IHSA Class 1A Regional Highlights

October 22, 2023

 

By Michael Newman

 

Beacon Academy Regional @ Butler Park, Evanston (Friday)

Qualifiers advance to the Kankakee McNamara Sectional

Girls Race - #26 Latin School had an easy time winning this regional race capturing the first three places in winning the regional title with 22 points. The Romans placed 5 runners in the top lead by individual winner Mia Kotler. The junior ran 17:38 for the in ahead of teammate Ellen Anderson (18:44). Teammate Ruby Larsen ran 21:04 to finish third. Ida Crown finished second (60 points) ahead of FW Parker (70 points), Lycée Français de Chicago (80 points), and Josephinum (140 points)

 

Boys Race - #10 Northridge Prep dominated this regional race placing all 7 of their runners in the top 10 to win the regional title with 24 points. The Knights put 5 runners in the top eight led by John Kipp running 16:21 to win by 15 seconds ahead of Owen Keyt of North Shore Country Day (16:38) and Aiden Gillers of Deerfield Rochelle Zell (16:38). Northridge Prep had a 61 second split on their top five runners with Peter Kipp (4), Brady Katoka (5), James Barder (6), and CJ Pronek (8) following John Kipp. The split between Peter Kipp and Pronek was 41 seconds.

 

Bureau Valley Regional @ Bureau Valley MS, Walnut

Qualifiers advance to the Oregon Sectional

Girls Race – All seven teams in this regional that scored points advanced to next week’s sectional meet. All eyes were on the individual race as Emily Downing of Cambridge ran 18:41 to win with Kennady Anderson of Kewanee Wethersfield running 18:53 to finish second. Riverdale surprised some winning the team title 71-72 ahead of #28 Erie-Prophetstown. Rockridge finished third (88 points) ahead of Mercer County. Sherrard, who was ranked #19 heading into this meet, only had four runners that finished and did not have a final score not advancing to Oregon next Saturday. Freshman Jillian Murray led Riverdale finishing 11th.

 

Boys Race – Braeden Bode of Riverdale ran 16:30 to win individually by nine seconds ahead of Charlie Link of Erie-Prophetstown (16:39). #14 Riverdale placed 4 more runners in the top 17 to give them the team title with #15 Erie-Prophetstown scoring 63 points to finish second. #26 Sterling Newman scored 86 points to finish third ahead of Rock Island Alleman (112 points), Mercer County (133 points), Kewanee Wethersfield (154 points), and Sherrard (182 points). All of those teams advanced to the sectional meet.

 

Chester Regional @ Randolph State Recreation Area, Chester

Qualifiers advance to the Benton Sectional

Girls Race - #18 Pinckneyville placed 5 runners in the top 16 to win over DuQuoin 32-45. Vanessa Teel of Pinckneyville ran 19:19 for the individual win with Miah Gilmore of Murphysboro (19:49) and Maggie Kellerman of DuQuoin (20:28) to finish second and third. Murphysboro (72 points), Nashville (119 points), Red Bud (129 points), and Campbell Hill-Trico (131 points) all advanced to sectionals. Only six teams scored in this meet.

 

Boys Race - #2 Benton had 3 runners finish in the top 4 and 5 runners in the top 12 to win with 27 points ahead of second-place #6 Pinckneyville who scored 58 points. Defending 1A state champion Gavin Genisio started his journey to Detweiller Park running 14:59 for the win. Isaac Teel of Pinckneyville ran 15:35 for second ahead of Benton’s Gabriel McLain (15:43) and Cole Buchanan (16:01). Clayton Cratch of Steeleville finished fifth (16:15). Benton did not have their top five runner Mason Tieffel in this meet. #30 Murphysboro finished third (92 points) ahead of DuQuoin (97 points), Steeleville (126 points), New Athens (194 points(, and Nashville (197 points).

 

Chrisman Regional @ Chrisman HS/JH, Chrisman

Qualifiers advance to the Decatur St. Teresa Sectional

Girls Race – Molly Farrell of Marshall dominated this race running 18:25 to win ahead of teammate Madeleine Fox (19:17). Savanna Franzen of St. Joseph-Ogden (20:04), Macie Russell of Fithian Oakwood (20:10), and Alex Anderson of St. Thomas More (20:40) finished in the top five. Anderson led 5 Sabres in the top 20 to get #30 St. Thomas More the regional win with 60 points. Urbana University scored 76 points to finish second ahead of #12 Marshall (78 points). Paxton-Buckley-Loda (98 points), St. Joseph-Ogden (106 points), Bismarck-Henning (139 points), and Fithian Oakwood (159 points) were teams that qualified for the sectional meet.

