By Michael Newman

mike@dyestat.com

 

Here is a quick look at some of the conference meets that will take place this weekend.

 

Friday

 

DuPage Valley Conference @ Camera Park, Glendale Heights

 

With West Aurora and Glenbard East moving to the Upstate Eight Conference and Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, and Metea Valley entering this conference next year, the field will be shrunk to six schools. The same faces should be towards the front.

 

#3 Naperville North is the favorite in the Girls race. Their split this year has been consistently near 30 seconds. Their depth should push them to the front in this race. #6 Naperville Central could make it tough for the Huskies especially if Katie Hoffman is in the lineup. The Redhawks have the talent to challenge for the title, but a healthy Hoffman along with sister Rachel up front makes their chances better. #12 Wheaton-Warrenville South could also make a run at the top two places. Elly DeTurris (North HS, Naperville) will be one of the favorites in the individual race along with Sara Atkins (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) and Rachel Hoffman (Central HS, Naperville).

 

It will be a battle of Naperville in the Boys race as #7 Naperville North is a slight favorite ahead of crosstown rival #14 Naperville Central. North has the front runners. It will be up to Central’s pack to win the individual battles in this race. Kyle Cepeda (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) ran 14:45 on the superfast Stuart Complex Course to win at West Aurora. He showed he is ready for the fast pace that Camera Park could provide. Jon Klaiber and Kerry Gschwendtner (North HS, Naperville) and Geoffrey McCullough (Central HS, Naperville) should also be challenging Cepeda up front.

 

Mid Illini Conference Meet @ Detweiller Park

 

2A #5 Dunlap has been dominating this fall against teams in their area. This meet should be no different. The Eagles have the strong first two in Abby Jockisch and Francesca Verville who should be the individual favorites in the race. #23 Metamora and a young #24 Washington will be Dunlap’s chief competition.

 

2A #5 Metamora is getting healthy at the right time and will be the favorite in this race. The Boys field is deep with #14 Dunlap, #23 Bartonville Limestone, #24 East Peoria, and Morton challenging them. The individual field is deep. Matt Church (East Peoria HS) will be the slight favorite with Brent Carius (Morton HS), Jake Gilliam (Metamora HS), and Thomas Thornton (Limestone HS, Bartonville) close to him.

 

Southwest Conference Meet @ Belleville West

 

O’Fallon and Edwardsville will challenge each other in both gender races Friday afternoon. Edwardsville looked strong at Peoria two weeks ago finishing seventh and rate a slight favorite ahead of O’Fallon. Lizzy Lynn (Edwardsville HS) and Sarah Duffy (O’Fallon HS) should challenge for the individual championship.

 

#16 O’Fallon and Edwardsville will battle also for the Boys team championship. It will be a matter of whether the Tigers can get their first five in before O’Fallon’s fourth runner crosses the finish line. Dorrian Gordon (O’Fallon HS) should be the favorite in this race with Brydon Groves-Scott and Wes Schoenthal (Edwardsville HS) and Will O’Keefe (Granite City HS) challenging him.

 

Western Big Six Conference @ Rock Island

 

It could be a Rock Island Alleman sweep in this meet. Both schools are ranked in their classifications’ rankings. The 1A #10 Girls team has a solid pack that puts them at an advantage ahead of the other conference schools. Galesburg and Rock Island could challenge. Agok Ayuen (Rock Island HS) should be the favorite in the individual race on her home course. The 2A #15 Boys team is the big favorite in this meet. East Moline United will be the team that could challenge the Pioneers. The individual race is wide open. Watch for Kyle Riege (United Township HS, East Moline) and Aaron Golding (Alleman HS, Rock Island) to challenge for the individual conference championship.

 

Saturday

 

Big Northern Conference @ Winnebago

 

There should be some great races in both the individual and team competitions. 2A #8 Marengo will be the favorite in the Girls race with 1A #19 Winnebago, #25 Byron, and Harvard the top teams following them. Caitlyn Allen (Marengo HS) is one of the top runners in 2A this year and will be the big favorite to win the individual race.

 

Four 1A ranked teams will toe the line in what should be a great Boys race. #4 Rockford Christian, #5 Winnebago, and #7 Johnsburg are pretty equal talent wise. There could be a 10-14 point difference between these three teams. #18 Rock Falls will battle for a top three spot also. The individual race should be a great one as Nick Monkemeyer (Rockford Christian HS), Brayden Hamblen & Seth Williams (Rock Falls HS), Nathan Smith & Nathan Ambrose (Winnebago HS), and Matt Stelmasek & Noah Miller (Johnsburg HS) should challenge in what should be an exciting individual race.

