2022 First to the Finish Invitational Preview

 

Photo: The last time Tatum David ran at Detweiller Park in 2019 winning the IHSA Class 2A State Meet (Laura Duffy / DyeStat Archives Photo)

 

By Michael Newman [email protected]

 

The first regular season cross country meet contested at Detweiller Park takes place this Saturday as it usually does during a regular season. 197 teams have entered the First to the Finish Invitational held on the state meet course. 5211 runners are entered to run in the eight races starting with the Class 1A Girls race at 9:00 AM

 

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Concerns about higher temperatures forced Meet Director Brien Dunphy to alter the meet schedule. There will be an approximate 30 minute gap between races starting at 9:00 AM. The two Class 3A races, normally starting after the open races, will now start after the Boys Class 2A race at 11:00 AM. The open races will conclude the meet.

 

98 ranked teams in the ILXCTF.com State XC Rankings are spread through the six varsity races. Class 2A Boys have the most with 20 teams. The feature race of the day could be the Class 2A Girls race where 2019 Class 2A State champion Tatum David of Richland County is expected to make her seasonal debut on this course. David transferred to IMG Academy in Florida just after her freshman XC season. She missed her junior season last fall due to an injury. David’s times are impressive on this 3-mile course having run 16:37 to win this meet as a freshman, then coming back for the state meet almost two months later to run 16:04. That time is the fourth fastest time ever for a Girls runner in Illinois history.

 

Here is a look at the six varsity races that will take place on Saturday morning looking at the team and individual aspects of each race.

 

Class 1A Girls – 9:00 AM Start

Ranked Teams (17) - #1 Tolono Unity, #3 Eureka, #4 Father McGivney, #5 Winnebago, #6 Marshall, #9 Stanford Olympia, #10 Seneca, #12 Elmwood, #13 El Paso-Gridley, #15 Pleasant Plains, #16 Urbana University, #18 Roxana, #20 Clinton, #21 Anna-Jonesboro, #22 Williamsville, #23 Cambridge, #24 Rock Falls, #26 Sandwich

Other 1A Teams – Abington-Avon, Argenta-Oreana, Aurora Central Catholic, Aurora Christian, Beecher, Cerro Gordo-Bement, Bloomington Central Catholic, Bloomington Cornerstone Academy, Bluford Webber, Breese Central, Byron, Carlinville, Champaign Academy, Judah Christian, Illinois Valley Central, Cullom-Tri Point, Dakota, St. Teresa, Durand, IC Catholic Prep, Erie-Prophetstown, Farmington, Freeburg, Genoa-Kingston, Illini Bluffs, Pope County, Henry Senachwine, Heyworth, Johnsburg, Kewanee Wethersfield, Liberty, Montini Catholic, Louisville-North Clay, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Macomb, Marengo, Monmouth-Roseville, O’Fallon Baptist Academy, Okawville, Oneida ROWVA, Oregon, Ottawa Marquette, Peoria Christian, Peoria Heights, Peoria Manual, Polo, Pontiac, Princeville, Riverton, Rock Island Alleman, Rockford Christian, Rockford Lutheran, Toulon Stark County, Tremont, Trenton-Wesclin, Tuscola, Wheaton Academy, Westmont, Woodstock Marian

 

Preview – Top ranked Tolono Unity runs in this meet for the first time. The Rockets are coming off a convincing win last week at Chrisman and should be the team to beat in this race. Erica Woodard led a 28 second split in their top three last week. We will keep an eye on how their top five split is in this meet. Eureka’s split was close to two minutes on their top five in their opener at Metamora. They could be close to Unity in this meet led by Laurel Munson. Father McGivney has not run their full team yet this season. We will see how they compare in this meet led by Elana Rybak and Kaitlyn Hatley.

 

Winnebago has three runners, Marissa Roggensack, Grace Erb, and Kaylee Woolery could all place in the top 10 individually. There is a distance between these top three runners and their fourth and fifth runners. 569 runners are entered in this race. We can get a good idea in a bigger meet situation how this pack will score when we get closer to the state series. Marshall had a strong run at Chrisman. They are only running their top three runners in this meet. There are 17 ranked teams in this field. The outcome of this race will surely shake up the ILXCTF.com team rankings.

