As close as two rivals can get

The top two contenders for the Class 3A girls cross-country title are 12 miles apart and will be meeting for the fifth time this season Saturday at Peoria's Detweiller Park.

Suffice it to say, there aren't many secrets between defending champ Palatine and Schaumburg.

‘‘They've got three seniors who've got tons of experience, we've got three seniors who've got tons of experience,'' Palatine coach Joe Parks said. ‘‘I think it's obvious we know they're there, they know we're here. I think each team is probably focusing on [itself].''

For Palatine, that means again peaking at the right time. Parks, in his second season, is still looking for his first Mid-Suburban League title. But he has guided the Pirates to two sectional championships and a first-place finish at state.

After Palatine lost 59-63 to Schaumburg at conference and beat the Saxons 77-87 at last week's sectional, Parks knows how thin the margin for error is.

‘‘We can't call ourselves the favorites,'' he said. ‘‘We beat Schaumburg twice [this season]; they beat us twice. It's been close every time.''

And other teams could be in the mix as well. Prospect, which was four points behind Schaumburg at the sectional, has one of the individual favorites in sophomore star Brooke Wolfe. Wheaton Warrenville South; Geneva, paced by Kelly Whitley; and New Trier, led by Courtney Ackerman, could be among the front-runners.

Senior Courtney Brown, who was second to Wolfe at the sectional, figures to spark Palatine again. After what Parks called ‘‘a little hiccup,'' Brown has been ‘‘solid with her middle-to-the-end of the year,'' he said. ‘‘Sectional was a big boost for her.''

Tess Wasowicz, Emily Schulte and Sarah McIntosh, a two-time all-stater who has overcome some nagging injuries, also will be key to the Pirates' chances of winning a state-best eighth big-school title.

Schaumburg counters with its big three of Karen Lesiewicz, Collette Falsey and Britten Perry.

In Class 2A, 2009 runner-up Yorkville upset top-ranked Normal U-High at last week's sectional and is looking to win the second trophy in program history. Woodstock senior Kayla Beattie is strongly favored as she defends her individual title.

Westmont, led by junior sectional champ Sara Barry, is the top Chicago-area team in Class 1A.

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