Story: DGN at Fenton Earlybird Invite

Senior Katie Portman entered her final season of competing for the Downers Grove North girls cross country program with at least one goal in mind.

“In my junior cross country season, I did a lot better than I thought I ever could,” Portman said. “After that, knowing that there were seniors going to be graduating, there were going to be spaces opening up and I was hoping to run varsity at least once this year.”

Portman didn’t wait long. After a great race in the season-opening triangular Aug. 29 among the Trojans’ unlimited varsity entries, Portman earned a spot among their seven varsity entries for Fenton’s John Kurtz Earlybird Invitational Saturday.

Downers North sophomore Grace Maletich once again put herself among the top runners as she took fifth in 18:31.8 for the 3.0 miles.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Bonfield, making her season race debut, was 10th (18:56.3), just 1.5 seconds from eighth, followed by Portman (28th, 20:05.3) and seniors Meghan Bonfield (29th, 20:07.8) and Sandra Di Pauli (38th, 20:28.0), Micah Pfotenhauer (40th, 20:31.4) and Stephanie Urbancik (45th, 20:04.8).

The Trojans took third (110 points) behind rival Downers Grove South (56), which placed five in the top 11, and Oak Park-River Forest (69). Glenbrook South (133) was fourth.

”I felt really good about (my race). I probably went out a little too fast but then I sort of held my ground and tried to catch up to other girls on our team,” Portman said. “It wasn’t my best time. I had hoped to break 20:00 but I thought that considering it was my first invite, I felt pretty good about it.” 

Coming off an all-state track performance with the 3,200-meter relay and state berth in the 1,600, Maletich is hoping for a healthier cross country season. In her first two meets, she’s held her own with three top-25, all-state finishers from the 2012 Class 3A state meet.

Buffalo Grove sophomore Kaitlin Ko, an all-state 22nd in 2012, won in 17:45.8, followed by Downers South senior Haley Albers (17:58.8), Fenwick junior Olivia Ryan (18:53.7) and OPRF freshman Mary Blankmeier (18:09.5). Ryan, fifth at last year’s state meet, is the second-highest returning finisher to defending state champion Madeline Perez of Glenbard West.

Maletich’s time Saturday was roughly 17 seconds faster than her 2012 invite. Kaitlyn Bonfield, third in last year’s junior varsity race in 20:12, had a solid season debut after dealing with shin issues during the preseason.

”There were so many talented runners and last year I got seventh (18:48) so I was hoping for a better place and I got fifth so I was happy with it,” Maletich said.  

Before the race, the Trojans already looked sharper than in their home opener at Greene Valley Forest Preserve against Jacobs and Plainfield North. The varsity team unveiled new white racing tops to go with their usual purple shorts.

”It was kind of cool. We looked spiffy and fast,” Portman said. “Last year, anyone who ran varsity got a T-shirt that said varsity on the back. (Coach Tim McDonald) had told us a few weeks ago, but we didn’t know who was going to run varsity until Wednesday.” 

The post-race was especially better for Maletich. Last year, she pulled a side muscle during the race.

She still managed to finish, even place among the top 10, but she didn’t compete again until the last meet before conference. She spent most of the season recuperating by swimming every day and then adding the elliptical machine and track workouts.

”I felt it during the middle of the race (last year). It just started hurting, and I really felt it at the end of the race. It really hurt to walk,” Maletich said. “I’m glad that didn’t happen this year.” 

In the opener, Maletich was edged by Jacobs’ Lauren Van Vlierbergen, seventh at the 2012 3A state meet, after matching her stride for stride until the homestretch.

Maletich was up with the leaders again Saturday, but after a really fast first mile, she dropped back. She spent the rest of her race holding fifth. Then she had to maintain her focus of hold off Downers South’s No. 2 runner, senior Meghan Bosman, (6th, 18:33.2).

”It was hard because the gap kept going up throughout the race. I was trying to stay as close as possible,” Maletich said. “I need to stay strong my second mile and push through it. (After running with Van Vlierbergen), I had a lot of confidence going into the front. I was still nervous, though. I think overall the race was pretty good.” 

Portman is hopeful that she can become part of a strong senior group that can help the Trojans qualify for state as a team. 

”The (Fenton Invite) for our team was five seniors and two sophomores and all of the seniors have been running since freshman year so we know each other really well,” Portman said.  ”I would love to break 19:30. My lifetime best is 19:45. It’s really a blast. I just hope that no gets hurt and we keep running together. That’s what I like best about being on the cross country team. We sort of hang out, run together. It’s a way to get rid of stress and talk to people.” 

The Trojans also won the junior varsity race and freshman Emma Moravec won the open race in 20:12.2.

The JV placed comfortably ahead of second-place Downers South 43-66 by placing three in the top 10 and all seven scorers among the top 22.

Freshman Hannah Thomas (20:36.8) and sophomore Maci Schaub (20:49.5) finished third and fourth behind Conant sophomores Zoe Shoro (20:00.2) and Natalia Lakomski (20:20.3).  Sophomore Angela Budach was ninth (20:05.7), followed by juniors Jenna Murphy (21:19.5) and Olivia Vander Leest (21:19.8) in 13th and 14th, junior Zayna Jan (20th, 21:38.7) and sophomore Fiona Kelly(22nd, 21:45.2). 

Moravec won the open race by nearly 27 seconds over Buffalo Grove sophomore Natalie Lezama (20:36.9).  Junior Rachel Krusenoski was fourth in her season debut (21:50.3). Junior Shannon Kennedy (7th, 22:08.0) and freshman Brigid Miller(10th, 22:17.4) also placed among the top 10, and freshman Meghan Kelly (14th, 22:36.5), junior Rachel Schuetz (20th, 23:06.0), freshman Emma Doak (23rd, 23:11.4) and juniors Sydney Wagner (25th, 23:15.9) and Alex Hohnsen (27th, 23:22.1) and Megan Treichel (30th, 23:33.7) also were among the top 30. Senior Emma Welsh was 34th (23:41.6).

-- by Bill Stone