 

Runners to Watch – Ahry Comer, Pope County - Brodie Denny, Anna-Jonesboro – Nora Brady, Bloomington Central Catholic – Emily Dowling, Cambridge – Aleigha Garrison, Judah Christian – Nellie Mellick, El Paso-Gridley – Graziella Narcisi, IC Catholic Prep – Laurel Munson, Eureka – Kennady Anderson, Kewanee Wethersfield – Adrianna Neisen, Liberty – Sydney Gersten, Montini Catholic – Molly Farrell, Marshall – Brooklyn Bender, Marshall – Caroline Willenborg, Pleasant Plains – Jaidyn Albers, Pleasant Plains – Jaden Lucas, Pontiac – Gabrielle Woodruff, Roxana – Sundara Weber, Sandwich – Evelyn O’Connor, Seneca – Olivia Shike, Tolono Unity – Erica Woodard, Tolono Unity – Kate Ahmari, Urbana University – Louisa Wilson, Williamsville – Grace Erb, Winnebago – Marissa Roggensack, Winnebago – Kaylee Woolery, Winnebago – Elana Rybak, Father McGivney -  Kaitlyn Hatley, Father McGivney

 

Preview – This will be the best 1A race of the season outside of the state meet where we could see 10 of the top 1A runners in the state. Kate Ahmari finished second in her last race at Detweiller Park and will be one of the runners that you see in the front. Elana Rybak has come back from a tough end to last fall to win the 1A 1600 last May at state. You will see her in the lead. Ahry Comer is one of the most improved 1A runners in this field and someone who could win this race. Kennady Anderson was all-state in three distance events last spring and someone who has the talent to win Saturday. Louisa Wilson was somewhat a surprise at state last fall. She won’t surprise anyone up front in this race.

 

Class 1A Boys – 9:30 AM Start

Ranked Teams (18) - #1 Latin School, #2 Normal University, #4 Rockford Christian, #6 Eureka, #7 St. Teresa, #8 Aurora Central Catholic, #9 Elmwood, #14 Pontiac, #15 El Paso-Gridley, #17 Williamsville, #18 Freeburg, #20 Clinton, #21 Winnebago, #23 Montini Catholic, #24 Rock Falls, #25 Tuscola, #26 Pleasant Plains, #28 Sandwich

Other 1A Teams – Abington-Avon, Arthur-Lovington, Anna-Jonesboro, Argenta-Oreana, Aurora Christian, Beecher, Cerro-Gordo-Bement, Bloomington Central Catholic, Bloomington Cornerstone Academy, Bluford Webber, Breese Central, Byron, Cambridge, Carlinville, Carmi-White County, Champaign Academy, Judah Christian, Illinois Valley Central, Cullom-Tri Point, Dakota, Durand, IC Catholic Prep, Erie-Prophetstown, Prairie Central, Farmington, Galva-Mid County, Genoa-Kingston, Illini Bluffs, Father McGivney, Pope County, Putnam County, Henry-Senachwine, Heyworth, Johnsburg, Kewanee Wethersfield, Liberty, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Macomb, Marengo, Monmouth-Roseville, O’Fallon Baptist Academy, Okawville, Oneida ROWVA, Oregon, Ottawa Marquette, Peoria Christian, Peoria Heights, Peoria Manual, Polo, Princeville, Riverton, Rock Island Alleman, Rockford Lutheran, Roxana, Seneca, Stanford Olympia, Steeleville, Stockton, Toulon Stark County, Tremont, Trenton-Wesclin, Urbana University, Wheaton Academy, Westmont, Williamsville, Woodstock Marian

 

Preview – Top ranked Latin could be without their top two runners in this meet. Akili Parekh will not run on Saturday. Their #2 runner Ben Gibson dropped out of the Hinsdale race last Saturday. He is in the meet roster for this meet.

 

Normal University could be one of the team’s to challenge for the win even without one of their top runners Sachit Muduli who is still out due to injuries that he suffered during the summer. Brandt Henderson is the team’s top runner and led the Pioneers to an opening win at Clinton. Rockford Christian finished behind Riverdale last week at Oregon but could win this meet led by Weston Forward and Aidan Sosnowski. Eureka ran a 48 second split on their top five in their opener at Metamora. Moving their pack up could get the Hornets the team title.

