Wildkits continue to improve

The Evanston girls did something never done before in coach Kathleen Weber’s three seasons in charge of the cross country program.

All five Wildkits who scored Saturday at Warren’s invitational finished the race in less than 20 minutes to help Evanston take seventh with 169 points. Fremd won the title with 69 points behind Kelly Breen’s first-place finish.

“That meet was a nice indication that our team is coming together,” Weber said. “We really worked as a team. The girls worked off of each other, and they stayed in a pack. We utilized our strengths.”

Cami Zecker set the pace with her 30th-place finish in 19:34.05. Becky Honnold was the fifth runner, taking 48th in 19:59.97, a spread of less than 26 seconds.

In between were Kyla Steman (32nd, 19:36.97), Rhiann Flanagan-Rosario (34th, 19:40.83) and Lydia Hoopingarner (35th, 19:42.10).

“I’m very happy with our progress right now,” said Weber, whose club beat CSL South rivals Glenbrook South and Niles West at Warren. “The rate we are going now we have a chance to get to the state meet. That would be huge.”

The last time Evanston ran at the state meet as a team was in 2005 when the Wildkits finished 19th.

Evanston ran Saturday without Lydia McCaleb, one of its best runners. The senior, a transfer from North Shore Country Day, missed the meet due to illness. McCaleb was the Raiders’ top runner last year.

Weber also got a good surprise from Kate Christiansen. The freshman ran so well Saturday she will join the varsity this week.

“That makes the girls work harder,” the coach said. “It helps our team be that much better when you know you have to earn your spot.”

The Wildkits’ next major meet is Oct. 1 at Niles West.

Evanston boys

Jay Honnold led the way at Warren by taking 20th in 16:01.40. He was followed by John Cogan (64th, 16:55.89), Koren Fowler (77th, 17:12.29), Andrew Perutz (86th, 17:22.03) and Pat Zeman (100th, 17:43.52).

The Wildkits also are at Niles West.

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