Girls cross-country: Daemicke paces Lyons to State berth

Alex Daemicke picked a perfect time to be Lyons Township’s No. 1 finisher — at the IHSA Class 3A Lockport Sectional on Saturday.

Senior Lisa Gordon has dominated major cross country races for LT, finishing as the team’s top runner in the West Suburban Silver meet, at the Palatine Invite, at the state-meet site in Peoria and at the Lyons Invitational.

But with Gordon struggling in the sectional, held at Dellwood Park, Daemicke picked up the pace to finish seventh in 19:03, just ahead of junior teammate Haley Prokaski (19:03), who placed eighth. It was the first time Daemicke led LT in a major race this season.

Lyons Township scored 87 points in the sectional to finish second behind Downers Grove South (68). LT will make its second appearance this season at Detweiller Park in Peoria, after competing in the Peoria Invitational on Sept. 17. Lyons Township finished fifth in that meet, as Gordon finished a team-best 32nd.

The state meet will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s really, really exciting,” said Daemicke, a senior from Indian Head Park. “This will be our 14th consecutive year (at State), which is the longest streak of any girls program in the state.”

Gordon (19:50) finished 21st at the sectional, with Lexy Rudofski (20:01) placing 25th and Randie Speir (20:01) finishing 26th. Speir is the only LT runner making a third consecutive State appearance, after placing 86th in 2009 and 141st in ’10.

Gordon sat out last postseason due to an injury after finishing 46th at State in ’09.

Lyons Township placed 17th overall at last year’s state meet. Daemicke and Prokaski were LT’s top finishers.

With nearly 180 girls in the program, LT’s streak of state meet appearances is no accident. The program has built amazing depth at all levels, and that success has continued under first-year coach Stetson Steele.

“He’s so knowledgable about the sport overall,” Daemicke said. “He ran at Iowa. He’s had us work hard throughout the season and we’re starting to taper now.”

Downers South won the West Suburban Gold meet this season, but LT appeared in good shape to challenge the Mustangs with a solid top five.

“We all had it in the back of our minds (about reaching State),” Daemicke said. “It would be a really big surprise if we did not make it this year to State.”

Lyons Township finished third in its sectional last year, led by Prokaski, who was 10th. In addition to Daemicke, Prokaski and Speir, junior Rachel Walsh also will make a repeat appearances at the state meet.

Daemicke said Steele has made a big difference this season after serving as an assistant coach.

“He was always our No. 2 man, but he has really, really been exciting,” Daemicke said. “He has set some hefty expectations for us.”

Boys cross country

Lyons Township tied Plainfield East for fifth place at 163 points, as both teams earned berths to the state meet.

LT’s scorers were Michael Matusiak (16:29), James Ryan (16:32), Ryan Speir (16:38), Dan Lupano (16:43) and Grant Smith (16:51). John Dombro and Ed McCarter also advanced.

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