 

St. Teresa ran a 45 second top five at Limestone, then a 69 split last Saturday at Harvest Christian Academy. The Bulldogs could win but will need to get their split under 55 seconds in this meet. Aurora Central Catholic and Elmwood are top 10 teams that could finish in the top five in this meet.

 

Runners to Watch – Logan Beckmier, Arthur-Lovington – Jacob Adcock, Arthur-Lovington – Lyle Adcock, Arthur-Lovington – Patrick Hilby, Aurora Central Catholic – Armando Acosta, Aurora Central Catholic – Ben Gibson, Latin School – Brecken Fahrenkrug, Illinois Valley Central – Caleb Kernaghan, St. Teresa – Evan Cook, St. Teresa – Isaiah Hill, Elmwood – Charlie Bardwell, Eureka – Josh LaChance, Freeburg – Nolan Ferris, Montini Catholic – Brandt Henderson, Normal University – Aidan Lee, Pontiac – Weston Forward, Rockford Christian – Aidan Sosnowski, Rockford Christian – Wyatt Miller, Sandwich – Josiah Hortin, Tuscola – Jackson Barrett, Tuscola – Daniel Giacomini, Williamsville – Nicolai Martino, Winnebago – Dylan Howell, Cerro Gordo-Bement

 

Preview – This race is so open. There are no real favorites in this race. We might see a winning time near 15:15. The big three of Winkelman, Teel, and Genisio are not in this field. Logan Beckmier is someone I could see coming across the finish line in first. The same holds true for Weston Forward who could come away with the win. Patrick Hilby has run some good races early in the year now that he stopped playing football and is focused on this sport. Isaiah Hill won at Maxwell Park last Friday and could leave Detweiller Park with the win. Brandt Henderson and Nolan Ferris are two runners that I could see finish in the top five. This race again is so wide open to determine a winner. Grand Canyon wide-open.

 

Class 2A Girls – 10:00 AM Start

Ranked Teams (18) - #2 Lakes Community, #4 Washington, #5 Dunlap, #6 Dixon, #8 Normal University, #12 Vernon Hills, #13 Lake Forest, #14 Normal West, #15 Nazareth Academy, #16 Latin School, #18 Morris, #20 Mt. Zion, #22 Morton, #24 Cary-Grove, #27 Metamora, #28 Riverside-Brookfield, #29 Trinity

Other 2A Teams – Antioch, Bartonville Limestone, Belvidere, Belvidere North, Bethalto Civic Memorial, Canton, Champaign Centennial, Champaign Central, Charleston, Danville, Dixon, East Peoria, Effingham, Freeport, Galesburg, Geneseo, Glenbard South, Jacksonville, Jersey, Lemont, Mahomet-Seymour, Maroa-Forsyth, Mattoon, Bremen, Oak Forest, Richland County, Ottawa, Peoria, Peoria Richwoods, Plano, Rochelle, Rock Island, Rockford Boylan, Sterling, Streator, Sycamore, Troy Triad, St. Francis, Woodstock

 

Preview – Top ranked Grayslake Central normally runs in this meet. Homecoming festivities at the school have pushed their visit to Detweiller Park back one week. Lakes Community, who finished behind Grayslake Central at Lake County nearly 10 days ago enters the meet as the team favorite. The Eagles, led by Madison Twarling and Paige Elicia Caruth in that race, had an 89 second split on their top five. They could have 3 runners in the top 20 on Saturday. Their split needs to come down to allow them to win.

 

Washington edged Dunlap in their opening race of the year. Dunlap was convincing in winning last Saturday at Galesburg. The split on their top five, led by Saniya Mathew, Kate Robertson, and Abby Tudeen was 50 seconds. It was only six seconds on 1-3, 34 seconds on 1-4. Keep an eye on the Eagles. They could be ahead of Washington and maybe Lakes.

 

The large number of runners in this race, close to 500, could benefit Normal University. Natalie Bierbaum and Zoe Carter could finish in the top 10. Freshman Lana Alcorn could finish in the top 20. The split from the pack to their fourth runner is close to two minutes. In a big race like this, it may not play a factor. Better be safe to close that split starting with this meet. Dixon had a good start at Sycamore and could surprise some of these teams in this meet. Vernon Hills and Lake Forest have not run their full lineups yet. That should change on Saturday. Do not be surprised if both teams finish in the top five.

