Vikings' Girls Cross Country Hopes That 'As Peoria Goes, So Goes the Season'

The Geneva girls cross country team has high hopes for the 2010 season after placing fifth in the state in 2009, and they are off to a very good start so far, with strong showings at two separate meets Saturday.

Tess Ehrhardt finished third out of 217 runners, and the Geneva girls cross country team finished seventh of 28 teams Saturday at the Peoria Woodruff Invitational in Peoria. Geneva had a team total time of 1:34:13.36 and a team average time of 18:50.68 at the meet in Peoria.

On the same day, a second Viking team placed sixth of 16 teams at the Royal Cadet Invitational at Marmion. Sophomore Mackenzie Williams paced the Vikings, finishing 18th of 76 runners with a time of 20:37.0 on the 3.1-mile course.

Peoria Woodruff Invitational

• 3rd—Tess Ehrhardt,17:30.86
• 18th—Rachel Hammond,18:20.60
• 28th—Megan Brady, Megan, 18:41.75
• 79th—Cory McLauchlan,19:34.70
• 107th—Kristi Shogren, 20:05.45
• 133rd—Lindsay Ferguson, 20:33.04
• 137th—Angie Crowe, 20:44.23

Royal Cadet Invitational

• 18th—Mackenzie Williams, 20:37.0
• 24^th—Ashley Dudman, 21:08.3
• 26^th—Rachel Zacchea, 21:22.9
• 27^th—Dana Hayes, 21:23.9
• 31^st—Sami Pawlak, 21:35.0
• 38^th—Sydney Geils, 21:48.9
• 47^th—Emma Anderson, 22:25.5

The 2009 season, which included conference and regional titles as well as fifth place in the state meet, will be a hard one for the Geneva girls cross country team to top this season.

But coach Bob Thomson feels the Vikings have a chance to equal, or better, last year's performance.

"The major goals of the team is to win our conference and get back to state with an eye on improving where we place last year," Thomson said. "Our keys to making that happen will be hard work and to keep the intensity up. There were times last year when the girls got a little complacent. We will also need to stay away from injuries given our lack of depth. A bit of luck always is a key."

The Vikings will be competing in a new conference this season, moving into the Upstate Eight Conference River Division, along with border rivals St. Charles North, St. Charles East and Batavia, among other schools.

"In the Upstate Eight Conference, I feel, and the girls do too, that we should compete for the title. St. Charles East may give us a battle, and I never (count) out Batavia."

The Vikings return five seniors who competed on the 2007, and 2008, state-title teams: Kelly Whitley (18th at state in 2009, second in 2008, and 2007); Tess Ehrhardt (49th in state in 2009); Rachel Hammond (69th in state in 2009); Liza Tauscher (90th in state in 2009); and Megan Brady (107th in state in 2009).
Junior Cory McLauchlan was 186th in state last year.

"I don't think we have any returners or newcomers I would put in our top group," Thomson said. "Our second tier group of runners consists of eight-nine from all grade levels.

"All of (the) girls levels were conference champs last season. Of our six invitationals last season, our freshman/sophomores won three and were second in another. We'll just have to see who steps up to fit in to the No. 7 spot."

Thomson said the Vikings experience will be a strength of this team.

"How many teams can say they have five seniors (who) have run state three times?" he asked.

His concern, however, is depth.

"Though we have our largest team in years, 18 have no high-school experience," Thomson said. "The girls are working hard, so we'll see who will step up."