(Glenview Announcements) Competing in the cross country State Meet is something Danielle Devito has been dreaming out about since she started running with the Titans.

Her dream finally came true, as the Glenbrook South senior posted the best time of her career — 17:35 — to finish 27th in the IHSA Class 3A meet, held at Detweiller Park, in Peoria.

“I was so excited,” Devito said. “It was my first time qualifying for the State Meet, so it was great to make it down here as a senior. It’s been one of my goals I’ve been working on since my freshman year, and to finally be able to do it is amazing. I PR’d by (15) seconds, so doing that is definitely great; it’s been a month since I ran 17:50.”

Running at State for the first time gave Devito a case of butterflies.

“I was not sure what to expect since it’s my first cross country race (at State),” she said. “I was definitely nervous coming into it. All the fans on the side, it’s just overwhelming. It gets to you, but it’s a good experience.”

The downhill start followed by some tight curves early on makes navigating the course difficult, but Devito came in with a plan and executed it.

“I just took it out slow,” she said. “I knew who the top runners going into it were, since we had a lot of them in our sectional. I knew who to be with and who to stay behind. I used people as a pacer to finish strong.”

Devito was able to maintain a even pace throughout the race. Although she fell two spots shy of earning all-State honors, she made sure to leave everything she had on the course.

“I felt good, except coming into the last hill part — it just kills you,” Devito said. “You know the time is ticking away and you want to get there as fast as you can. It’s definitely hard. I was just keeping up with my same spot, not trying to let anyone pass me and trying (to) pass a couple extra people.”

Though the season is finished, Devito still has more running ahead. She’ll compete in the Nike Cross Country Regionals in Terra Haute, Ind., on Sunday, followed by the Foot Locker Regionals in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 26. When cross country wraps up, Devito will start preparing for track in the spring.

“After that it’s just track season,” said Devito, who competes in the 1600-meter run and the 3200. “Lifting weights and getting ready for State in track.”

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(Glenview Announcements) For all the success Danielle DeVito has experienced in her high school career, the Glenbrook South senior has never competed in the State Meet.

She’s hoping to add that accomplishment to her résumé in her last chance to make this cut.

DeVito took another step in the right direction during the CSL Meet, Saturday at Glenbrook North, as she finished sixth in 18:01.76 in one of the most competitive conferences in the state.

“This is a good conference this year, and the (Loyola Regional) is some of the same people,” DeVito said, looking ahead to the Class 3A Loyola Regional, at 2 p.m. Saturday at Harms Woods. “I got a good preview of how everybody’s going to do — how they are going to run against other people. I got to see the first pack of five.”

DeVito has competed at state track twice, but she’s 0-for-3 in three cross country sectional races. Part of the reason, she said, is the way runners must qualify.

In track, it’s about time; in cross country, it’s about place.

“In cross country, anything can happen,” DeVito said.

At conference, Mollie McMahon followed DeVito, placing 27th in 20:04.14 as the Titans took fifth with 152 points.

New Trier won the overall title with 24 points, while Maine South was second with 57.

Rounding out Glenbrook South’s scoring were Mary Andersen (33rd, 20:31.97), Jamie Vear (35th, 20:33.65) and Melissa Basanipour (51st, 21:26.12).

Jamie Studenroth narrowly missed out on contributing by placing 52nd in 21:27.30.

With one goal already accomplished this season, DeVito is chasing another.

“I want to break 18 minutes, and I was able to do that,” she said. “Now it’s about qualifying for the State Meet. That’s the next goal.”

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