Emma Fisher, Malachy Schrobilgen win West Suburban Silver titles

Updated: October 15, 2011 9:43PM

York junior Emma Fisher beat Hinsdale Central’s Jill Hardies, the defending Class 3A state runner-up, for the second time this season, but the stakes were much higher in the West Suburban Silver meet at Lyons.

Hardies was also the defending conference champion, but gave up her crown Saturday as Fisher led from start to finish in Western Springs. Fisher (17:07.0) pulled away with a strong second mile to beat Hardies (17:22.9), who completed her first major meet of the season since pulling up with injuries to her shin splints in the season opening Hornet-Red Devil Invitational Sept. 3.

Hardies’ previous loss to Fisher came in a triangular with Lyons on Sept. 15. Fisher and Hardies finished 1-2 in that first meeting while both runners set course records at York.

“I’m glad to beat her,” Fisher said. “She’s a great competitor. I was really nervous. This was one of my goals.”

York’s Kayla Spencer (17:31.0) finished third while Glenbard West’s Madeline Perez (17:34.0) was fourth. Glenbard West and York tied for the overall title with 51 points, but the Hilltoppers won the tiebreaker based on the better 19th place finish by No. 6 runner Emma Reifel.

Hardies missed much of last year’s regular season, but came back in the postseason to nearly win a state title. Hardies won conference in 17:40.7 last season at Legge Memorial Park in Hinsdale and was fourth in 2009 as a freshman. Fisher placed fifth last year at conference.

“My shins felt OK. They didn’t bother me now that I’m getting back into races again,” Hardies said. “I tried a different race strategy and it didn’t work for me.”

Her strategy was to hang back behind Fisher to start the race, but Fisher never relinquished the lead.

Oak Park-River Forest senior Malachy Schrobilgen went wire-to-wire to win the boys race in 14:37.6. Schrobilgen, who finished fifth in last year’s state meet, was second in conference in 2010 and fourth in 2009.

“It felt good. I wanted to soak it in since it was my last time in a conference meet,” Schrobilgen said.

Scott Milling (14:54.3) was second for York and John Libert, Carlos Vega and Christopher May finished 7-8-9 to lead the Dukes (42 points) to another conference title.

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