Miles of smiles

Some friendships are forged under unusual circumstances.

Take for instance the friendship between cross country rivals Emily Paull of Somonauk and Karson Greiter of Plano.

In Class 1A competition, they are two of the best runners in Illinois — both placed in the top 50 at last year's state meet.

But instead of fostering an intense rivalry, the girls have looked past their school colors. Granted, Paull and Greiter are not discussing homecoming festivities when racing through the gravel, mud and weeds of local forest preserves. However, they are friendly as they sprint toward the finish line.

"Every time we see each other, we have smiles on our faces," Paull said.

The two sophomores met in middle school when they were competing for their respective teams on the track. Lined up next to one another on the blocks, the two struck up a conversation and have been pushing each other ever since.

"We would talk to each other before every race," Greiter said.

And then race to the finish and see who came out on top.

"It was always back and forth with us," Paull said. "We really challenged each other."

Which helped the harriers last fall, when as freshmen they were the sole representatives for their schools at the season-ending competition.

"It's always encouraging to see two friends at the line, shaking hands and wishing each other good luck," Plano coach Andrew Shaw said, "and then trying to blow the other one away at the finish. It's been fun to watch."

The simultaneous blur of yellow and blue, and purple and white was a common sight as the two hoofed through the state series in 2007, trading spots along the way. At the Seneca Regional, Greiter placed second followed by Paull in third. The following week at the Aurora Christian Sectional, it was Paull in eighth and Greiter in ninth.

The girls said their coaches would yell, "She's up there," and then they would take off toward their friendly target.

It paid off as Paull finished 28th at the state meet while Greiter was 48th.

"It was a nice run," Paull said of the state meet.

Despite living 10 miles apart and attending different schools, both runners attack races similarly. They are focused and love to win.

"She is fierce," Paull said of Greiter. "Neither of us likes to lose."

"At the end she knows how to kick it in," Greiter said of Paull. "She is really strong."

While still looking for each other through the fall foliage, the pair have added new running compatriots into the mix. Just as important, both schools are fielding point-scoring teams in 2008.

"Baptism by fire is what I like," Shaw said of running his team at the difficult Woodruff Invitational earlier this month.

Greiter placed 15th in the Class A bracket after battling through the mud and rain.

"It looked like you could have driven cattle through it," Shaw said, laughing.

Paull is also on track to make a second trip to downstate; she won her first three races this season.

"Emily runs her race," Somonauk coach Brian Davis said. "She doesn't sit back and see what others are doing -- she just takes off. She makes them chase her."

Greiter and Paull won't see much of each other until the state series begins Oct. 25, when they will likely battle each other and Aurora Christian's Deanna Jimenez — last year's regional winner — for the top spot at the Seneca Regional.

"If it's going to be Karson or her," Davis said, "(Paull) is going to go for it." Girls Cross Country Focus