 

Big Twelve Conference @ Detweiller Park, Peoria

 

With the Peoria Schools from the Mid-State Conference now a part of this conference, the setting for this meet switches to Detweiller Park. Maryjeanne Gilbert (Notre Dame HS, Peoria) should be the big favorite in the Girls race with Danielle Beckstead (Normal Community) her chief competition. Peoria Notre Dame, Normal Community, Normal West, and Danville should challenge for the team championship.

 

The Boys team battle is a toss-up with #25 Danville the slight favorite. Normal West, Peoria Notre Dame, and Normal Community will be the teams challenging them. Caleb Hummer (Danville HS) should be the big favorite in this race if he is healthy. Austin Peters (Normal Community) and Matt DeGroot (Normal West HS) could be his chief competitors individually.

 

Central State Eight Conference @ Lincoln Park, Springfield

 

The Boys team battle could be the spotlight race of the day with 2A #7 Springfield and 2A #10 Chatham-Glenwood the favorites. Both teams are closely matched. It will come down to who gets their fifth man in first. 1A #12 Rochester and 2A #16 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin should battle for the next spots. Heath Warren (Springfield HS), Landon Skelly (Glenwood HS, Chatham HS), and Michael Gleason (Rochester HS) should be the favorites individually.

 

#25 Springfield has strong four runners that could place in the first ten in this meet. It could be the gap between four and five that might hurt them. Defending conference champ 1A #6 Rochester and 2A #18 Chatham-Glenwood should be among the teams in the top three. Aly Goff (Springfield HS), Demi Dixon (Glenwood HS, Chatham HS) and Emma Chelsvig (Jacksonville HS) will challenge for the individual conference championship.

 

Chicago Catholic League / Girls Catholic Athletic Conference @ Harms Woods

 

This could be like a dual meet between #5 St. Ignatius and #6 Loyola Academy in the Boys race. There are no other teams that will be close. Daniel Santino and Andy Weber (St. Ignatius College Prep, Chicago) will challenge Jack Carroll (Loyola Academy, Wilmette) for the individual championship.

 

The same two teams in the GCAC Girls race will contest for the team title with #25 St. Ignatius looking to have the slight edge. Kyleigh Spearing (St. Ignatius College Prep, Chicago) and Kathryn House (Loyola Academy, Wilmette) will challenge in the individual race.

 

Chicago Public League Championships @ Washington Park

 

It could be the pack of #15 Jones College Prep that is the difference in this meet. The Eagles, capable of running a 30-35 second five runner split will be the favorite in this meet. Whitney Young, Northside Prep, and Payton Prep should be the other teams pushing Jones in this race. The individual race is wide open with Pavlo Hutsalyuk & Christian Badillo (Lane Tech, Chicago), Kyle Maloney & Mark Protsiv (Jones College Prep, Chicago), and Walmer Saaverda (Lindblom HS, Chicago) among the favorites.

 

Lane Tech, Northside Prep, Whitney Young, and Payton Prep will all challenge for the City championship. Maggie Schoelle (Lane Tech HS, Chicago) ran 18:06 at Detweiller Park in September and should be the big favorite to capture the Girls city championship.

 

Corn Belt Conference @ Fairview Park, Normal

 

2A #2 Mahomet-Seymour should be the big favorite in the team race with 2A #21 Normal University their chief competition. Eli Hill & Alex Bruno (University HS, Normal) should challenge Alex Keeble (Mahomet Seymour HS) in the individual race.

 

2A #10 Normal University should be the team favorite in the girls meet. Watch for Mahomet-Seymour and 1A #5 Eureka challenging the Pioneers for the championship. It should be a great individual race with Shannan Supan and Ashley Lafayette (University HS, Normal), Lauren Whitehouse (Mahomet-Seymour HS), and Quincy McSweeney (Eureka HS) all going for the race win.

 

Eastern Suburban Catholic Conference @ Midlothian Meadows

 

Benet Academy should be the favorite in the Boys meet. It is a toss-up individually with Mike Conrad (Marist HS, Chicago), Brady McLaughlin (Benet Academy HS, Lisle) and Matt Contreras (Notre Dame HS, Niles) all chasing for the individual championship. The team battle in the Girls competition should come down to Benet Academy, Marist, and 2A #22 Nazareth Academy. Mary Claire Leonard (Marist HS, Chicago) and Claire McCabe (Benet Academy HS, Lisle) will challenge in the individual race.

