr. edges Irwin Loud by 1 second in a tactical race at the York Regional Saturday (Mike Newman Photo)

 

By Michael Newman

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Here are brief recaps of each of the 15 regional meets that took place in 3A on Saturday.

 

Whitney Young Regional

 

In a repeat of last week on the same Washington Park course, Maggie Scholle won the race capturing the regional title. Her time of 17:55 was 35 seconds faster than 2^nd place Hailey Hansen (Trinity HS, River Forest). Northside Prep dominated the Girls team race placing 5 runners in the top 10 scoring only 28 points. Trinity was a clear 2^nd with 60 points followed by Lane Tech scoring 83 points for 3^rd.

 

There was not much to say about the Boys race other than #10 Whitney Young completely dominating the team competition. The Dolphins had an easy time in winning the regional crown placing 6 runners in the top 9 scoring 21 points. It was a tactical race as Clayton Mendez (Whitney Young HS, Chicago) ran 23 seconds slower than his city championship win. His time of 15:05 was 5 seconds ahead of teammate Sam Wischnewsky. Northside Prep’s Danny Rosen finished 3^rd. Jones College Prep, who held out their top 5 in this meet, finished 2^nd with 84 points. 3 schools were within 5 points of Jones.

 

Edwardsville Regional

 

Host Edwardsville won the Girls Regional championship placing 6 runners in the top 9. The SWC champions scored 24 points. O’Fallon, who held out #2 runner Caitlyn Clinton in this race, finished 2^nd with 41 points. O’Fallon sophomore Brooke Witzel won the individual title (19:32) by 15 seconds ahead of Edwardsville’s Rachel Schoenecker.

 

Edwardsville swept the regional team titles by winning the Boys championship. Part of that had to do with SWC Champion O’Fallon holding out their top 5. Edwardsville took 4 of the top 8 spots in winning the team championship with 38 points. O’Fallon scored 70 points to place second. Will O’Keefe (Granite City HS) ran 16:25 for 5k on SIU-Edwardsville’s course to win the individual title by 6 seconds ahead of Franky Romano (Edwardsville HS).

 

York Regional

 

There was no drama in the Girls individual race at this regional meet held at Proviso West High School. Lindsey Payne (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn) took the lead in the first 800 meters and pulled away for a 50 second win (17:43) in extremely windy conditions on this 3.05 mile course. Where there was the drama in the team competition. Grace Rogers moved from 7^th to 3^rd in the final kilometer of the race to help #2 Glenbard West hold off a charging #11 Wheaton-Warrenville South team 33-41. #23 York finished 3^rd with 93 points. Glenbard West placed 5 runners in the top 12 while South put 3 in the top 6 and 5 in the first 15 led by Sara Atkins’ 2^nd place finish.

 

Conditions deteriorated in the Boys race as the wind picked up and occasion rain was falling throughout the competition. It was a tactical race as no one wanted to push the pace the first 2 miles. At the start of the final mile, Irwin Loud (Oak Park-River Forest HS) starting pushing the pace. York’s Charlie Kern and Max Denning stayed close with Glenbard West’s Eric Neumann a few steps back. It was an all-out sprint in the final 400 as Loud and Kern sprinted side by side. Kern finally was able to pass Loud in the last 10 meters to secure the win in 15:37. Loud was 1 second back. #3 York dominated the team competition placing 6 in the top 10 with a 37 second split to win the team title with 22 points. #5 Oak Park-River Forest, who did not run top 5 runner Martin Pimentel in this meet, was 2^nd with 60 points. Glenbard West scored 81 points to place 3^rd 10 points ahead of 4^th place #22 Wheaton North.

