PHS, St. Bede girls teams succeed
The fall cross-country campaign saw both Princeton and St. Bede earn team sectional qualifying berths, and this years’ incarnation of the BCR All-Area Team reflects that, with five of the seven selections going to Tigresses and Lady Bruins.
The 2009 campaign saw a youth movement among area female harriers as well, with underclassmen claiming five All-Area selections, including Runner of the Year Elizabeth Mosbach of Hall.
Here is a look at 2009’s top female cross-country runners (in alphabetical order):
Daniela Acamovic, senior, Hall: Acamovic, Hall’s No. 2 runner, earned Second Team NCIC Lincoln All-Conference honors with her 12th-place finish (22:01) at the conference meet, and overcame the cold and muddy conditions at the Rock Falls regional to post a 22nd-place finish (21:57) and earn an individual qualifying spot to the Aurora Christian Sectional.
“Daniela really came on at the end of the year,” said Hall coach Tom Keegan. “She reached her goal to make it to sectionals and was really proud of herself for that, and so was I.”
Acamovic finished 49th at sectionals with a time of 20:48.
“She ended on a positive note,” Keegan said.
Alix Forristall, junior, PHS: Forristall finished eighth at the NCIC Lincoln Conference meet at Sterling Woodlawn, earning herself second team All-Conference honors.
“Alix did a great job being a very solid No. 3 girl for us all year long,” said PHS coach Pat Hodge. “She really came on at the end of last year and continued to improve this year, cutting about a minute off of her ‘08 time.”
Forristall was the Tigresses’ No. 3 finisher at the Rock Falls Regional, coming through the chute 17th at 21:32. She continued her strong postseason performance at the Aurora Christian Sectional, posting a 44th place finish (20:44).
“She was the 5th best number three girl at sectionals, giving us something to look forward to as our top three should return for next year," said Hodge.
Kayla MacDavitt, so., St. Bede: MacDavitt split time between the Bedan volleyball and cross country squads this season, making her running results even more impressive.
“When the practices didn’t conflict, she would run at cross country practice and then go practice for volleyball,” St. Bede coach Dennis Summers said of his hard working sophomore standout. “She didn’t run every meet, but every meet she ran she improved,” Summers said.
MacDavitt finished third with a time of 21:54 at the Tri-County conference meet, and was the Lady Bruins’ top finisher at regionals with an 11th-place time of 23 minutes and 28 seconds. She finished 87th at sectionals with a time of 21:46.
“She’s going to be a force to be reckoned with as she gets to her junior and senior season,” said Summers.
Emma Makransky, so., PHS: Makransky earned first-team NCIC Lincoln honors for her fifth-place finish (20:14) at the conference meet, helping her squad finish second. The sophomore standout was the Tigresses second-best finisher at regionals ( 13th, 20:57), and sectionals (27th, 20:04).
“Emma had another fine season for us, overall a little better than her freshman year,” said Hodge. “She’s come within striking distance of qualifying for state twice now. Hopefully, she can get over that barrier next year.”
Hodge said that Makransky’s consistency was a big help to the team this year.
“She was at a high level on a very consistent basis for us, giving us that number one person on whom we could always count on,” Hodge said.
C.J. Rhodes, so., Princeton: Despite splitting time between volleyball and cross country this year, Rhodes was the area’s lone qualifier for the state race, advancing out of the Aurora Christian Sectional with a 16th place finish (19:41).
“C.J. did a great job being a part-time cross country runner,” said PHS coach Pat Hodge. “We knew coming off of the track season that she had the ability to help us a lot, but didn’t know if she would have time to get the conditioning and experience needed to be at the state-qualifying level. She obviously overcame that obstacle and did so by running a very well balanced race at sectional.”
Rhodes was the top finisher for the Tigresses at the Rock Falls Regional, posting a sixth-place finish (20:18), and came in 66th (20:03) at state.
Lucy Stanke, sr, St. Bede: The St. Bede senior capped off her cross country career with Tri-County diamonds, winning the conference meet at Peru with a time of 21:06.
“Lucy ran outstanding, she finally got one of her goals, winning the Tri-County Conference, and with our team winning the conference that was just better yet,” said Summers.
Stanke finished second for the Lady Bruins, coming in 13th (23:52), at the Seneca regional to help earn her squad a sectional qualifying berth. At sectionals, she led the way for the Academy, finishing 70th at 21:18.
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