ILXCTF – Mike Newman – News – Illinois HS XC Roadmap to the Weekend

Illinois HS XC Roadmap to the Weekend – September 8, 2023

By Michael Newman

Most of the focus this weekend will be at Detweiller Park for the 202 team First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday morning. The Harvey Braus Invitational at Lake Park’s East Campus course will put up some fast times especially in the Girls race that features three of the top four Class 3A teams in the state.

You can travel just a tad west of the Mississippi River to downtown St. Louis in Forest Park where Dylon Nalley and Gavin Genisio could put up some fast times on that course.

Here is a look of where your favorite Illinois High School XC teams are headed to throughout this state. You can read about the First to the Finish Invitational by clicking on this link.

Lake Park Harvey Braus Invitational

Girls Teams – #1 Prospect, #2 York, #4 Downers Grove North, #8 Maine South, #22 Huntley, #23 St. Charles North, 2A #8, St. Ignatius College Prep; Bartlett, Conant, Elgin, Elk Grove, Glenbard North, Glenbard West, Glenbrook North, Lake Park, Lincoln Park, Machesney Park Harlem, Maine West, New Trier JV, Niles North, Plainfield East, St. Charles East, , Schaumburg, South Elgin, Streamwood

Boys Teams – #10 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #11 St. Charles East, #17 Wheaton North; Bartlett, Deerfield JV, Elgin, Elk Grove, Glenbard North, Glenbrook North, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Lake Park, Lane Tech, Lincoln Park, Machesney Park Harlem, Maine West, New Trier JV, Plainfield East, St. Charles North, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Wheeling

Notes – This is the first of a three week run between top 3A teams of Prospect, York, and Downers Grove North. The teams will also face each other next week at the Richard Spring Invitational and the following week at the Palatine Meet of Champions. Prospect ran away with the win over a good field last week at Hinsdale Central without one of their top runners, Lily Ginsberg. The senior is expected to race on Saturday and be close to their top runners Veronica Znajda and Meg Peterson. York more than doubled the score on a good Barrington team last week at St. Charles East. Katherine Klimek led the team last week with Maggie Owens just under 18-minutes. Michaela Quinn did not have her best race last week but should be closer to Klimek in this race. Two big things to watch is how Prospect’s and York’s 4-7 pack compare to each other. York had a 17 second split on their 4-7 last week and being 27 seconds behind Owens. The split…