 

Hoffman Estates Regional

 

#5 Prospect, led by the individual win by Brooke Wilson, placed 4 runners in the first 11 to win the Girls Regional title 42-45 over #22 Schaumburg. Prospect was without their #2 runner Marissa Valentini for the 2^nd meet in a row. Times were slow on this course due to rain falling during the Girls race and heavy wins. Only 4 runners were under 19 minutes in this race. Wilson’s time of 18:10 was 18 seconds faster than 2^nd place Madison Marasco (Schaumburg HS). The Saxons ran their best race of the year placing 5 runners in the top 16 and ahead of Prospect’s #5 runner. Glenbrook South was the next team in third with 99 points.

 

#16 Hoffman Estates relied on a third place finish by Shiv Patel and 4 runners in the first 10 to win the Boys team championship 56-62 ahead of #11 Prospect. The finish offset the 30 second split the Knights had as they placed 5 runners in the top 16 led by the 5^th place finish by Karson LeComte. The key to the race was Hoffman Estates putting their top 4 in ahead of Prospect’s #2 runner Sean Sangahan who finished 12^th. Justin Loquercio (Wheeling HS) won the individual regional title (15:46) 6 seconds ahead of Danny Peterson (Fremd HS, Palatine).

 

Lyons Township Regional

 

The sizzle was taken out of the pre-race excitement of the Boys race as #2 Lyons Township held out their top 4 runners resting them for next week’s sectional. Hinsdale Central #1 runner Blake Evertsen did not run for the Red Devils. It came down to #6 Hinsdale Central as they placed 5 runners in the top 10 with a 29 second split to win the team championship with 25 points. #2 Lyons Township scored 47 points to place 2^nd. St. Ignatius scored 70 points to round out the top 3.  Daniel Santino (St. Ignatius Prep, Chicago) ran 15:12 on Lyons Township’s 3.06 mile course to win by 3 seconds ahead of Hinsdale Central’s Chris Brenk.

 

#16 Hinsdale Central received a boost by the return of Annie Zaher propelling them to the team title 30-36 over host #7 Lyons Township. The Red Devils were helped by the individual win by Reilly Revord. Her time of 17:33 was 8 seconds faster than 2^nd place Sarah Barcelona (Lyons Township, LaGrange). Central placed 4 runners in the top 8 with Zaher (3^rd), Grace McCabe (5^th), and Mackie Stevens (8^th).

 

Lake Forest Regional

 

#9 Lake Forest placed 5 runners in the top 11 on their home course to win the Girls regional championship 30-40 over #21 Stevenson. Lake Forest’s top 4 was led by freshman Lauren Garriques’ 3^rd place finish. Their usual #1 runner Emma Milburn was under the weather but still raced finishing 7^th as the team’s 4^th runner. Stevenson’s Isabelle Sparreo turned in one of the top times in the state on Saturday winning the individual race crossing the line in 17:05. She was 29 seconds ahead of 2^nd place finisher Melissa Manetsch (Libertyville HS). Keep an eye on team 3^rd place finisher Highland Park who scored 67 points. The Giants recently got back Charlotte Nawor in their starting lineup. Nawor finished 8^th leading her team as they placed 5 runners in the top 19 with a 19 second split from their #2 to #5. They could be a surprise in the sectional race.

 

#18 Highland Park continued their late season surge winning the Boys team title 56-70 over Stevenson. The Giants, led by the 3^rd place finish by Brett Davidson, placed 5 in the top 17 with a 57 second split. Dustin Macuiba (Warren Township HS, Gurnee) ran 14:54 to win the regional title 7 seconds ahead of Jared Borowsky (Stevenson HS, Lincolnshire).

 

Minooka Regional

 

#3 Minooka took the top 4 places without #2 runner Emily Shelton to win the Girls team championship with only 22 points. Ashley Tutt ran 17:41 to win the individual crown 32 seconds ahead of teammate Mackenzie Callahan. Their split on their first 4 in this race was 54 seconds. #24 Lincoln-Way Central, paced by 4 runners in the top 11, finished 2^nd with 62 points. Normal Community scored 88 points to finish 3^rd.

 

The 1-4 finish by Soren Knudsen and Justin Tutt led #23 Minooka to a 40-69 win over East Moline United. Knudsen pulled away early for the individual title (15:32) by 13 seconds ahead of Kyle Riege (United Township HS, East Moline).

