Top girls cross country teams, individuals

Updated: September 14, 2011 7:57PM

Top teams

1. New Trier: The Trevians look primed to win the first state trophy in program history after finishing sixth in Class 3A last year. Junior all-staters Jessica and Courtney Ackerman are among five returning runners who competed in Peoria last fall. Watch for freshman Mimi Smith to make an immediate impact.

2. Wheaton Warrenville South: The Tigers return their entire top seven from a team that was third in Class 3A last season. Junior McKenna Kiple and senior Lauren Mordini are returning all-staters, and junior Mikayla Kightlinger just missed the top 25 last fall.

3. Palatine: The Pirates have won seven state titles under three different coaches since 1989, so don’t be surprised to see them in the 3A trophy hunt again. Back from the team that was third at state last year are junior Tess Wasowicz, sophomore Jessica Lincoln and senior Ellen Smith.

4. Glenbard West: The Hilltoppers will face plenty of competition in their own conference, the West Suburban Silver, from the likes of York, Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove North and Lyons. But with sophomore Madeline Perez and senior Maddie Nagle leading the pack, they could improve on last year’s ninth-place finish in 3A.

5. Lockport: Senior Megan O’Brien leads the way for the south suburbs’ top team, an experienced squad that hopes to do better than its 13th-place finish in Class 3A last season.

Top individuals (in alphabetical order)

Courtney Ackerman, jr., New Trier; Jessica Ackerman, jr., New Trier; Rebecca Batliner, jr., Barrington; Maura Beattie, so., Woodstock; Kelly Breen, jr., Fremd; Emma Fisher, jr., York; Kaylee Flanagan, jr., Lake Park; Amanda Fox, sr., Naperville Central; Haley Goers, sr., Hoffman Estates; Jill Hardies, jr., Hinsdale Central; Gabrielle Hesslau, jr., Downers Grove North; Kelsey Hjorth, jr., Oswego; Mikayla Kightlinger, jr., Wheaton Warrenville South; McKenna Kiple, jr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Megan Lemersal, jr., Maine South; Emily Leonard, so., Maine South; Ariel Michalek, sr., Oswego East; Lauren Mordini, sr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Megan O’Brien, sr., Lockport; Lauren Poplawski, jr., Prospect; Lindsey Rakosnik, sr., Glenbard East; Stephanie Sanders, sr., Lockport; Mimi Smith, fr., New Trier; Tess Wasowicz, jr., Palatine; Brooke Wolfe, jr., Prospect.

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