Michalek wins 3A title for Oswego East

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:08PM

PEORIA - Earlier in the season, Oswego East runner Ariel Michalek prognosticated that if she ran the way she knew she could, she would be in the mix for a state medal.

The junior lived up to her forecast and then some, as she won the Class 3A state title Saturday during the IHSA girls cross country finals at Detweiller Park.

Michalek, Geneva's Kelly Whitley and three other runners set up a lead pack within the first mile of the race and kept trading the No. 1 spot throughout the three-mile, looping course.

"I just went for it," Michalek said of her strategy. "There was no going back. It's one race and you only have one chance."

With less than 800 yards to go, she broke away from Hinsdale Central's Jill Hardies to finish in a time of 16:32, the second fastest girls time ever logged on the Peoria course.

"Once I saw the finish line, I used all of my energy and just went for it," Michalek added.

Michalek became the first Wolves athlete to win a state championship.

Whitley earned her fourth All-State honor by finishing third and helping pace the Vikings to a fourth-place finish. Teammate Tess Ehrhardt also earned a medal with her 25th-place finish.

Waubonsie Valley senior David Groeber placed 23rd in boys 3A race to earn All-State honors.

Earlier in 2A action, the Yorkville girls team earned its second consecutive IHSA team trophy by scoring 130 points to clinch second place.

Peoria Notre Dame won the meet with 113 points.

"We're excited we were able to work together," junior Esther Bell said.

The Foxes clocked a pack split of one minute during the race.

Teammate Ali Hester earned state honors for the second straight year with her 10th-place finish.

While the Foxes were celebrating their second-place finish, Marmion Academy was on the course setting school history - earning the Cadets' first cross country trophy by placing third in a super-heated race.

The Cadets earned third-place on the merits of their sixth man, Chris Hebert, to break a 164-164 tie with Normal University High. Belvidere North won the 2A title with 28 points, followed by Springfield.

"We knew we had a chance," Marmion senior Bennett Marsh said, "and we did it."

Teammate Ben Kanute finished 25th to earn All-State.

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