 

Sandburg Regional

 

#1 Sandburg held out 6 of their top runners but still were in control winning the regional championship with only 21 points. The Eagles placed 6 runners in the top 9 led by the individual win by Brandon Lukas. His time of 15:11 was 3 seconds faster than teammate David Gleisner. Shepard, paced by the 3^rd place finish by Caleb Washington, scored 67 points to place 2^nd.

 

10 points separated the top 3 teams in the Girls meet. Sandburg scored 44 points to capture the regional title putting 4 runners in the top 9 led by the 3^rd place finish by Erica Cerva. Fenwick finished 2^nd (52 points) 2 points ahead of third place Mother McAuley.

 

Palatine Regional

 

Caitlin Shepard (Lake Zurich HS) took the lead early with as much as a 15 second lead by the 2 mile point. The buffer was large enough to hold off a late race charge by Kelly O’Brien (Palatine HS) and Jocelyn Long (Barrington HS) to win the race (17:29). O’Brien finished 2^nd (17:37) 4 seconds ahead of Long. #6 Barrington, paced by top ten finishes by Long and Lauren Conroy (8^th), won the team championship with 54 points. The Fillies ran a 15 second 2-5 split off of Conroy’s finish. #10 Palatine, who was without #4 runner Sabina Yosif, scored 65 points to place 2^nd. Grant was a close 3^rd only 8 points behind Palatine. Lake Zurich was another 8 points behind in 4^th.

 

The anticipated individual matchup between Buffalo Grove’s Kevin Salvano and Lake Zurich’s Matt Pereira will have to wait until next week’s sectional race. Salvano was not with the team as he was taking his ACT test. It did not seem to bother #7 Lake Zurich as they took the top 3 places to win the team title with 43 points. Matt Pereira won the race pulling away from teammates Brian and Kyle Griffith in the final 800. His time was 14:58. The Bears ran a 69 second split on their top 5. #9 Buffalo Grove finished 2^nd with 71 points. McHenry, led by the 6-8 finish by Michael Hahndorf and Tyler Lay, was next with 93 points.

 

Plainfield South

 

#17 Lockport placed 5 runners in the top 11 with only a 28 second split on their top 5 to win the Girls regional championship with 37 points. Morgan Bollinger led the Porters with a 3^rd place finish. Unranked Benet Academy placed 2^nd behind Claire McCabe’s 2^nd place finish. The Redwings scored 66 points. McCabe’s time of 18:13 was 5 seconds behind regional winner Katie Stapleton (Downers Grove South HS). Her finish led the #14 Mustangs to a 3^rd place finish (78 points) just 9 points ahead of Downers Grove North.

 

Jack Lalonde’s 2^rd place finish led #15 Downers Grove South to the regional championship 33-43 over #19 Plainfield South. The Mustangs placed 5 runners in the top 12 with a 34 second split off of Lalonde’s finish. Plainfield South placed 4 in the top 9 led by the 3^rd place finish of John Partee. #13 Downers Grove North scored 53 points to place 3^rd behind the individual win of Alec Danner. His time of 15:13 was 15 seconds ahead of Lalonde.

 

Hononegah Regional

 

#17 Huntley packed it up in the front taking the top 3 spots to help them win the Boys regional title with 22 points. Host Hononegah scored 66 points to place 2^nd. Keagan Smith won the individual race (15:7) 3 seconds ahead of teammate Seth Conroy. Mike Grocholski was 5 seconds back in third. The split on their top 5 was 70 seconds.

 

#25 Huntley completed the regional title sweep for the school scoring 27 points. Hononegah scored 48 points to place 2^nd. Freshman Mary Raclawski (Huntley HS) ran 18:46 to win the individual race by 4 seconds ahead of Rachel Huwe (Harlem HS, Machesney).