 

Boys Race - #5 St. Joseph-Ogden edged #16 Georgetown Notre Dame De La Salette  32-37 for the team title. The two teams dominated the first five individual places. Carson Maroon of St. Joseph-Ogden ran 16:17 for the individual win with teammate Aden Armstrong running 16:18 finishing second. Notre Dame de La Salette captured the next two places with Marco Cruz finishing third (16:23) while John Brauner finished fourth (16:32). Jack Fisher finished fifth (16:38) for St. Joseph-Ogden. SJO placed 5 runners in the top 13 with a 70 second split. GNDLS placed 5 runners in the top 12 having a 63 second split. #29 Urbana University finished third scoring 86 points. Other sectional qualifiers included Broadlands Heritage (138 points), Paris (144 points), Villa Grove (178 points), and St. Thomas More (196 points).

 

Fairfield Regional @ Leo French Park, Fairfield

Qualifiers advance to the Decatur St. Teresa Sectional

Girls Race – This was a tune-up for next week’s sectional for Isabella Keller of Effingham St. Anthony. The freshman ran 18:27 to win the individual race by almost three minutes ahead of teammate Aubrey Denning (21:11). Quinn Wesley finished third to help #16 Robinson win the regional title with 41 points. #6 St. Anthony finished second (51 points) finished second ahead of #23 Fairfield (58 points). Robinson ended up placing 5 runners in the top 13 with four runners led by 10 place Katelyn Jones running a 26 second split on the group. Only seven teams scored in this race. Newton (102 points), Neoga (122 points), Dieterich (135 points), and Teutopolis (166 points) all advanced to sectionals.

 

Boys Race - #23 Newton placed 5 runners in the top 15 led by a seventh-place finish from Luke Weber to win the team title with 57 points. Toledo Cumberland (87 points), Cowden Herrick (88 points), and Fairfield (99 points) finished second through fourth. Bluford Webber, Robinson, and Dieterich all advanced to sectionals. Jaxson Dalby of Bluford Webber ran 17:29 in winning the regional title by six seconds ahead of Austin Wesley of Robinson (17:38).

 

Harrisburg Regional @ Harrisburg MS

Qualifiers advance to the Benton Sectional

Girls Race - #2 Anna-Jonesboro used this race as a tune-up for next week’s Benton Sectional scoring 15 points for the win. Only four teams scored in this meet. Vienna (69 points), Massac County (79 points), and Frankfort (81 points) all advanced. The Wildcats placed 7 runners in the top 9 to easily win. Ahry Comer of Pope County won the individual race timed at 19:17. Jadyn Gerardi of Anna-Jonesboro finished second (19:52) ahead of Molly Merrill of Goreville (20:12). Anna-Jonesboro took the next six places. Their split on the four scorers led by Aleah Box was 17 seconds.

 

Boys Race - Anna-Jonesboro made it a team sweep in this meet scoring 38 points to win ahead of Massac County finished second with 54 points. Braiden Respondek of Gallatian County ran 17:28 for the race win ahead of Eason Comer of Pope County (17:39) and Jaydon Miller of Massac County (17:48). Anna-Jonesboro put 5 runners in the top 26 led by the sixth-place finish from Lucas Hoehner. Other team qualifiers included Vienna finishing third (96 points) ahead of Gallatian Junction (113 points), Hamilton County (133 points), Norris City-Omaha-Enfield (133 points), and Carrier Mills-Stonefort (152 points).

 

Kankakee McNamara Regional @ Kankakee Community College

Qualifiers advance to the Kankakee McNamara Sectional

Girls Race - #17 Chicago Christian edged #20 Herscher 37-45 to win the team title. Grace Mullin of Chicago Christian ran 19:01 to win the individual race by 34 seconds ahead of teammate Kaylee O’Sullivan (19:35). Evita Martinez of Kankakee McNamara finished third (19:48) ahead of Brooklynn Burdick of Beecher (20:08) and Kelly O’Connor of Herscher (20:09). Chicago Christian placed 5 runners in the top 14 in this race. Herscher placed 5 runners in the top 15. Beecher finished third (77 points) ahead of Kankakee McNamara (99 points), Peotone (112 points), and Southland College Prep (168 points). Only six teams scored in this race.