 

Runners to Watch – Tatum David, Richland County – Hannah Meisner, Bethalto Civic Memorial – Emma Smith, Dixon – Saniya Mathew, Dunlap – Kate Robertson, Dunlap – Colette Kinsella, Nazareth Academy – Sophia Lane, Lake Forest, Izzy Marsico, Lake Forest – Becca Heitzig, Lincoln – Ava Boyd, Mahomet-Seymour – Sophie Krueger, Morton – Sofia Munoz, Mt. Zion – Julie Bach, Normal West – Natalie Bierbaum, Normal University – Zoe Carter, Normal University – Bryce Pacourek, Riverside-Brookfield – Anna Todd, Vernon Hills – Reina Hill, Vernon Hills – Madison Twarling, Lakes Community – Madison Perez, Lakes Community

 

Preview – This could be the top race of the six in this meet. It has been nearly two years since Tatum David stepped on this course to race. She steps up for her first race of her senior year after missing all of last fall due to injury. David ran 16:04 in her last race at this park. How fast will it be on Saturday.

 

Natalie Bierbaum opened her high school career running 17:05 two weeks ago at Clinton. Becca Heitzig comes off a great track season and has already run 17:17 last week at Rochester. Sophia Lane and Izzy Marsico have not raced yet this season. Both have the talent to finish in the top five. Hannah Meisner keeps running better with every race. How fast will she run on Saturday?

 

U-High duo of Zoe Carter and Lana Alcorn will be threats in the pack going after David. Saniya Mathew, Emma Smith, and Colette Kinsella are some of the runners that you can see challenging for spots in the top 10.

 

Class 2A Boys – 10:30 AM Start

Ranked Teams (20) - #2 Riverside-Brookfield, #3 Champaign Central, #6 Deerfield, #8 Morton, #10 Lincoln, #11 Glenbard South, #12 Prairie Ridge, #13 Belvidere North, #15 Kaneland, #16 Bethalto Civic Memorial, #17 Payton Prep, #18 Lakes Community, #19 Vernon Hills, #21 Mt. Zion, #26 Effingham, #27 Woodstock, #28 Sycamore, #29 Sterling, #30 Dunlap

Other 2A Teams – Antioch, Bartonville Limestone, Belvidere, Burlington Central, Canton, Cary-Grove, Champaign Centennial, Charleston, Mather, Danville, Elmwood Park, Freeport, Galesburg, Geneseo, Jacksonville, Jersey, Nazareth Academy, Lake Forest, Lemont, Maroa-Forsyth, Mattoon, Metamora, Bremen, Morris, Normal West, Oak Forest, HL Richards, Richland County, Ottawa, Peoria, Peoria Richwoods, Plano, Rochelle, Rock Island, Rockford Boylan, Streator, Troy Triad, Washington, St. Francis

 

Preview – Riverside-Brookfield enters this meet as the second team in Class 2A and one of the favorites in this meet. The Bulldogs looked good last week at Lyons Township finishing third. Cooper Marrs ran 15:35 for 5k last week and should be one of the individual favorites. Their 2-4 pack led by Jack O’Brien was 68 seconds behind Marrs, but only 18 seconds separating the group. There was another minute before their fifth runner crossed the line. That needs to close in this race.

 

Champaign Central had freshman Caleb Mathias leading a 59 second split on their pack and winning at Charleston. A repeat of that could get the Maroons the team title. Deerfield was the surprise with two opening races last week. The Warriors could be among the top three teams on Saturday. Morton bounced back after their opening meet winning at Galesburg. Do not be surprised if the Potters leave with the win. There are 20 ranked teams in this race. Any of the first 10 teams could finish in the top five.