 

Fox Valley Conference @ Cary-Grove

 

One of the top cross country conferences in the state will strut their stuff again Saturday morning. Jesse Reiser (McHenry HS) will be the big favorite in the Boys race with Keagan Smith (Huntley HS),  Filip Pajak (Prairie Ridge HS, Crystal Lake), Jack Aho (Central HS, Grayslake), Luke Beattie (Woodstock HS), Jack Becker (South HS, Crystal Lake), Matt Goldby (Jacobs HS, Algonquin), and Mike Hahndorf (McHenry HS) in the pack behind him. It should be a great team battle with Huntley and McHenry being challenged by 2A powers #8 Prairie Ridge, #11 Crystal Lake Central, and #12 Grayslake Central.

 

The Girls individual race should be great also. Lauren Van Vlierbergen (Jacobs HS, Algonquin) is the favorite in this race. Morgan Schulz (Cary-Grove HS), Lauren Optrany (McHenry HS), Kate Jacobs (Woodstock HS), and Kelly Meehlieb (Huntley HS) will be chasing Van Vlierbergen for the championship. The team battle should be tight. 2A #6 Crystal Lake Central and 2A #12 Woodstock will challenge host Cary-Grove and Jacobs for the team championship.

 

Metro Suburban Conference East @ Elmwood Park

 

The MSC is now super-sized and split into two divisions. 2A #3 Illiana Christian is the big favorite on the Boys race with either Nick Fiene, Nick Wondaal, or Colin DeYoung the individual favorites. The Girls meet is wide open with Timothy Christian, Elmwood Park, and Illiana Christian among the teams to watch.

 

Metro Suburban Conference West @ Fenton

 

The tougher of the two MSC divisions. 2A #14 Aurora Central Catholic, #15 Glenbard South, and #17 Wheaton Academy will challenge for the team championship. Rebecca Sippel (Glenbard South HS, Glen Ellyn) will battle Karina Liz & Abby Fioresi (Aurora Central Catholic HS). 2A #6 Wheaton Academy will be the big favorite in the Boys meet.

 

Mid Suburban League @ Ron Besse Park, Barrington

 

This is one of the best conference meets that will take place this weekend. In the Girls Meet, #4 Palatine will be the favorite to defend their title. The Lady Pirates have a good first three led by Kelly O’Brien, Megan Beach, and Amy Kieliszewski. #8 Schaumburg ran a great race last week at Sterling with a tight pack. Led by Erin Falsey and Ellie O’Connell, the Saxons could win this meet if their five runners are in before Palatine’s fourth. #11 Hoffman Estates did not run their best race last weekend but watch for them to bounce back Saturday. The team ran a 34 second split at Peoria. That kind of effort could give them the championship. #13 Barrington on their home course could be dangerous. #14 Fremd is a mystery not having run a major invitational with their full top seven since mid-September. Prospect and Conant are teams that could challenge for the upper half of this league.

 

Kelly O’Brien (Palatine HS) should be the favorite in this race. The individual field is deep with Lauren Conroy and Jocelyn Long (Barrington HS), Ayaiko Higuchi & Kate Escobar (Fremd HS, Palatine), Kaitlyn Ko (buffalo Grove HS), Megan Beach (Palatine HS), Megan Biddle (Hoffman Estates HS), Erin Falsey (Schaumburg HS), and Brooke Wilson (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect) all capable of placing in the top five.

 

The Boys meet could be deeper. #8 Hersey has not run with their full top seven together since Peoria in September. The talent is there for the Huskies to repeat their conference championship especially with Grant von der Lippe back after being out with an injury. #20 Buffalo Grove has a tight 2-5 pack but will need to get within 40 seconds of lead man Kevin Salvano if they want a chance at the league championship. #21 Prospect has a tight pack led by Mike Anderson. It will need to have a runner in the first ten if the Knights have visions of winning. #24 Hoffman Estates has the tight pack similar to Prospect. The MSL-West Division champs will need a top ten finish by either Bryan Gamboa or Matt Petersen leading the way. Barrington has been up and down. They may run better especially on their home course. Wheeling has been the surprise team in this league and could finish in the top three in this meet. Conant has the strong front runner with Zach Dale, but will need the pack closer to their star for hopes of finishing in the first five. Palatine has been going through growing pains with this young team. The Pirates could surprise some in this meet.

 

This should be a fantastic individual race. Zach Dale (Conant HS, Hoffman Estates) should be the favorite in this race followed closely by David Rodriguez (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights), Kevin Salvano (Buffalo Grove HS), and Graham Brown (Palatine HS). Other runners to watch include Mike Anderson (Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect), Kyle Monahan (Barrington HS), Brian Leonard (Palatine HS), and Justin Loquierco (Wheeling HS).