 

Boys Race - #19 Herscher dominated in the team race placing 5 runners in the top 7 to easily win with 20 points. Noah Luke of Chicago Christian ran 16:42 to win the individual title. Herscher took the next four places led by Jackson Cruse and followed by Brayden Shepard, Thomas Morgan, and Matthew Benoit. Jeremy Szepelak was Herscher’s fifth runner placing seventh. Their top five split was 35 seconds in this race. Only six teams scored in this race. Cullom Tri-Point finished second (71 points) just ahead of Chicago Christian (72 points). Iroquois West (99 points), Kankakee McNamara (112 points), and Southland College Prep (148 points) also earned a chance to return this course next weekend.

 

Petersburg PORTA Regional @ PORTA HS, Petersburg

Qualifiers advance to the Elmwood Regional

Girls Race - #9 Pleasant Plains packed it up led by the seventh-place finish from Abigail Wolters to win the team title with 55 points. #5 Williamsville had 3 runners in the top 5 to earn them second with 63 points. #4 Delavan finished third (73 points) placing 2 runners in the top 6. Louisa Wilson of Williamsville ran 18:29 for the individual win with Annabelle LaFary of Delavan running 18:44 to finish second. Emma Swartzendruber of Stanford Olympia ran 18:53 to finish third ahead of Williamsville’s Joelle Wilson (18:56) and Hannah Nation (19:00). Pleasant Plains also had Caroline Willenborg (9) and Alaina Hawker (10) finish in the top 10. The Cardinals ended up placing 5 runners in the top 18 with a 61 second split. #29 Stanford Olympia finished fourth (99 points) ahead of Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (129 points), Downs Tri-Valley (167 points), and Petersburg PORTA (176 points).

 

Boys Race - Elijah Teefey won the individual race to help #9 Pleasant Plains win the team title with 45 points. #20 Delavan finished second with 87 points ahead of #12 Petersburg PORTA (101 points). Teefey ran 15:41 to win the individual race by four seconds ahead of Issac Crumrine of Riverton and another eight seconds ahead of Lucas Hollinshead of Williamsville. Sam Springer of Delavan ran 15:54 to finish fourth. Haven Gronewold of Petersburg PORTA finished fifth with a 15:59 time. Pleasant Plains place d5 runners in the top 19 with a 99 second split. Other team sectional qualifiers include Bloomington Central Catholic (158 points), Auburn (163 points), Williamsville (168 points), and Downs-Tri Valley (176 points).

 

Peoria Notre Dame Regional @ Donovan Park, Peoria

Qualifiers advance to the Elmwood Sectional

Girls Race - #3 Eureka edged #8 Knoxville 59-69 for the team title. Host #7 Peoria Notre Dame finished third with 73 points. Alyssa Higgins of Knoxville ran 20:01 on the hilly 5k course to win by eight seconds ahead of teammate Emily King (20:09). Meika Bender of Eureka (20:16) and teammate Bre Lehman (20:20) packed it up finishing third and fourth. Eureka had a top five split of 84 seconds while placing five runners in the top 20. #14 El Paso-Gridley scored 110 points to finish fourth with #15 Lowpoint-Washburn scoring 138 points to finish fifth. #11 Elmwood finished sixth (152 points) ahead of Princeville.

 

Boys Race – It was close as expected for the team title. #3 Elmwood edged #8 Peoria Notre Dame 50-58 for the regional title with #4 Eureka finishing third with 61 points. #8 El Paso-Gridley scored 102 points to finish fourth. Isaiah Hill of Elmwood ran 16:23 to win by 12 seconds ahead of Dean Witzig of El Paso-Gridley (16:35). The top five finishers included Maxwell Kirby of Peoria Notre Dame (16:43), Andrew Perry of Eureka (16:45), and Joey Bosch of Princeville (16:54). Elmwood has run a good pack behind Hill and that showed in this race. Aiden Faulkner finished ninth and 3 more runners finished in the top 17 split of 43 seconds. Peoria Notre Dame had Joe Erhardt and Andrew Elward finish 6-7. The Irish ended up with 5 runners in the top 25. Eureka ended up with 4 runners in the top 14 and 5 runners finishing in the top 26. #25 Princeville finished fifth with 135 points followed by Deer Creek-Mackinaw (174 points) and Illini Bluffs (190 points).