 

Runners to Watch – Jackson Collman, Bethalto Civic Memorial – Justice Eldridge, Bethalto Civic Memorial – Ryan Kries, Burlington Central – Aaron Hendron, Champaign Centennial – Muhiyadin Ali, Mather – Will Gelon, Prairie Ridge – Dylan Cohen, Deerfield – Jaden Frederick, Glenbard South – Brenden Heitzig, Lincoln – Evan Nosek, Kaneland – Josh Weeks, Morton – Chase Sauder, Morton – Julian Baker, Mt. Zion – Sky Riddle, Normal West – Owen Forberg, HL Richards – Cooper Marrs, Riverside-Brookfield – Jack O’Brien, Riverside-Brookfield – Dale Johnson, Sterling – Peter Smith, Champaign Central – Caleb Mathias, Champaign Central – Brady Clegg, Vernon Hills – Ishan Patel, Woodstock – Ritvik Viniak, Payton Prep – Orlando Hernandez, Belvidere North – Evan Horgan, Belvidere North

 

Preview – Dale Johnson of Sterling is the top returning 2A runner from last year’s state meet and will be one of the favorites in this race. Brenden Heitzig ran 14:59 last week for the win at Rochester. He will be up front with Johnson. Cooper Marrs finished third last week at Lyons. I expect him up front as well.

 

This will be the first race of the season for Owen Forberg who ran 4:12 last spring in the state 1600 Meter Run. How will that confidence from last spring translate to this fall? Jackson Collman could finish in the top five in this race with teammate Justice Eldridge a possibility to finish in the top five. Will Gelon did not have his best race last week at St. Charles. Watch for him to bounce back Saturday morning.

 

Class 3A Girls – 11:00 AM Start

Ranked Teams (12) - #3 Naperville North, #4 Lyons Township, #5 Minooka, #7 Yorkville, #9 Naperville Central, #17 Batavia, #19 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #23 New Trier, #24 Rockton Hononegah, #25 Edwardsville, #27 Metea Valley, #29 Benet Academy

Other 3A Teams – Addison Trail, Jacobs, Barrington, Berwyn-Cicero-Morton, Bolingbrook, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Dundee-Crown, DeKalb, East Moline United, Evanston Township, Hampshire, Highland Park, Libertyville, Lockport Township, McHenry, Moline, Rockford Auburn, Rockford Guilford, Rockford Jefferson, Niles West, Willowbrook, West Chicago, Wheaton North (1A Team – St. Joseph-Ogden

 

Preview – While there will be some attention drawn away from this meet to Lake Park, this team race is deceptively good. Naperville North had a rash of illnesses before their meet last week. Some of the top seven runners did not run. Still, the Huskies dominated a good regional field to take home the win. Everyone is back and running this week. Naperville North will have their hands full against four other top 10 teams.

 

Julie Piot led North that had a 30 second on their top four in that race. Shania and Rianna Tandon are two freshmen who have stepped into the team’s top five. Logan Brennan was just 10 seconds behind the twins. Emma Berres did not run in that race in Iowa. She could have an immediate impact on their top seven. Lyons Township easily won their own invitational last week with only a four second split on their top four. Their fifth runner Scarlett Lestina had a side stitch in the final mile had to drop back. Lestina in that pack gives this team strength. How far up in the race will they move will be something to watch for. Lyons will again be without their top runner Catherine Sommerfeld.

 

Minooka edged Yorkville by four points in their opening meet of the season. The two could be in the hunt for the win in this race. Minooka will need to move their pack closer led by Ella McCollom. Yorkville looked strong last week at NIU and could contend for a top finish. Naperville Central looked solid in the front last week at Hinsdale with Kate Tueting and Liv Phillips finishing in the top 10. Ava Hendren, who is with those two runners in races, did not finish. Hendren is on the roster for this week’s meet. If she is at 100%, she could push Central into a position to win.

 

Runners to Watch – Scout Storms, Barrington - Nicole Poglitsch, Wheaton-Warrenville South - Liliana Bednarek, Batavia - Emily Nuttall, Edwardsville – Sheila Tucker, Libertyville - Madeline Mellin, Bradley Bourbonnais – Shannon Cranny, Lyons Township – Danielle Jensen, McHenry – Ella McCollom, Minooka, Gabrielle Kics, Minooka – Maya Ledesma, Minooka – Kate Tueting, Naperville Central – Liv Phillips, Naperville Central – Ava Hendren, Naperville Central – Julia Piot, Naperville North – Emma Berres, Naperville North – Shania Tandon, Naperville North – Indigo Sterud, Hononegah – Savannah Franzen, St. Joseph-Ogden – Kate Forbes, New Trier – Josie Cahill, New Trier – Ava Galloway, Yorkville – Makenna Edwards, Yorkville

 

Preview – No real favorite in this race. We said the same thing last year in this race. Lucy Westlake ended up winning. Scout Storms might be the runner to watch if she is 100%. She is entered in this race but has not raced since state prelims in track due to a foot injury. A close eye will be kept on the starting line before the start of this race.

