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GIRLS RACE
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Racing conditions will be a little messy. There's snow on the ground in Terre Haute. But temperatures should be moderate and in the 40s. So things should be interesting. Check out all the information you need to know below.
Previous Placement:
2018: 1. Naperville North (IL); 2. Yorkville (IL); 3. Downers Grove South (IL); 4. Hilliard Davidson (OH)
2017: 1. Naperville North (IL); 2. Yorkville (IL); 3. Barrington (IL); 4. Centerville (OH)
2016: 1. Carmel (IN); 2. Naperville North (IL); 3. Minooka (IL); 4. Yorkville (IL)
2015: 1. Centerville (OH); 2. Northville (MI); 3. Naperville North (IL); 4. Carmel (IN)
2014: 1. Carmel (IN); 2. Naperville North (IL); 3. Palatine (IL); 4. Birmingham Seaholm (MI)
CONFIDENCE PICKS BY MILESPLIT:
1. Beavercreek (OH); 2. Naperville North (IL); 3. Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI); 4. Lakota East (OH)
Teams To Pay Attention To:
- Beavercreek (OH): This is the moment this team has been waiting for. A chance to qualify for NXN for the first time in school history. The odds are in Creek's favor. The No. 3 team in the country won its second straight Ohio Division 1 championship in resounding fashion, and has not lost all season.
- Naperville North (IL): A full strength Huskies team is dangerous. And NN is as close as its been to full strength all season. The squad is coming off another win at its Class 3A state championships, and it's only loss on the season is at Roy Griak, where the Huskies finished second. At state, the team recorded a 59-second spread and 17:19 average.
- Yorkville (IL): Speaking of coming on strong, Yorkville was second at its state championships, behind Naperville North, and put down a 41-second spread and 17:39 average.
- Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI): Michigan's LP Division I winners averaged 18:26 for 5K and 2:07 spread -- mostly because Dudek is WAY out in front. This team has the potential to post a good result here at the Midwest.
- Lakota East (OH): Don't sleep on Lakota East. The team finished second to Beavercreek at its Division I state championships and averaged 18:58 -- and a ridiculous 23-second spread.
- Centerville (OH): Coaches made the decision to not run its varsity at its district race and failed to qualify for regionals -- which put this Ohio powerhouse out of state for the first time in ages. The squad, with redemption on its mind, should bounce back here.
Note: Indiana's top two teams, Fort Wayne Carroll and Zionsville Community, will not continue their seasons at NXR Midwest.
Top Returners From 2018:
1. Katelynne Hart, Glenbard West (IL); 3. Taylor Ewert, Beavercreek (OH); 5. Katrina Schlenker, Batavia (IL); 6. Lianna Surtz, Rosary (IL); 8. Erin Strzelecki, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (IN); 9. Zofia Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI); 10. Daniella Santos, Hilliard Davidson (OH).
Individuals:
- Katelynne Hart, Glenbard West (IL): She was first in 2016, first in 2017 and first in 2018. The field is rich with talent, so the win isn't guaranteed, but Hart's history leads us to believe she'll be in the hunt for her fourth straight crown. She's run a season best of 16:00.70 for 3-miles.
- Taylor Ewert, Beavercreek (OH): Ewert was third in this field last year and only has lost one race this season, to Dudek (below). Her experience will guide her to the finish -- and it might even get her a win. She's run a season best of 17:03.13 for 5K.
- Zofia Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI): So much is driving Dudek toward the finish line in 2019. She was ninth in this race last year, which didn't qualify her for NXN. She's undefeated in 2019, and beat Ewert in September. She ran a PR of 16:46.90 in October. Her last few races could be her biggest statements yet.
- Tatum David, Richland County (IL): David will be in the hunt for a qualifier. She won Class 2A in Illinois this past week in 16:04.00 for 3-miles. While she's just a freshman, she's not afraid to race with the lead pack.
- Katrina Schlenker, Batavia (IL): Schlenker qualified for NXN as a freshman last year and generally has tested herself against better runners in 2019 -- that could set her up well for the finish. She's run a season best of 16:40.30 for 3-miles.
- Savannah Roark, Beavercreek (IL): Roark has been Beavercreek's trusty No. 2 all season long, but there's also a team qualifier on the line. And that might bring out the killer instinct in Roark. She's gone 17:45.70 for 5K.
- Audrey Dadamio, Birmingham Seaholm (MI): She ran 17:12.00 for 5K at regionals and finished fifth at state.
- Erin Strzelecki, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (IN): She won state in Indiana in a 5K PR of 17:22.90. She was also just a hair off from qualifying in 2018. Don't sleep on her.
- Addie Engel, Springfield Catholic (OH): Engel ran a division down from Beavercreek in Ohio and won her Division 2 state championship with a time of 17:46.90. She's posted a season best of 17:16.40.
- Emma Bucher, Centerville (OH): Centerville didn't qualify for state, and so there could be some redemption value here for its athlete. Bucher has gone a season best of 17:26.30.
- Brenna Cohoon, Downers Grove South (IL): The Iowa State commit has led DGS as its No. 1 all-season long. A disappointing state championships aside, she's been solid all season-long, with a personal best of 17:20.00 for 3-miles.
- Maggie Gamboa, Naperville North (IL): The junior has been the breakout runner for the Huskies in 2019. She's gone a season best of 16:42.10 for 3-miles and 18:16.20 for 5K on a difficult Les Bolstad course in Minnesota.
Other Athletes To Watch: Julia Flynn, Traverse City Central (MI); Aly Negovetich, Grant (IL); Grace Hartman, Oakwood (OH); Zoe Duffus, Fort Wayne Carroll (IN): Daniella Santos, Hilliard Davidson (OH); Ella Gilson, Hawken (OH); Faith Duncan, Lebanon (OH); Lindsay Stull, Hilliard Davidson (OH) Brooke Stromsland, Lakes (IL).
Note: Abby Vanderkooi and Jaden Theis -- their season PRs put them at No. 2 and No. 6 in this region -- both ran Foot Locker Nationals in 2018. That's why we're omitting them from this preview based on that decision, which is likely to happen again.