 

Quincy Notre Dame Regional @ Bob Mays Park, Quincy

Qualifiers advance to the Elmwood Sectional

Girls Race - Quincy Notre Dame placed 5 runners in the top 13 to win the team tile with 27 points. Lewistown (54 points) and Liberty finished third (72 points). Seven teams scored in this race with all advancing to sectionals next week. Abigail Genenbacher of Quincy Notre Dame ran 21:40 for the win finishing ahead of Chloe Kelly of Monmouth-Roseville (21:44) and Emma Whitaker of Illini West (21:51). Other qualifying teams included Pittsfield (105 points), Beardstown (137 points), Hamilton West Hancock (138 points), and Rushville-Industry (140 points).

 

Boys Race – All seven scoring teams advanced to the sectional meet next week. Quincy Notre Dame placed 3 runners in the top 9, 5 runners in the top 22 to win with 48 points ahead of Liberty (73 points) and Hamilton West Hancock finishing second and third. Parker Quinlan of Hamilton West Hancock ran 16:50 to win by over 30 seconds ahead of Lane Olbert of Liberty (17:22) and Aiden Parks of Astoria (17:40). Other qualifying teams were Astoria (84 points), Lewistown (115 points), Illini West (131 points), and Havana (143 points).

 

Seneca Regional @ Seneca Ag Farm, Seneca

Qualifiers advance to the Oregon Sectional

Girls Race - #22 Seneca edged Stark County 31-42 for the team title. Aurora Central Catholic had 57 points to finish third. Evelyn O’Connor earned the regional title running 20:02 to win ahead of Cecilia Hilby of Aurora Central Catholic (20:12) and another 10 seconds ahead of Dusti Smith of Stark County (20:22). Seneca placed 5 runners in the top 13 with Natalie Misener (6) and Gracie Steffes (7) finishing in the top 10. Princeton (104 points), Amboy (141 points), Somonauk (155 points), and Mendota (187 points) were other team qualifiers.

 

Boys Race - #13 Aurora Central Catholic dominated this race taking the first three places on their way to score 17 points for the regional title. Patrick Hilby and Ben Bohr ran together finish 1-2 both timed at 17:52. David Valencia followed his teammates in third (17:56). Anthony Kelson of Mendota (18:01) and Graham Razum of Yorkville Christian (18:15) finished fourth and fifth. The next three teams were separated by two points with Seneca (90 points) followed by Mendota (91 points) and Henry-Senachwine (92 points). Dwight (100 points) and Princeton (133 points) also qualified.

 

Sullivan Regional @ Tabor Park, Sullivan

Qualifiers advance to the Decatur St. Teresa Sectional

Girls Race - Tessa Bowers of Shelbyville edged Kate Foltz of Tuscola by less than a second to win the individual title. Bowers ran 17:43.7 for the win with Foltz running 17:44.1. #1 Tolono Unity was in full control of the team race placing 6 runners in the top 9 to score 27 points for the win. #10 Shelbyville scored 55 points to finish second. Mackenzie Pound was the Rockets top runner running 18:19 to finish third with Erica Woodard (19:03) and Emily Decker (19:04) finishing fourth and fifth. Camry Reedy (19:26) and Olivia Shike (19:31) finished seventh and eighth. Clinton finished third (100 points) ahead of Monticello scoring 111 points and Decatur St. Teresa (147 points) finishing fourth and fifth. Litchfield (195 points) and Tuscola (199 points also qualified. Arthur-Lovington missed qualifying for the sectionals by five points.

 

Boys Race - #1 Tuscola did not run three of their top seven runners in this race. The  Warriors still scored 57 points for the regional title. #21 Clinton finished second with 98 points. The pack mentality was again up front for Tuscola as Josiah Hortin (15:43.7), Jackson Barrett (15:44.2), and Will Foltz (15:44.3) were separated by less than a second. Drew Moser of Clinton finished fourth (15:52) ahead of Evan Cook of Decatur St. Teresa (15:53) and Will Fuson of Cerro Gordo-Bement (15:54). #22 Tolono Unity finished third (112 points) ahead of #18 Decatur St. Teresa (117 points) and #24 Cerro Gordo-Bement (121 points). Carlinville (165 points) and Shelbyville (166 points) were the final two teams to advance. Monticello missed qualifying for sectionals by one point.

