South’s Aubert still hungry

Elise Beattie runs at last year’s IHSA Class 3A Cross Country Sectional at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. Beattie and her sister, Kayla return for Woodstock this season. (Northwest Herald file photo)

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Kristina Aubert has compiled an impressive résumé through her three years running at Crystal Lake South.

Aubert twice has been an IHSA Class 3A All-State runner in cross country, twice has been the Northwest Herald Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year and has won a Class AA 3,200-meter state championship in track.

Still, she enters her senior year with something to prove. Aubert fell off her usual pace in track and adjusted her summer training to try and compensate.

The final season of Aubert’s illustrious career will be one of the story lines for this season.

Aubert’s last run

Aubert, a Gators senior, finished eighth in the Class 3A state cross country meet as a sophomore and 10th last season.

Aubert did not qualify for the state track meet in the 3,200, her best event, although she did make it to state with South’s 4x800-meter relay team.

“I trained so hard in the preseason, but when I got into races I was burned out,” Aubert said. “I think I’ll have a better [cross country] season than last year. I think I can get better slowly each week until the end of the season.”

Aubert took a long rest until late June, then resumed training. She cut back to about 36 miles a week, 10 fewer than last summer. Aubert likely will run at an NCAA Division I school next year with Miami, Ohio, one of the most interested schools. She hopes to make her decision by the end of the season.

Which Beattie is best?

Woodstock senior Elise Beattie and junior Kayla Beattie had outstanding seasons in track and field. The sisters are back to chase Aubert, and each other, this season.

Kayla was the better runner two years ago, but Elise had a better cross country season last year. Elise was 17th in Class 3A state, Kayla was 43rd last year and took 14th as a freshman.

They led Woodstock to back-to-back Fox Valley Conference team championships, but the split with Woodstock North will make it tough for the Blue Streaks to repeat again.

Who wins the FVC?

Woodstock, Huntley, Crystal Lake Central and Dundee-Crown were the top four last year and could remain that way again, although in some different order.

Huntley’s top runners were freshmen and sophomores, most of whom return with Haley Loprieno, Sara Scarbro and Emily Kahl leading the way. Dundee-Crown has Claira Himmel, Katie Gross and Monique Robinson, and Central’s Madie Edwards, Molly Flood and Rachel Bush provide a strong nucleus.

Reclassified Ridge

Prairie Ridge returns four of its top runners – Amanda Marwitz, Genna Hempen, Kyra Saley and Sam Nirva – and although the Wolves might not be able to compete for an FVC title, coach Kelly MacDonald thinks her team could benefit late in the season.

The Wolves move to Class 2A this year, so advancing from regional to sectional seems likely.

Fast freshman

Watch for Marengo’s Katie Adams to make a name for herself on the varsity level in a hurry. Adams finished second in the 1,500-meter run in her age group at the USA Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships this summer in 4:43.