 

Danielle Jensen is one runner that could surprise some and win this race. Ella McCollom has run strong to start the season and could be among the leaders. Kate Tueting finished second at Hinsdale and could be among the leaders with her teammate Liv Phillips. Shania Tandon ran 17:37 in her first high school race and could surprise and be up front along with teammate Julie Piot. Savannah Franzen who was all-state in 1A last fall could be a runner you could see in the top 10. Nicole Poglitsch may challenge for a finish in the top five.

 

Class 3A Boys – 11:30 AM Start

Ranked Teams (13) - #2 Downers Grove North, #3 Plainfield South, #4 Neuqua Valley, #8 New Trier, #11 Maine South, #12 Lyons Township, #15 Plainfield North, #17 Naperville Central, #18 St. Ignatius Prep, #22 Minooka, #25 Bolingbrook, #30 Batavia , St. Joseph-Ogden (1A-#10)

Other 3A Teams – Addison Trail, Jacobs, Metea Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Berwyn-Cicero Morton, Bradley Bourbonnais, Buffalo Grove, Dundee-Crown, DeKalb, East Moline-United, Edwardsville, Evanston Township, Glenbard West, Hampshire, Highland Park, Stevenson, Lockport Township, McHenry, Moline, Lincoln-Way Central, Rockford Auburn, Rockford Guilford, Rockford Jefferson, Rolling Meadows, Niles North, Andrew, Willowbrook, Yorkville

 

Preview – Could be a great team race with three of the top five 3A teams in this field. Downers Grove North has started out strong packing it up with a 13 second split at Neuqua Valley. Last week at St. Charles, Topher Ferris went after the win which spread their pack out to 42 seconds. Their split from 2-5 was 29 seconds. Plainfield South did not run their complete top five to start the season at Normal West. Their split in the Plainfield City Championships last week was 44 seconds. That was without one of their top five runners BJ Sorg. This could be a close team race separated by only 10 points or less.

 

Neuqua Valley looked good finishing second last week at Hinsdale led by Zac Close. The pack from 2-5 needs to stay close together and within reach of Close in order to challenge the front two teams. New Trier had a nice 24 second split last week at Hinsdale but will need to move that pack up to challenge for the win. Maine South edged Lyons Township last week. They will not run four of their top seven runners in this race. Lyons Township, led by Nick Strayer and Cillian Henning, could be a surprise team in this race.

 

Runners to Watch – Quintin Lowe, Batavia – Hussein Almousawi, Bolingbrook – Jeremiah Lanum, Bradley-Bourbonnais – Mario Torres, Buffalo Grove – Riley Newport, DeKalb – Topher Ferris, Downers Grove North – Nate Wehner, Highland Park – Nick Strayer, Lyons Township – Cillian Henning, Lyons Township – Zachary Balzer, Minooka – Luke Noren, Naperville Central – Zac Close, Neuqua Valley – Robert Glenn, Neuqua Valley – Oliver Burns, Plainfield North – Camyn Viger, Plainfield South – Ethan Reynoso, Plainfield South – Ben Crane, New Trier – Oscar Dueno-Alda, New Trier – Ben Whalley, Yorkville – Thomas Fitzpatrick, St. Ignatius Prep, Sam Urbon, Metea Valley

 

Preview – This should be a great individual race to end the Varsity races in this meet. Riley Newport has run two good opening races. His last race last Saturday he won by 44 seconds. He will have company in this race. Camyn Viger finished in the top 10 last year at state and will be the chief challenger to the DeKalb senior. Zachary Balzer has started the season strong and should finish in the top five. Zac Close finished within six seconds of Daniel Watcke last week at Hinsdale and should be up front with the leaders. Nick Strayer and Nate Wehner could be some of the runners that you could also see in the top five.