Palatine soph shines at Red Devil Invite

No one was anywhere near Palatine sophomore Sarah McIntosh as she crossed the finish line in Saturday’s Hornet-Red Devil Cross-Country Invitational on Saturday.

At one point, she was on pace to break the course record. She finished with a time of 18:04.5 in the three-mile race. What a difference a year makes.

It was just a year ago that McIntosh ran the same course and finished 16th … in the frosh/soph race.

‘‘I know with her she’s going to push herself,’’ Palatine coach Steve Currins said. ‘‘She was out for it here. I was pretty impressed. She shows no fear out there.’’

McIntosh ran with the pack at the opening race, but got bored and took off. From there, she distanced herself the rest of the way, though the final mile wasn’t as easy.

‘‘I just thought it was too slow,’’ said McIntosh of the pace. ‘‘I didn’t want to let up. I thought I was going to die the last mile. It was so hard. I felt like I was crawling.’’

Hinsdale Central’s Elaine Kuckert (18:11.1) came in second and was one of four Red Devils in the Top 10, giving them the team trophy with 42 points.

Palatine (51), Wheaton Warrenville South (108), Neuqua Valley (120) and Naperville Central (129) closed out the top five. Palatine’s Becca Sund had a notable run as she finished the last mile with only her left shoe. She finished 13th.

Naperville Central’s Shelby Pealer (18:42.8), Hinsdale Central’s Heather Stevens (18.47.3) and Palatine’s Courtney Brown (18:50.7) finished in the top five.