Naperville North (IL)
This could be another program that's been seriously undervalued, considering a large percentage of their major wins came in September and because Illinois mostly runs 3-mile courses.
But don't sleep on the Huskies. They haven't lost this season.
Consider their two-point win at Roy Griak on September 23 against Great Oak (CA), Wayzata (MN), Yorkville (IL) and Edina (MN). Or their victories at the Spartan Invitational or First To Finish.
But if we're looking more closely at recent wins, the Huskies, who are ranked No. 3 in the Flo50 national rankings, made good work of NXR Midwest qualifier Yorkville at the Class 3A championships in Illinois, winning 87-117 behind a 79-second spread and 17:10 average at Detweiller Park.
Just a week later, the Huskies swept aside any pressure of being the top team at NXR Midwest and scored a dominant win, scoring 87 points on a 66-second spread.
Senior Sarah Schmitt, an Indiana signee, has been at the heart of the Huskies' lineup all season and is running in top form. She finished fifth at Midwest -- and later qualified for Foot Locker Nationals.
Key to the Huskies' podium chances, however, is their remaining lineup and their ability to fight displacement. Juniors Alex Morris, Claire Hill, and Megan Driscoll and senior Hannah Ricci will really need to have a solid plan entering the looping Glendoveer Course in Portland on December 2 if Naperville North hopes to challenge the contenders.
Hill and Driscoll, as well as freshman Audrey Mendrys, run at the back of Naperville's lineup and therefore need to work together.
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17:30.60 | 2018 | ||
| 2 | 17:59.70 | 2019 | ||
| 3 | 18:10.30 | 2018 | ||
| 4 | 18:50.40 | 2019 | ||
| 5 | 18:51.80 | 2019 | ||
| 6 | 18:56.00 | 2021 | ||
| 7 | 19:25.80 | 2021 |