 

Niles West Regional

 

New Trier swept both team titles in this regional. The #12 Girls team placed all 7 runners in the top ten to easily win the team title with 27 points. Caroline Fix led her team with the individual win. Her time of 17:54 was only 2 seconds ahead of 2^nd place Emily Stegmeier (Elk Grove HS). #19 Maine South scored 75 points to finish 2^nd just 9 points ahead of Loyola Academy. Evanston scored 97 points to place 4^th.

 

The #7 Boys team placed 3 runners in the top 5 to win their regional title with 34 points. Josh Derrick won the individual title (15:19) by 13 seconds ahead of Martin Barr (Niles North HS, Park Ridge). Warren Blood (3^rd) and Jack Litowitz (5^th) also were in the top 5 for the Trevians. Their overall 5 man split was 58 seconds in this race. #19 Maine South was next with 51 points. Loyola Academy, who ran without #1 runner Paolo Tiongson, scored 85 points to place 3^rd. Niles North scored 92 points for 4^th place,

 

St. Charles North Regional

 

It was almost a repeat of the Upstate Eight race from a week ago as #4 Batavia edged #8 Geneva 26-38 to the Girls regional title. Batavia ran a 61 second split on their top 5 led by the 2^nd place finish of Emma Stephens. The Bulldogs depth was evident in this race as they placed 6 runners in the first 11. Geneva, who placed 5 in the top 12 in this race, was led by McKenzie Altmayer’s win. Her winning time was 18:04 and 14 seconds ahead of Stephens. Crosstown rivals St. Charles North (81 points) and St. Charles East (108 points) finished third and fourth. Bartlett advanced to sectionals finishing fifth after they failed to make it out of regionals a year ago.

 

#12 St. Charles East ran a 3 second split on their top 4 runners to help them win the regional title 48-54 over #14 Marmion Academy. That four all placed in the top 10 led by Mike Gerkin’s 3^rd place finish. Marmion placed 3 runners in the first 6 led by the 2-3 finish by Michael Ronzone and Andrew Burroughs. #21 Geneva was only 2 points behind in 3^rd led by the individual win of Tyler Dau. The junior ran 16:14 to win by 3 seconds ahead of Ronzone.

 

Andrew Regional

 

Despite the fact that normal top 5 runner John Chomiak was their sixth man on this day, #24 Lincoln-Way North placed 5 runners in the top 13 to win the Boys regional championship 37-55 over Illiana Christian. Collin DeYoung led Illiana with the individual title running 15:32 to finish 3 seconds ahead of Raul Rosendo (Joliet Central HS).

 

Lincoln-Way East over powered their competition in the Girls race. The Griffins placed 5 in the top 8 with a 63 second split to win the regional crown 28-67 over Lincoln-Way North. Maddie Blaauw (Joliet West HS) won the individual race (18:56) by 10 seconds ahead of Lincoln-Way East’s Jenna Couwenhoven.

 

West Chicago Regional

 

The Girls race was run in a driving rain but that did not bother Naperville North’s Sarah Schmitt. The sophomore set a new course record running 17:39 to win the regional title by 2 seconds ahead of Plainfield North’s Rachael Lau. The #1 Huskies, who rested top runner Judy Pendergast in this race, still were in command placing 5 runners in the top 10 to win with 32 points. #15 Neuqua Valley, behind Caitlin Horn’s 3^rd place finish, scored 73 points to place 2^nd only 7 points ahead of #20 Plainfield North. #18 Oswego finished 4^th with 100 points led by Isabelle Christiansen’s 5^th place finish. #13 Metea Valley scored 106 points to place 5^th ahead of Naperville Central.

 

 

#4 Neuqua Valley trounced their competition in the Boys race scoring 15 points for the 2^nd week in a row. The Wildcats ran only a 6 second split on their top 5 led by Aidan Livingston’s individual win. His time of 15:30 was 2 seconds ahead of teammate Dominic Dina. Plainfield North was the closest team to Neuqua in 2^nd with 94 points.