Glenbard West 2011 Cross Country Preview

Taking into consideration the talent on Glenbard West’s girls and boys cross country teams, 2011 could be a banner year for both clubs, culminating with the potential for strong performances at Detweiller Park—site of the annual state meet in downstate Peoria.

Here’s a look at both squads, whose seasons got under way over Labor Day weekend.

Glenbard West girls

Wheaton Warrenville South—nationally ranked, and with all seven runners back from its Class 3A state third-place 2010 team—is receiving well-deserved accolades. Those accolades nothwithstanding, the Hilltoppers, coached by Paul Hass, aren’t taking a back seat to the Tigers or to any other team in the area.

Six of Glenbard West’s returnees possess state experience, and each was part of a contingent that placed in the 3A meet at Peoria—the Hilltoppers’ best finish at state since 1996.

At Last Saturday’s Hornet-Red Devils Invite, Glenbard West faced not only the Tigers, but also New Trier (ranked 31st nationally) and Palatine (43rd).

The Hilltoppers held their own, finishing third with 86 points—two points ahead of Palatine and only nine behind the highly heralded Tigers.

Junior Madeline Perez, competing in her first race of any kind since breaking her foot at the end of track season last spring, crossed the finish line in fourth place with a time of 17:52. Three Glenbard West runners, led by senior Maddie Nagle, packed well during the race. Nagle recorded a 15th-place finish, while junior Emma Reifel and senior Katie Born were just 13 seconds behind their teammate.

Nagle, Born and Perez were among the state’s top 100 runners in 2010. (Perez, 29th, was the Hilltoppers’ highest finisher.) Reifel, senior Kate Majewski and junior Madeline O’Brien also ran for Glenbard West at state last November.

“Madeline looks like the early-season favorite to lead the team this year, with Maddie, Katie and Emma hopefully not too far behind,” Hass said. “Each of these runners had very good summers, building their mileage base and developing their strength and endurance.

“One of the team goals for us this year, and every year, is to be competitive in the West Suburban Conference,” Hass added. “However, in the conference, we will, once again, have our work cut out for us as York, Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove North and Lyons Township appear to be among the state’s elite this year.

“As always, we feel that if we can be competitive in our conference, then we will be well-prepared to compete against the rest of the area and teams in the state series.”

With graduation taking No. 3 runner Lauren Sedall, Hass is looking for one of his harriers to step up and become a reliable No. 5. Either O’Brien, Majewski or junior Cynthia Mote could step into that role, or possibly sophomore Annika Manning. Hass added that Lisa Luczak and Megan Ozog, both freshman, “should not be ruled out of the mix.”

“If we remain healthy and continue to work hard, we should be in a good position to achieve the goals we set as a team this season,” he said. “The ultimate key to the season is the rate of improvement not only of these (top) four, but also of those in the fifth through 10th positions on the team. Because of this uncertainty, we may not know what we are capable of achieving until late in the season.”

Glenbard West boys

After he took over the head coaching duties at Glenbard West last season, Kyle Nugent made it clear that one of his short-term goals was to field a team.

Establishing that lofty objective might have raised a few eyebrows on the hill since no Hilltopper boys cross country squad has qualified for state since 1978.

Not anymore.

Close to 50 runners—one of the largest turnouts in years at Glenbard West—are involved with the boys program, freshman through varsity. And Nugent believes he has enough firepower among his stable of runners to, indeed, reach the promised land of Peoria.

“People are talking about the program, and it’s definitely encouraging and exciting,” said Nugent, who 10 years ago was part of Glenbard South’s Class AA state championship team. “(Assistant coach) Kurt (Frazier) and I both see the numbers increasing.

“I think our team’s going to qualify,” he continued. “I really think we’re going to make it as a team, and the kids believe that. I’ve seen a lot of high school teams, and these kids are mature and their work ethic is incredible. I don’t think they’re going to stop until they make it to the state meet.”

The Hilltoppers attended a cross country camp at the University of Wisconsin in July, and Nugent said team members benefited from the camp in a variety of ways. Those on the Wisconsin squad served as camp counselors.

“Their team (Wisconsin) is one of the best in the nation,” Nugent said. “They (meaning Glenbard West) were around other runners who are good and they adopted those qualities. They see what works for top runners and the attitude those guys bring. They brought into it big-time and it’s showing.”

Leading the way for Glenbard West is senior Mike Lederhouse. Already one of the best 1,600-meter runners in the state—he placed fifth last spring in a field that included Division I recruits Jack Driggs (York) and Cody Webster (East Moline)—Lederhouse seeks to better his performance at last year’s state cross country meet when he finished 86th.

Nugent noted that the success Lederhouse experienced at the state track meet did wonders for his confidence.

“The track season was huge,” Nugent said. “He had a big-time breakout. Every race he got on the track he knew he could win it. He was running with confidence.”

Lederhouse has been recovering from a bone lesion in his ankle—an injury that developed after he turned an ankle running track. The pain in his ankle got worse, and he spent most of the summer wearing a boot to allow the lesion to heal.

Nugent said Lederhouse is no longer wearing a boot. He’s been running with the team, but Nugent doesn’t plan to run him in a meet for another week or two.

“It still kind of hurts him a little bit, but he’s so tough,” Nugent said. “I’m not worried about him. He’ll be all right, but we’re going to take it very slow with him.”

Nugent believes Brandon Bonifer, a junior, is poised to have a breakout year.

“Last year, he was right on the border,” Nugent said. “He put in a great summer. I think he can be in the top 25 (at state) in November. No one really knows about him, but he’ll surprise people.”

Senior Kenny Leaf, along with juniors Will Lindstrom and Alec Larsen, will be terrific supporting runners, according to Nugent. Leaf (20th overall), Lindstrom (24th), Bonifer (25th) and Larsen (30th) each finished in the top 30 at last Saturday’s Fenton Earlybird Invitational.

The Hilltoppers were fifth out of 17 teams.

“I think he (Leaf) feels like he has a lot to prove this year,” Nugent said. “He had a good track season, and he’s a tough kid. Will and Alec, they’ve come up together and they’re studs. They both ran about 4:40 in the mile as sophomores.”