LZ looking for NSC crown
The first half of the boys cross country season has been a definite grind, but for the most part Lake Zurich has been stepping up to the challenge.
The Bears' state-ranking fell from 18th to 22nd in the Illinois Prep Top Times poll this week, but they have put together a consistent effort as they head into the final weeks of the race for the North Suburban Conference championship.
After running against Stevenson on Wednesday, Lake Zurich (4-0) closes out its NSC regular season schedule Monday at Warren, when the Bears could be in a battle for the Lake Division crown with defending champ Lake Forest.
Senior No. 1-runner Gerardo Perez is coming off a sixth-place finish at the powerful Palatine Invitational last weekend after placing fifth at the Peoria Notre Dame Invite.
Returning junior all-conference runners Andrew Morrison, Paul Geimer, and Francisco Soto have been steady runners for Lake Zurich with good support from teammates Jordan Pavlovich and Victor Delatorre.
"Our top three runners are as good as anyone in the area and Gerardo (Perez) is having a great season," said Lake Zurich coach J.B. Hanson, whose team is off this weekend before heading to Wheeling the following weekend. "But our 4-5-6-7 runners need to step up and continue to improve."
Think Green: After placing third last year, Warren senior Karsen Green is expected to be among the contenders for the NSC individual crown this fall while the Blue Devils' team took first at Oak Park-River Forest last weekend.
Warren's senior-dominated lineup also includes Spencer Simon and Paul Myles while junior Dan Kleine has been the Blue Devils' No. 3 runner at times.
Warren will head into far southern Wisconsin Saturday morning for the Pat Harland Invitational at Fox River Park.
The Blue Devils will be racing against some familiar opponents in the 11:30 a.m. race with NSC foes Lakes and Grant in the big field.
It will be the second time in two weeks that Lakes, Grant, and Grayslake North are competing against each other in a big invite. The Eagles outdistanced the fifth-place Knights 99-126 for third place at the Grant Invite.
Grant sophomore Ryan Mamerow has been outstanding this fall as the Bulldogs' top runner along with Grayslake North freshman Matt Kendzior and Lakes sophomore Blake Franson.
Lake Forest and Barrington could make a lot of noise in the Antioch field along with three squads from the Fox Valley Conference.
Stevenson's boys team will opt for a trip south as the Patriots will run at the Peoria Invitational beginning at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Detweiller Park. Stevenson will turn to its always reliable trio of Tyler Bartlow, Oliver Rose, and Renat Zalov to set the tone in Peoria.