 

Trenton-Wesclin Regional @ Wesclin HS

Qualifiers advance to the Benton Sectional

Girls Race - Elana Rybak and Kaitlyn Hatley finished 1-2 to help #13 Father McGivney win the regional title with 39 points. #25 Althoff Catholic scored 78 points, Breese Mater Dei scored 87 points, and Okawville scored 94 points to finish second through fourth. Rybak ran 17:44 to win by 32 second head of her teammate Hatley (18:16). Caroline Tepe of Okawville (18:30), Breigh Diamond of Althoff Catholic (18:47), and Sarah McKowen (18:59) were all under 19 minutes finishing in the top five. Roxana (109 points), Alton Marquette (126 points), and Piasa Southwestern (205) all finished in the tp seven and will qualify for the sectional meet. O’Fallon First Baptist Academy missed the seventh-place qualifying spot by three points.

 

Boys Race - #27 Roxana edged #28 Father McGivney 55-61 in a close team regional title finish. Belleville Althoff scored 63 points to finish third. Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran (129 points) finished fourth ahead of other team qualifiers Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran (139 points), and Breese Mater Dei (186 points). O’Fallon Baptist Academy and Okawville tied for seventh with 212 points. Both teams will advance to the sectional meet next weekend. It was also a close finish for the individual title. Elijah Gregory of Christ Our Rock Lutheran ran 16:11 to win by one second ahead of Hunter Ponce of Roxana (16:12). Lucas Abbott of Edwardsville MEL ran 16:42 to finish third ahead of Wyatt Doyle of Roxana (16:46) and Liam Schmidt of Father McGivney (16:48).

 

Westmont Regional @ Westmont HS

Qualifiers advance to the Kankakee McNamara Sectional

Girls Race - #24 IC Catholic Prep placed 5 runners in the top 21 to help them win the regional title with 43 points. #27 Montini Catholic scored 54 points to finish second ahead of Harvest Christian Academy (87 points). Sydney Gertsen of Montini Catholic ran 19:15 to take home the individual title by 36 seconds ahead of Graziella Narcisi of IC Catholic Prep (19:51). Kyla Babb of Westmont was a second behind finishing third (19:52). Ashlynn Lindt of Montini Catholic (20:03) and Kelsey McDonough of IC Catholic Prep finished fourth and fifth. Willows Academy scored 87 points to finish fourth ahead of Reginia Dominican (108 points), Lisle (125 points), and Acero/Soto (212 points).

 

Boys Race - Harvest Christian Academy placed 5 runners in the top 11 to win the regional title with 21 points. Montini Catholic (44 points) and Timothy Christian (58 points) finished second and third. Nolan Ferris of Montini Catholic ran 16:53 for the individual win. Harvest Christian’s Luca Bryja (17:01) and JJ Gonnam (17:21) finished second and third ahead of Tyce Plaisier of Timothy Christian (17:23). All team qualifiers included Lisle (121 points), Westmont (127 points), Walther Christian (180 points), and Elgin Academy (215 points).

 

Winnebago Regional @ Fuller Forest Preserve, Winnebago

Qualifiers advance to the Oregon Sectional

Girls Race - #21 Winnebago placed 5 runners in the top 21 to win the team title with 45 points.  Morgan Capriola led Bago running 17:56 for the individual win. Alexia Spatz of Richmond-Burton ran 18:27 to finish second. Reese Erdahl of Winnebago ran 18:48 to finish third ahead of Emma James of Genoa-Kingston (18:49) and Rebecca Krein of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Richmond-Burton (91 points), Byron (92 points), and Rockford Christian finished second through fourth. Lanark Eastland (132 points), Genoa-Kingston (175 points), and Oregon (187 points) also were sectional team qualifiers.

 

Boys Race - #11 Rockford Christian edged #17 Winnebago 35-40 for the team title. Weston Forward of Rockford Christian won a close individual race timed at 14:27 on the 2.85 mile course finishing ahead of Nicolai Martino of Winnebago by seven seconds (14:34). Andrew Kurien was the Royal Lions second runner timed at 14:39 to finish third. Tim Starwalt of Byron finished fourth (14:50) ahead of Winnebago’s Joseph Erb. Rockford Christian placed 5 runners in the top 13. Winnebago ended their race placing 5 runners in the top 18. Byron placed third (94 points) ahead of Richmond-Burton (111 points) and Rockford Lutheran (131 points). Genoa-Kingston (184 points) and Forreston-Polo (199 points) finished as the sixth and seventh qualifiers.