Girls Cross Country: New Trier poised for first title

Updated: November 3, 2011 7:00PM

After sitting out the week before, Courtney Ackerman was clearly ready to run last Saturday.

That boded well for New Trier’s prospects then and now. Ackerman won her second sectional title in three seasons and kept the Trevians on pace in what has been the best year in program history.

New Trier has never won a state trophy, but heads into Saturday’s Class 3A finals at Detweiller Park in Peoria as the team to beat. That’s because the Trevians have three front-runners in the Ackerman twins — juniors Courtney and Jessica — and freshman Mimi Smith.

Courtney Ackerman chased down Lake Park’s Kaylee Flanagan to win the Niles West Sectional, proof that she’s overcome some lingering health issues that prompted coach John Burnside to hold her and fellow top-five runner Molly Krueger out of the Loyola Regional.

“It says a lot about her competitive spirit,” Burnside said. “For us to get through [to state], she didn’t have to win. What she is, is a racer. Both of [the Ackermans] are.”

The Trevians’ depth could prove handy in a team race that could have a number of other contenders, including fellow sectional champs Naperville North and Prospect along with Wheaton Warrenville South.

Oswego East senior Ariel Michalek is looking to become the first repeat individual champ in the state’s largest class since Geneva’s Rebecca Mitchell in Class AA in 1996-97. Hinsdale Central junior Jill Hardies, last year’s runner-up, also returns.

Yorkville and Crystal Lake Central look to be the front-runners in Class 2A, while Westmont should make a run in Class 1A.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.