2023 ILXCTF.com IHSA/Illinois XC Previews - Class 1A Girls Individuals

 

By Michael Newman

 

The scenario of who could be the top runner in Class 1A changed when last year’s runner-up Sundara Weber moved up into Class 2A.

 

The one runner that could step to the front is Molly Farrell of Marshall. The sophomore gained confidence last fall finishing fifth at state. She stepped to another level in track when her time dipped to 10:34 in the 3200 Meter Run and she captured the Class 1A title in that distance.

 

Mia Kotler of Latin School is the wildcard in this class. She had a fantastic season having run 16:41 at Detweiller Park. She went through a number of injuries last year in cross country and in track. She finished fourth in the state in Class 2A last year, running only her regional, sectional, and state. She had nagging injuries during track season which she pulled herself from the sectional and state.

 

Louisa Wilson of Williamsville finished third in the last two state meets and wants to finish higher. The one runner who will be a wildcard is Isabella Keller of Effingham St. Anthony who finished second in the IESA State Meet while she was in middle school. Her older sister Anna Sophia won four state titles during the fall. Her first high school race comes Saturday at Chrisman Cowchip.

 

Here is a showcase of some of the runners that you could see up front this season in races that have 3A schools in it.

 

1 Molly Farrell – SO – Marshall

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:23.6; 1600m – 5:00.05; 3200m – 10:34.17; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 5th place

 

Notes – We had an idea what kind of freshman Farrell would be at the Patriot Invitational on October 15 running 17:17.3 to win the race. Farrell came back to the course a month to finish fifth. She dropped some fast times during the track season mainly in the 1600 and 3200. Her race at Distance Night at Palatine was memorable as she ran 10:37.51 (10:34.17) to finish second in the 2 Mile Run. She came back at state and doubled in both distances. She won her first state title when she ran 10:50.90 to win the Class 1A title in the 3200 Meter Run. She ran just as strong in the 1600 Meter Run running 5:06.07. She improved her mile time at Festival of Miles running 5:02.01 (5:00.05). What will be next for Farrell this fall? She will be one for the favorites for the Class 1A title. If the course stays dry this fall, we could see some sub 17 times from her. She starts her season at Paris this Saturday.

 

2 Mia Kotler – JR – Chicago (Latin School)

2023 Bests: 1600m – 5:06.72; 3200m – 10:39.20(2 Mile); 2022 State XC Finish – Class 2A -  4th place

 

Notes – Kotler finished third in the Class 2A State Meet in 2021. The junior did not race last fall until the state series and qualified for state individually. She ran in the post season finished 14 at the Running Lane Championship last December. Injuries plagued her in track. She did run at the New Balance Indoor Nationals with a 10:39.20 in the 2 Mile Run. She ran in limited races outdoors as injuries snuck up on her again. She made the decision to shut down her season just before the sectional meet. Kotler is healthy and ready for this season according to her coach, Dan Daly. First big meet for the junior is the Red Devil Invitational in Hinsdale on September 2.

 

3 Louisa Wilson – JR – Williamsville

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:29.97; 1600m – 5:25.51; 3200m – 11:49.40; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 3rd place

 

Notes – It seems that Wilson prefers the turf instead of the track. In her first two years of cross-country, Wilson has finished third in both her state races in 2021 and 2022. Her post season was strong as she finished second in one of the open races at the NXR Midwest Regional. She wants to finish higher this fall. “She had an amazing summer of training,” said her coach, Tyler Casson. “She’s hungry and plans to be back in the hunt again this season.” Wilson ran the 4x8 and the 1600m at state. She helped her team make the finals in the 4x800m Relay. She will be busy starting the season running at the Rochester Invitational on September 2 and First to the Finish on September 9.

 

4 Kennady Anderson – SR – Kewanee (Wethersfield)

2023 Bests; 800m – 2:17.19; 1600m – 5:08.43; 3200m – 10:57.43; 2022 State XC Finish – 4th Place

 

Notes – A seven time all-state runner in three state meets with three in the 800 and two times each in the 3200 and 1600. She has been all-state twice in cross-country. An amazing four sport athlete in high school. The rest of her story is told by her coach, Creston Fenn: Kennady’s story is remarkable. I imagine there are few stories similar to hers. She actually is a full-time volleyball player during the fall. Except for the covid year, her training has always been after volleyball practice and dinner by herself. Over the past two years I have worked together with her and her family to best fit in the proper workouts while being a full time two sport elite athlete. It is a challenging balance, but we have gotten better at making the most out of her week of running without stressing her too much. As an added bonus, she is going to come to cross country once a week this year to do our hardest workout with the team.

