A mix of experience, a few freshmen and two out-of-state transfers has been a productive blend this season for Lincoln-Way Central’s girls cross-country team.
The Knights opened with a first-place finish at the SouthWest Suburban Conference preseason meet in a strong field that included Lockport, Sandburg and Lincoln-Way East.
“That started our momentum to make this the best season Lincoln-Way Central ever had,” senior Madison Smith said.
The early-season conference showing also made an impression on sophomore Kelly Robbins, the defending SouthWest Suburban Red champion.
“I think it was a good indication of what we could do this season, starting out that strong,” Robbins said.
Central came within four points of another meet championship at the T.F. South Rich Dust Invitational on Sept. 3.
On Saturday, Smith was seventh in the first flight race (19 minutes, 22 seconds) and Robbins seventh in the second flight (19:48) at the Minooka Flight Invitational. Yorkville, the 2015 Class 2A state champion, outraced defending 3A champ Minooka 38-50 for the title.
“Madison is No. 1, I’m No. 2,” Robbins said. “We switch off sometimes, so it’s good to have someone so close to me. If one of us doesn’t have a good race, there’s always another one to pick us right back up.”
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The other Central varsity racers Saturday were Mackenzie Brownrigg (eighth, flight three), Gretchen Zirgaitis (fifth, flight four), Emily Furtek (sixth, flight five), Madison Brownrigg (seventh, flight six) and Dana Boucher (fifth, flight seven).
“We have a great group of girls. There’s zero drama,” Smith said. “We’re all friends. It’s really good to be a senior and help lead them and show them how it goes, and our traditions.”
The Brownrigg sisters — senior Madison and sophomore Mackenzie — moved from Missouri and bolstered the varsity team.
“Our goal at the beginning of the season was every day get better,” Central girls coach Jack Young said. “We’re not happy with our times now, but our goal is to peak at the end of the year. They’re really meshing as a team.”
Ups and downs: Lincoln-Way Central junior Zak Hutchinson proved he can run with the leaders when he finished seventh (16:23) out of 170 individuals at the SouthWest Suburban preseason meet.
Hutchinson ran a little slower Saturday and placed 10th (16:34) among 17 runners in the first flight of the Minooka meet.
“Decent,” he said of the season. “I’m not too happy with it, but I just got off mono over the summer. It was kind of rough, but I don’t want to make any excuses. I’ve just got to keep pushing through the workouts.
“Stay positive. The time I’m not going to focus on the rest of the season. I’m going to really focus on working hard, getting into a pack of running.”
Senior Josh Perch, a transfer from Lincoln-Way East, clocked a team-best 16:17 on Saturday to take eighth in the second flight race.
State contender: Sandburg junior Dylan Jacobs continues to show he can be in the hunt for the Class 3A individual title in November.
In another race against top-10 state returnees, Jacobs was a close second (14:36.30) to Lake Zurich’s Brian Griffith (14:34.50) on Saturday at the Richard Spring Invitational in Peoria. Griffith placed seventh in the 2015 state final.
Two weeks ago, Jacobs outraced Lyons’ Vince Zona to win the Lyons Invitational. Zona took sixth at the state meet last year. Jacobs had a hamstring injury and didn’t run at state.
Tim Tierney is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.