Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Triad harriers want to earn trip to state for cross country

Sectional meets in three classes are set for today

Fresh off a sweep on their home course a week ago, the Triad Knights lead a strong local contingent of harriers into the Decatur MacArthur Class 2A Cross Country Sectional today with their goals clearly in mind and very attainable.

Triad coach Andy Brendel said he knows his girls team, which includes just one senior among its top runners, probably isn't ready to compete with perennial state powers Springfield and Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.

So for now, the Knights' quest is to gain a trip to the 2009 IHSA State Cross Country Meet set for Nov. 6 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

"I thought both girls and boys teams were outstanding at the regional. The girls team was without Megan Grantom, who has been a top runner for us all year, but the other girls really picked it up,'' Brendel said. "But we had some girls step up and really run a great race for us. We're just hoping to run well enough to advance.

Race time in the girls division is set for 11 a.m. with the boys set to scamper at noon.

Other top local hopes in the girls division include Mater Dei, as well as Mississippi Valley Conference powers Waterloo and Highland.

Springfield is also favored in the boys race, which begins at noon. Triad, Mater Dei, Cahokia and Highland could also be in contention for a trip to the state meet.

While the top local Class 2A teams will compete in Decatur this morning, Class 1A and Class 3A Sectionals are also being held in the region.

Class 1A athletes are competing in the Metro-East Lutheran Sectional at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville while the Class 3A Sectional is being held at Normal West High School.

The top five teams and top seven individuals not on those teams in each race advance to the state meet.

Class 1A

Coming off a win at the Chester Regional where its top five girls finished with top 10 finishes, Freeburg looks to be a heavy favorite at the Metro-East Lutheran Sectional at 10 a.m.

The boys race will follow at 11 a.m. with both events held on the rugged course at SIUE.

"I thought we ran very well and we're looking forward to running at SIUE this week. We've run there a couple of times this year and have had good success,'' Midgets coach Carl Florczyk said. "We've never been able to win a girls sectional title in school history so that's really the goal this week. Most of all, we want to advance.

Advancing shouldn't be a problem for the Midgets who are led by two of the state's best in sisters Kristen and Caitlin Busch.

Sparta and Columbia should also be in the running for a state berth, while Molly Works of New Athens heads the list of top individuals.

Sparta, Freeburg and Nashville lead the top local teams in the boys division.

Class 3A

Perennial state meet qualifiers O'Fallon and Edwardsville will be led by outstanding individuals when the boys race begins at 11:30 a.m. today at the Class 3A Normal West Sectional at Maxwell Park in Normal.

Regional champion Michael Scolarici leads the way for O'Fallon, while one of the state's top sophomores -- Garrett Sweatt -- leads the way for the Edwardsville.

Both the Tigers and Panthers also have good chances of landing one of five team spots for the Class 3A state meet.

"I think Minooka is the team to beat, but ourselves along with Edwardsville, should be in the group of six or seven teams battling for the other four spots,'' Panthers coach Jon Burnett said. "The guys have had a great year and we're running well right now. This is the time when you want to peak and we're close to doing that.''

O'Fallon, Edwardsville and possibly Belleville East, should be the girls team to watch when the race begins at 10:30 a.m.

Belleville East junior Maria Effinger is the area's top individual harrier, while Belleville West senior Sammie Grove also is among the top individuals with a chance to advance.