 

Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference @ Rochelle

 

Yorkville should be the team favorite in both gender races. The #1 Girls team in 2A should win this meet easily with #20 Kaneland or Sterling the next closest team. Skyler Bollinger (Yorkville HS) should be the favorite in this race. The Lady Foxes could score under 20 points. The Boys team is also top ranked and should win with #13 Sterling, Kaneland, and Sycamore following. Either Jake of Luke Hoffert (Yorkville HS) will win the Boys individual race.

 

Northern Illinois Ten Conference @ Freeport

 

2A #2 Belvidere North will be the big favorite. #19 Rockford Boylan has been improving the past few weeks. They could challenge the Blue Thunder. Jenna Lutzow (North HS, Belvidere) will be pushed by sister Carley along with Janelle Ferguson (Auburn HS, Rockford) and Delaney Appino & Grace McLaughlin (Boylan Catholic HS, Rockford) for the individual title.

 

2A #9 Belvidere North will be pushed by 3A Rockton Hononegah in the Boys team competition. The difference between the two teams should be under ten points. Eryk Yunk (North HS, Belvidere) should be the big favorite in this race.

 

North Suburban Conference @ Lake Forest

 

There should be two good varsity races in this conference meet Saturday afternoon. The Girls team battle will be extremely close with 2A #3 Lake Forest, #4 Vernon Hills, 3A #16 Libertyville, and #20 Lake Zurich all vying for the championship. The individual race will be just as close with Kortney Schardt (Lakes HS, Lake Villa) the favorite. Do not count out Vivian Overbeck (Vernon Hills HS), Melissa Manetsch (Libertyville HS), Emma Milburn (Lake Forest HS), and Caitlin Shepard (Lake Zurich) to win the individual race.

 

#13 Lake Zurich looks ready to go after adding three runners from their Frosh/Soph squad. They will be challenged by 2A #4 Vernon Hills for the team title. The individual race should be tight with Matt Periera (Lake Zurich HS) the slight favorite. I would also keep an eye on Shane Williamson and Tyler Smith (Vernon Hills HS), Sam Oh (Stevenson HS, Lincolnshire), and Dustin Macuiba (Warren Township HS, Gurnee).

 

Suburban Prairie Conference @ Lewis University, Romeoville

 

The conference meet for this league finds a new home at Lewis University for the next couple of years. In the girls race, #9 Minooka should be the favorite with #21 Oswego, Oswego East, and Plainfield South close to their heels. Ashley Tutt (Minooka HS) should be the race favorite being chased by teammates Emily Shelton & Mackenzie Callahan along with Rachael Lau (North HS, Plainfield).

 

It should be a close battle in the Boys team race. #16 Plainfield South has a solid pack that could be tough to beat. #22 Oswego has a good front runner with Peter Johnsrud that will need to have their 2-5 pack within that of Plainfield South. Keep an eye on Plainfield North and Oswego East in the team race also. Johnsrud should be the favorite in the individual race. There is no word on Joseph Suarez (East HS, Plainfield) since he has been out with an injury. He was expected to be back for the state series. We will see if he runs Saturday. Jack Sebok (North HS, Plainfield), Ryan Fluke (Oswego East HS), and Gabe Ceballos (Minooka HS) could be the runners chasing Johnsrud for the title.

 

Southwest Suburban Conference – Blue Division @ Channahon Park

 

Hard to see anyone touching #2 Sandburg in the boys race. The Eagles should score 19 or less in the team battle. Sean Torpy and Tom Brennen (Sandburg HS, Orland Park) could be challenged by Raul Rosendo (Central HS, Joliet) in the individual race. #10 Lockport is the clear favorite in the Girls race. Sandburg could be the closest challenger to them. Morgan Bollinger & Emmie Hahn (Lockport Township HS) and Carley Jensen (Sandburg HS, Orland Park) will be the favorites individually.

 

Southwest Suburban Conference – Red Division @ Turtlehead Lake

 

Lincoln-Way Central should be the favorite in both the Boys and Girls team races at this meet. #19 Boys team has the numbers to score low in this meet. Watch for Lincoln-Way North and Lincoln-Way West to be next in line. Tommy Kolacki (Lincoln-Way Central HS, New Lenox) should be the individual favorite. Lincoln-Way Central’s Madison Smith should be the favorite in the Girls race now that race favorite Natalie Waters (Lincoln-Way West HS, Frankfort) was ruled out for the season due to a stress fracture.

