November 01, 2024
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Kaneland girls second at home regional; Sycamore advances as well

By Chris Walker

Kaneland's Olivia Franklin begins to pass Sycamore's Lily Baker as they near the finish chute in a Class 2A regional October 24 at Kaneland High School. Franklin finished 6th overall, Baker, 8th. (Mary Beth)

MAPLE PARK - Nobody was catching Dixon on Saturday morning.
 
Behind slick freshman racer Emma Smith and seniors Jade Miller and Taylor Hills, the Duchesses ran past host Kaneland and the rest of the competition during Saturday's Class 2AKaneland girls cross country regional in Maple Park.
 
Dixon finished with 23points, comfortably in front of the 74 tallied by the runner-up Knights. Burlington Central (88), Sycamore (94) and Sterling (125) rounded out the remaining teams that qualified for next weekend's Lakes sectional.
 
Smith (19:04.57), Miller(19:27.35) and Hills (19:40.90) were among eight runners to perform at sub-20:00.

Senior Olivia Franklin (19:52.44) placed sixth to lead Kaneland while sophomore Rose Dallal (20:25.07)was 12th.
 
Senior MacKenzie Egert (20:45.76) and sophomores Lindsey Andrae (20:47.02) and Jacqueline Nettnin(20:57.52) also contributed for the Knights.
 
"I thought they ran their best race," Kaneland coach Doug Ecker said. "I was very happy with how they ran. I thought with Burlington Central we could possibly be third so second was good. Dixon is a very, very good team."
 
Sycamore freshman HayleyKing (19:52.46) and junior Lily Baker (19:53.29) finished in seventh and eighth place respectively for the Spartans. Their next four competitors finished right after one another, beginning with freshman Stella Reidl (21:41.64) junior EmmaDoyle (21:43.16), freshman Olivia Kirby (21:43.69) and senior Regan Wesley (21:4385).
 
"They did a really nice job of advancing to next week and we were only six points back of a very good Burlington Central team," Sycamore coach Adam Bezinovich said. "And the team is fairly young. Of the eight we're carrying in the playoffs, six could be returning so the future is bright if they stay together."
 
With the races split up,the Spartans had to adjust a bit.
 
"Our three really works with our four and our one-two are a good pair, but our three was stuck in that flight today," Bezinovich said. "She had to work on her own and did a nice job and in the standings finishing together. It's interesting how that all works out in the end."