Rookies boost Hornets

Updated: October 25, 2011 6:04PM

Freshman Sarah Leganski has been Hinsdale South’s regular runner at the top of the lineup, but fellow freshmen Kelly Flem and Megan Bruckhauser made their biggest push of the season Saturday at the Class 3A Lyons Regional.

Flem was 29th (19:46) and Bruckhauser placed 32nd (20:13) to give the Hornets (131) the last qualifying spot for the Lockport Sectional at 10 a.m. Saturday at Dellwood Park. The Hornets were fifth at the regional.

The race was the first time Bruckhauser placed in the top five for the Hornets.

“It was the first time I counted,” Bruckhauser said. “We had a nice run as a team. Everyone was just energized.”

Leganski placed ninth (18:31) and senior Allie Thiel finished 28th (19:45) at Lyons’ South campus in Western Springs.

It might be a struggle for the Hornets to make it out of the sectional where the top five advance to the state meet in Peoria.

Hinsdale South’s other scorer at the regional was Ashisha Chinwalla (20:15), who placed 33rd.

What ever happens at Lockport, the future appears to be bright behind the trio of freshmen.

“I was a little bit nervous,” Bruckhauser said. “The girls are nice and they calmed me down. Both [seniors Lena Biedrzycki] and Allie have been great and encouraging.”

The three freshmen did not run with the varsity at the season-opening meet, but were promoted a week or two after that meet at the Hornet-Red Devil Invitational in Hinsdale.

Flem counted as the Hornets’ fifth runner at the West Suburban Gold meet.

“It helps me because we are friends. We all know each other,” Bruckhauser said of her freshman teammates.

BOYS: The Hornets (175) earned the fifth qualifying spot for the sectional at Lyons.

Hinsdale South scorers were Matt Longoria (28th, 16:48), Ryan Cusick (32nd, 17:00), Martin Schmitt (35th, 17:05), Joe Eilbert (38th, 17:24) and John Gieres (42nd, 17:39).

© 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.