 

Upstate Eight Conference Meet @ Lords Park, Elgin

 

Neuqua Valley will try to sweep the conference championships in their final year in this conference before they move to the DuPage Valley Conference. The meet is at Lords Park in Elgin which could play a factor in this meet with its tight turns in this sixteen team field.

 

#3 Neuqua Valley will be the favorites in the Boys race. Their pack led by Connor Horn will be tough to beat. They ran a 30 second split at their own twilight invitational. #23 St. Charles East, East Aurora, Batavia, and Waubonsie Valley will challenge but will they have the horses to challenge the Wildcats? Horn will be the favorite in the Boys race with teammate Michael Widmann close to him. Connor McCue (West Aurora HS) should be the big challenger to these two with Ryan Wieties (Batavia HS) and Mark Sciubra (East HS, St. Charles) close.

 

#8 Batavia will be challenged by #15 St. Charles East, #17 Geneva and #24 Neuqua Valley in what should be a close Girls team race. Batavia has been boosted by the addition of three freshmen in their top seven led by Emma Stephens. Geneva will have a solid pack that could derail the Bulldogs. They are led by McKenzie Altmayer and Emma Ehrhardt. St. Charles East will need to have a tight pack behind their front runner Torree Scull if they want to win this meet. The individual race should be a good one as well. Freshman Audrey Ernst (North HS, St. Charles) will be challenged by Torree Scull and Gabby Juarez (Streamwood HS) in what could be a fast pace.

 

West Suburban Conference-Gold Division @ Addison Trail

 

#18 Downers Grove South is the big favorite in this race. They scored a perfect 15 points a year ago. They hope to do the same again in this meet. Hinsdale South should be the closest team to them. The Boys team race should be a tight one with Berwyn-Cicero Morton, Downers Grove South, and 2A #18 Hinsdale South all vying for the top spot. Charlie Nodus (Hinsdale South HS, Darien) should be one of the runners to watch up front along with Jack Lalonde (South HS, Downers Grove).

 

West Suburban Conference – Silver Division @ Proviso West HS, Hillside

 

We saved the best meet of the weekend for last. There was a change of venue for the meet Thursday morning. The meet was originally planned to be run at East End Park in Elmhurst but flooding to the north end of the course made it impossible to run the meet. The meet moves to Proviso West HS where the meet was run last fall. Regardless of location, this is a loaded meet with four ranked teams in the Girls meet and six ranked on the Boys side.

 

The Girls race will be part 2 of the race series between the top two 3A teams in the state #1 Glenbard West and #2 Hinsdale Central. The dual meet nine days ago was close with Hinsdale Central coming up on top 25-30. The Hilltoppers did not have all-state runner Lisa Luczak in that race. She is expected to run this Saturday making the outcome of this race too close to call. Both teams are evenly matched. It will come down to one on one battles in the race and whether who gets their fifth runner in first. #22 Downers Grove North and #23 Lyons Township are both pack running teams that will challenge for the third spot. Will it be a repeat of last Thursday also individually? Lindsay Graham (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn) pulled away from Alexa Haff (Hinsdale Central HS) in the final half mile. It will be a close battle between the two on this 3.04 mile course.

 

The Boys team race will be the highlight race of the weekend in any of the meets in the state. Six top 25 ranked teams (of the seven in the conference) will toe the line in what should be an extremely close race. #1 Hinsdale Central and #4 Lyons Township ran against each other last Thursday with the Red Devils coming out slightly on top 26-29. The two teams will need to have tight packs in order to win the conference championship. What about #10 York? They have been down during the season losing to the above two teams in dual meet action. The Dukes could receive a boost if freshman Charlie Kern and Sophomore Liam Hill are moved up to the varsity race. #11 Glenbard West has been solid most of the season and will be in the mix led by Chris Buechner. #12 Downers Grove North has front runner Ryan Clevenger. The Trojans will need to have a close split between their 2-5 runners in order to win this meet. How would you like to be #25 Oak Park-River Forest in this race? The Huskies are a good team that will make some noise in the state series. If they finish among the first four teams in this packed meet, it would be a very good thing.

 

The individual race should be great also. Ryan Clevenger (North HS, Downers Grove) will be the big favorite in this race and should win. Who will place second in this race is the big question. There are a number of runner s that could take this spot including Connor Madell (Lyons Township HS, LaGrange), Chris Brenk & Blake Evertsen (Hinsdale Central HS), Matt Plowman (York HS, Elmhurst), and Chris Buechner (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn). If Charlie Kern (York HS, Elmhurst) runs in the varsity race, the freshman could be one of the runners in this mix.

 

 

Good luck to all teams, athletes, and fans this weekend! Have fun!