Road to State: Girls XC takes on state meet 2018

After three extra weeks of hard work and extra miles, the York Girls Varsity cross country team had a fantastic end to their season at the 3A state meet. The team was represented by top-seven runners senior Sarah May, juniors Emma Kern, Lydia Hickey and Grace Moriarty, and freshmen Katelyn Winton, Katelyn Leonard, and Kathleen Buhrfiend. Continuing their practice and travelling down state as well were alternates senior Anna Morley, juniors Maggie Clink and Maya Curry, and freshmen Allison Fitzgibbons, Anna Clink and Erin Powers. The York athletes not only made the school, but the entire community proud.

The varsity team competed against a plethora of tough teams at their regional meet on Saturday October 20th hosted at Lake Park. The girls competed fiercely with exceptional performances by senior Sarah May who placed 4th overall with a time of 17:41.6, and Lydia Hickey who placed 8th overall with a time of 18:14.1. The Dukes came out on top and placed 2nd as a team, beating their rivals Glenbard West for the first time in 6 years.

“This race was probably one of the best races of the entire season for the girls,” head coach Lauren DeAngelis said. “They really stuck together as a pack and competed fiercely against Wheaton Warrenville South and in the end we were able to beat Glenbard West which hasn’t been done in at least 6 years, it was outstanding.”

The following weekend the Dukes took on 18 teams at the Niles West Sectional. The athletes  placed third in the sectional beating Glenbard West yet again, instantly qualifying them for state. All thanks to outstanding races from junior Emma Kern who ran a personal best of 18:23.92, and freshman Katelyn Winton who ran her personal best as well, 18:25.44.

“It was so amazing placing third at sectionals,” junior Emma Kern said. “I think it was the confidence boost we needed before competing in the state meet.”

The first Saturday in November and the Dukes were ready to toe the line at the infamous Detweiller Park in Peoria, Illinois. Conditions were looking good for the girls as they were placed in box 32 close to the outside (runners prefer to be on the ends as it is easier to get out), the weather was seemingly perfect with  a temperature of 52 and clouds in the sky, which had the team feeling excited, confident, and prepared to race. The girls were focused on running as a pack, keeping their champion mindsets in place, and getting out confident in the beginning.

“I knew that physically I had done everything I needed to do to be able to compete, I just had to focus on preparing myself mentally for my last cross country race,” senior Sarah May said. “It was a bittersweet feeling knowing this was my last race with my team, but also it felt so great to achieve a personal record for my final high school race.”

A long whistle rang out throughout the park and 220 athletes and 25 teams took their place on the line, then “BANG” the gun went off and a second later the wave of racers made their way down the first stretch of the race. The first mile goes by fast and the crowd follows the racers across the course wherever they go shouting and cheering. Senior Sarah May flies by the mile and then a pack of green is spotted with freshman Katelyn Winton, and juniors Emma Kern, Grace Moriarty and Lydia Hickey racing all together. Not far behind them, freshmen Katelyn Leonard and Kathleen Buhrfiend race past also upholding their goal of sticking together.

“Running in a pack, like we had talked about all season, was something we finally achieved at the state meet,” freshman Katelyn Winton said. “It helped push me to go faster and without my teammates I wouldn’t have been able to race my best time,” Winton said. “While we were finishing we all sped up and my teammate said “let’s go” then I pushed it with her and we finished together.”

Many students and cross country team members took the long drive down to Peoria this year to cheer on and support their team one last time.

“The state meet is overall an awesome experience, it really embodies the definition of school spirit, and it’s super fun taking the long drive down with friends to cheer on the runners and this year we did a tailgate before the races with members from both the boys and girls team which was different and really cool,” junior and member of the girl’s team Elly Fitzgerald said. “Overall I am so proud of the girl’s who ran because I know they worked so hard to get there and watching them cross the finish line made me so proud to be a part of the girl’s cross country team,” Fitzgerald said.

The Dukes continued racing strongly and fearlessly as they finished with six out of the seven  girls running their personal best and overall placing significantly better than they have in the past 5 years with 413 points, resulting in a 16th place finish. Senior Sarah May placed 31st with a time of 17:15.76, junior Emma Kern ran an 18:16.49, freshman Katelyn Winton an 18:18.44 right alongside junior Grace Moriarty with an 18:18.49.  Junior Lydia Hickey ran an 18:36.64, freshman Katelyn Leonard an 18:38.35, and last but not least, freshman Kathleen Buhrfiend raced an 18:41.05. The girls have proven that they have the strength and capability to compete and to do it with grit and tenacity, we are so excited to see what this team will bring to the courses next season.

“As a team we know that we can finish in the top ten at state next year, but we are going to continue working hard, maybe even harder then we had this past season,” junior and varsity member Lydia Hickey said. “We are going to need to remember to continue to stay committed and focused on our goal when our season starts in June.”