Girls turn their focus to tough field at sectional
But after winning the East Alton Wood River Regional with a score of 31 points, the roster is now more focused.
"It's kind of strange, to be honest, for all of us," EHS coach John Cunningham said. "The team has been growing the past several years to have 26 girls on the team. Now we're down to not a lot of people at practice. It's a small, concentrated group. It's different at the end of the season."Courtney Smith, Liz Speicher and Kristin Hodge swept the top three spots at the regional as the Tigers cruised to the victory.
Belleville West (72), O'Fallon (81), Waterloo (86) and East St. Louis (98) also qualified for the Centralia Sectional.
Laura Bevis (12th, 20:51) and Stephanie Dalla Riva (13th, 20:51) also scored for the Tigers while Breanna Schuett (26th, 21:58) and Taylor Frese (42nd, 23:16) also competed.
"We got some of the kids in like Laura Bevis and Taylor Frese who have been in the program for four years and have done a lot for the program, especially with Laura being on state qualifying teams," Cunningham said. "The No. 1 goal was obviously to qualify (for sectionals). We were able to reward some of the seniors and two freshmen who had been running so well. On all fronts, I think it was mission accomplished."
The Tigers had two different groups get together to stay the course and race to the victory.
"Kristin had an excellent day. She followed the plan," Cunningham said. "Basically Courtney and Liz were out there to pull Kristin along and get in position where we could possibly sweep the race. They did just that and when they decided to go, she went with them and opened up a big lead that she was able to hold onto and kept our score down so much."
Cunningham said it was nice to see a senior and freshman get together to finish in the top 13 individually.
"Stephanie ran right along with Laura, that was kind of the passing of the torch, senior to a freshman," Cunningham said. "Laura was here the first time we qualified for state. You hope that Stephanie is here for a long time doing those same things and they ran the same time."
The Tigers will have their hands full Saturday in Centralia as Smith, Speicher, Leah Bateman, Lauren Heidbrink, Lia Saunders, Kaci Smith and Ellen Atwood are scheduled to be in the lineup while Hodge will get a break.
"I know the kids really like running that course. It's been good to us in the past," Cunningham said. "We won the Centralia Invitational this year and last year. It was the first place that any of us who are connected with the current team made it to state. It's not going to be easy. We would like to defend our sectional title from last year. It's a pretty tough field."
All of the regional winners at this Saturday's sectional had impressive scores.
Mahomet-Seymour won the Urbana Regional with 26 points, Mt. Vernon won its regional with 35 points and Chatham Glenwood won the Springfield-Lanphier Regional with 41 points, edging Sacred Heart-Griffin which scored 43.
"We're going to have to show up," Cunningham said. "Mahomet-Seymour, Mt. Vernon are definitely going to be tough for us along with Chatham Glenwood, the Springfield schools, Sacred Heart-Griffin and local teams like O'Fallon and Belleville West.
The Tigers have plenty of big-meet experience and should be poised for a good run.
"There isn't anyone who hasn't been there before," Cunningham said. "Most of them have run at the state meet or multiple state meets with track and cross country."
E-mail:jcavato@yourjournal.com
