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AAA individual girls rankings
Lindsay Flannagan on top
2008 Girls AAA Individual pre-season preview
1. Lindsay Flannagan Sr. Roselle (Lake Park)- placed 10th last year but is riding the biggest momentum in the fall of any distance runner in the state after a monster spring track season. Flannagan blazed a 10:36.34 at state as well as several sub 10:40 efforts along the way. She also dropped her mile time down to 5:06. She will be hard to beat and her goals are simply lined out: “win states and make the national team!”
2. Elizabeth “Lizzy” Hynes Sr, St. Charles East- the top perch has been waiting for Lizzy since she burst on the scene as a freshman with all-state honors. Last year Hynes placed 3rd and now has the potential to be the best ever from St. Charles and dethrone the legendary Tera Moody.
3. Katherine Rack Jr. Oak Park-River Forest- steady improvement each season could land her the top spot if favorites fail to come through. Rack improved from 11:08 to 10:59 on the track. The Huskie ace likes to front run and attack from the gun. Surely that will continue through the season.
4. Heather Olson Sr. Gurnee (Warren)- a terrific track season produced a sub- 5:00 effort (4:57) and that will make way to the xc circuit. Look for Olson to improved a couple notches up from 7th place.
5. Elaine Kuckertz Sr. Hinsdale Central- has run potential to win it all as evidenced by her 6th place effort in ’07. Kuckertz will be among the leaders all year long.
6. Rebecca Tracy Sr. Barrington- a sub 5:00 miler this past year who in a very good summer of training. This could be the time Tracy shines even brighter now that the great duo of Molly Glantz and Samantha Learch graduated.
7. Kelly Whitley So. Geneva- state runner as a freshman. This kid showed no fear when it came to leading her team. Whitley participated in mostly middle distance events during track, which helped her speed. Her appetite for the longer stuff will probably come later in the season.
8. Kristina Aubert Jr. Crystal Lake South- had a break out campaign on the harrier circuit last year. The former state 3200m champ will be among the best all season.
9. McKinzie Schultz Jr. Lisle (Benet Academy)- enjoyed one of the best track seasons among returnees. Don’t be surprised if the national AAU steeplechase champion challenges the heavyweight contenders.
10. Megan Gojney Sr. Arlington Heights (Hersey)- could be the top runner in the mighty MSL conference if she wants it bad enough.
11. Sarah McIntosh So. Palatine- has moved very high up the depth chart after posting a superb 11:01 this past spring. McIntosh could challenge Gojney and Tracy for top status in conference play. If nothing else, she will exceed the 38th place effort of last year at state.
12. Marie O’Leary Jr. Normal Community- an unknown from central Illinois until the middle of the indoor track season. O’Leary went on to star during the outdoor season. Now that Bloomington’s Ashley Verplank has departed for the University of North Carolina, O’Leary grabs the top spot south of 1-80.
13. Megan Taylor Jr. Naperville (Neuqua Valley)- may be the hidden gem here and pushing for the top 10 at the end of the season.
14. Shelby Pealer Jr. Naperville Central- one of the best runners in Du Page County will have a monster season.
15. Kelsey Tharnstrom Jr. Wheaton North- will have added incentive after not qualifying as a team last year.
16. Michelle Stratton Sr. Naperville North- will become the next great Huskie courtesy of a strong fall.
17. Nicole Thate Sr. Downers Grove South- is this the season the pre-high school star shine loud and bright?
18. Karen Lesiewicz So. Schaumburg- an unknown at the start of last school year has now risen to be among the top runners in the state.
19. Kristen Zillmer Jr. Park Ridge (Maine South)- quiet candidate to repeat all-state honors.
20. Monica Hahn So. New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)- word has it that Hahn will be at the new Lincoln-Way North next year. If so, then expect a good parting gift for the Knights and company.
21. Jahnell Horton Fr. Bolingbrook- this incoming talented athlete may be more suited for track after producing great efforts on the summer circuit (2:14-800). Horton ran a 2k steeplechase under 7:30. She will be ready for whatever cross country has in store for her.
22. Devyn Thompson Jr. Chicago Whitney Young- Thompson made all-state by the slimmest of margins last year. This time around should be a little easier for the Dolphin ace after enjoying an awesome summer.
23. Annette White Jr. Mt. Prospect (Prospect)- White was injury marred after the cross season and it probably effected her status to do better for track. The word out of the Knight camp is she is ready to have a good year.
24. Meghan Frigo Jr. Elmhurst (York)- will challenge the WSC Silver best’s runners this fall.
25. Christina Splieka Sr. Oswego- maybe the biggest surprise in AAA this fall.
Others to watch for this fall (in no particular order): Kayla Beattie So. Woodstock, Maggie Sutor Sr. Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East), Lavinia Jurkiewicz Jr. Chicago Whitney Young, Liza Tauscher So. Geneva, Katherin Rehn Jr. LaGrange (Lyons Twp), Kim Tarnoff Sr, Lincolnshire (Stevenson), Kim Christensen Sr. Orland Park (Sandburg), Lauren Zumbach Sr. Hinsdale Central, Jamie Johnson Sr. Franklin Park (Leyden), Roey Hines Sr. Hinsdale Central.
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