The hot running conditions were challenging, but it was still a banner day for the Fremd girls cross country team Saturday morning at the Warren Invitational.

The Vikings rolled to the title of the 19-team meet with 64 points to cruise past runner-up Cary-Grove with 105 points, and Carmel Catholic with 115 points.

The 3-mile course was newly aligned due to partial flooding problems on the old course. The finish line on the new course ended on the 40-yard-line of the Warren football field on the O’Plaine Road campus.

Round Lake sophomore Fatima Giron was impressive in taking second place in 17:59.2 under the 80-degree running conditions as numerous runners needed to be given first-aid assistance to cool down following the race.

“I was leading the whole race until about the last 200 meters, and I hoped to get under 18 minutes today,” said Giron, who just reached her goal. “I really hope to make state this year, it’s going to be tough, and the key for me is icing every day that I run, that is why I haven’t been injured so far.”

Fremd’s winning pack was led by Marisa Ban in sixth, Rebecca Markham in eighth, and Nupur Pokharkar in ninth. The Vikings also got an 18th from Hannah Ban, and a 23rd from Clare Oehler-O’Sullivan.

“64 points is in the range where I kind of expected them to be. I dropped a girl down (Lucy Jiang) who won the frosh-soph race with an impressive time,” said Fremd coach Joe Marcin. “We have a couple of girls who are coming back from illness, but they competed well, and our top three are looking strong.”

Cary-Grove’s top young trio was also very impressive with Morgan Dieschbourg in 10th, Delaney Blohm in 11th, and Ellie Miller in 12th.

“I’m really happy because our top three runners are freshmen, so we’re young and we’re happy to get a second-place trophy,” said Cary-Grove coach Mark Anderson. “Our two sophomores (Teagan Hayes and Jessie Hill) had pretty good races, and it’s early in the year, but they’re a hard-working group of kids.”

Carmel Catholic was led by senior Aileen Hull in fifth, Brigid Hull in 19th, Ezzie Posner in 24th, and Lauren Laughlin in 29th.

“One of our top five was sick so she didn’t run very well today, but Aileen ran well and our top three ran well,” said Carmel Catholic coach Jim Halford. “Our fourth girl was 29th, so like everybody else we’re dealing with some injuries and sickness, but it was a good day.”

Crystal Lake South put together a true team effort behind Emma Heuck (17th), Olivia Beckwith (20th), Mackenzie Aldridge (21st), and Chelsea Greene (27th).

“I thought we were competitive with Fremd, Cary-Grove, and Carmel, and it’s tough for everybody to run in these conditions,” said CLS coach Ken Greenfield. “There are always things to improve on, and I loved how we finished in the last half mile.”

Buffalo Grove placed eighth behind top runner Alexis Opperman (13th) while Antioch placed ninth behind team leader Natalie Hill (16th).

“At least three of our girls had p.r.’s today, and Kaylin (Hellyer) was right there, but I think the heat got to her today,” said Buffalo Grove coach Martha Kelly. “We’ve been pushing them hard the past two weeks, I’m very proud of the girls, and the younger girls look up to the leaders on the team.”

Junior Andrea Cordova (14th) paced Mundelein while the host Blue Devils were led by junior Ashley Kachurik in 22nd place. Rolling Meadows’ Elizabeth Clark (25th) nipped Buffalo Grove’s Rylee Bers (26th) at the finish line.

— John Bumbales

at Peoria: The girls cross country race at the Peoria Notre Dame Richard Spring Invitational proved to be a nail-biter.

Wheaton Warrenville South and Glenbard West both finished with 128 points, but WW South was awarded the title on a sixth-runner tiebreaker.

Palatine (131 points) was nipping at their heels, finishing just 3 points behind in third place.

It was the first major invitational where Palatine ran its full squad and the results showed the Pirates will be a factor on the state level.

Freshman Anne Marie Jordan (18:06), junior Kate Lechowicz (18:10) and junior Liz Lechowicz (18:17) powered Palatine in 12th, 14th, and 17th place.

Senior Lauryn Simons (18:37) contributed a 28th-place finish in an impressive run by a Pirates squad that is ranked No. 12 in the Illinois Cross Country

Coaches Poll.

“They ran great,” said Palatine coach Joe Parks. “We’re moving in the right direction and we still have work to do, but it definitely was an encouraging sign.”

Glenbard West sophomore Katelyn Hart, the defending Class 3A state champion, ran away with the individual title crossing the line in 16:35. Next was her senior teammate Lindsay Payne (17:12).

Schaumburg senior Maddie Marasco (17:22) showed no rust in her first major invite of the year and earned a third-place finish.

“I was pretty anxious before the race,” said Marasco, who set the tone by hitting it hard in the first mile on a hot day. “It gives me a big boost of confidence knowing I’m starting on the right foot and being able to run with some of the top girls.”

Junior Teagan Beckley (18:30) set the tone for Hersey by taking 21st place and leading the Huskies to a 10th-place finish. Freshman Jane Stefaniak (19:09) added to the effort by taking 74th place.

at Libertyville: Libertyville’s Melissa Manetsch is making up for lost time.

Last year, she missed qualifying to the Class 3A state meet due to illness.

But the Wildcat senior has started the season in fine form. Just last week, she ran to an impressive fourth-place finish at the First to the Finish Invite at Detweiller Park in Peoria, crossing the line in a swift 17:11.

And she continued her assault on Saturday at the Libertyville Invitational.

Manetsch jumped to an early lead on the hilly Adler Park course and did not look back, pulling away in the final 2 miles to secure the individual title in 19:06.

“I’m just super excited,” said Manetsch who finished with a 24-second cushion. “Just with all the mileage I have put in during training and I’m starting to add in the speed, the times should start dropping.”

A big part of her ascent is that she has been healthy since March.

“This is the Melissa we’ve always known,” said Libertyville coach Bill Etnyre of his senior star, who took sixth place in the 3,200 at the Class 3A track and field state meet in May. “She has had uninterrupted training, and now we are hoping to see it that way going forward.”

Lockport placed five runners in the top 19 to secure the team title with 43 points, followed by New Trier (51 points) and Prospect (69 points).

Host Libertyville (120 points) and Northside College Prep (164 points) rounded out the top five.

Prospect senior Mikayla Olsen (19:30) gave the Knights a big lift by taking second place; she was followed by freshman Reese Lettow (19:57) in 12th.

“She has been our leader,” said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute of Olsen. “She is dedicated and brings it every day.”

Junior Julia O’Grady (20:04) has been coming on strong and added 17th place finish for the Knights. Right behind was senior Kaitlyn Rouse (20:07) in 18th, and junior Marissa Valentini (20:14) closed the Knights’ scoring by taking 20th place.

“We keep working on pushing our split down,” said O’Grady of the improving Knights pack. “We are staying together and working together.”

Wheeling senior Yailene Leon (20:34) gave the Wildcats a lift by placing 25th and leading her team to a seventh-place team finish.

“We’re making a lot of progress from last year,” said Leon. “My experience is definitely helping this year.”

St. Viator freshman Katie Castelli (20:31) has given the Lions a nice jolt; she placed 24th on Saturday.

Castelli has teamed with junior Payton McDonnell (42nd, 20:57) in giving the Lions a nice 1-2 punch, while led to a ninth-place finish on Saturday.

“She challenges me a lot,” said Castelli of McDonnell a two-time Class 2A state qualifier. “We run together and pace each other.”

— Michael Eaken