 

She does ALL of her training at home on the treadmill. In a way, the treadmill is great for practicing and doing workouts alone. If I want her to do a tempo at 7 min pace, all she has to do is plug those numbers in. Last year, including all her meets, Kennady ran outside less than 10 times. This also has presented other challenges too like the lack of running in the elements and on hills. Last year we incorporated a lot more incline training in her treadmill workouts to help. I also do not get to see her face to face and talk to her as much. It really has made me have to adapt and change as a coach because a lot of my coaching is done running with the athletes or talking to them after and before practices. Even with my adjusting, her parents support of her and me have definitely contributed to her progression over the years.

 

Lastly, she has progressed because she is pretty remarkable. She didn’t run the 10th fastest time at the state meet across all classes by just doing workouts on a treadmill. It takes a special person to be willing to do what she does. She commits 4 hours a day to sports, and on top of that she is a phenomenal student that is involved in many other things. I have never seen someone with her will, passion, and desire to be great. It is truly inspiration.

 

5 Kaitlyn Hatley – SR – Glen Carbon (Father McGinley)

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:16.31; 1600m – 5:19.11; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 7th place

 

Notes – A runner that has adapted to cross country after starting with some great times on the track. She is a team runner. Last year in Charleston, Hatley was all-state finishing second in the 800 Meter Run. She ran two relays with her teammates helping them to a second-place finish in the 4x800m Relay and third in the 4x400m Relay. She finished 43rd in the 1A State Cross Country Meet and then last year seventh at Detweiller Park. “She has showed improvement in longer sustained tempo-type work,” said Coach James Helton. “Kaitlyn looks to repeat on her all-state status from last year.

 

Runners to Watch (Listed in Alphabetical Order)

 

Ellen Anderson – JR – Chicago (Latin School)

2023 Bests: 1600m – 5:49.76; 3200m – 11:40.00

 

Notes – Anderson was hit with injuries her sophomore season of 2022-23. Ellen played on the school’s club Field Hockey team in 2021 and did not run. Last season was supposed to be her first year of cross-country. She ran a 2-mile race in 12:04 at Elmwood Park last August. Anderson was injured in that race and did not run the rest of the season. She ran some fast times on the track her freshman season including qualifying for state in the 3200 Meter Run. Anderson missed all-state by one spot in the 2A State Meet and finished tenth running 10:54.26. She qualified for state again at the same distance. Anderson ran 18:24.46 on the track for 5000-meters in June. Coach Dan Daly has said that she is in great shape. We may see her at Elmwood Park this week. She will be tested at Hinsdale Central on September 2.

 

Tessa Bowers – SO – Shelbyville

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:31.14; 1600m – 5:54.16; 3200m – 12:13.98; 2022 State XC Finish – 26th place

 

Notes – Bowers had a great freshman season last fall that culminated by missing all-state by one spot. Big things will be ahead for her this spring. She was all-state last spring in track helping her team to a sixth place finish in the 4x800m Relay. Bowers also qualified in the 800 Meter Run but did not make the finals. One thing to watch is if she runs more 3200’s in track next season. She did run 12:13.48 in her second race ever at the distance at the University of Illinois last March. It gives us an indication what she could do this fall. Bowers starts her season at Clinton this Saturday.

 

Ahry Comer – SR – Golconda (Pope County)

2023 Best: 400m – 56.85; 800m – 2:09.95; 1600m – 4:59.69; 3200m – 11:12.20; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 8th place

 

Notes – 6 time all-state athlete including two state championships in the 800 Meter Run and once at 400-meters. Ahry is all-state twice in cross-country during the fall. She was seventh as a sophomore in 2021. Her senior season in both sports could be one for the ages. The fact that she qualified in four events for last year’s state meet. The fact that she scratched from the 3200, then won the 800 and 400 and then finished fourth in the 1600 was one of the biggest feats of the Girls State Meet. She came back ten days later to finish second behind Becca Heitzig in finishing second at Festival of Miles bettering her personal best by more than two seconds running 2:09.95. She is a four sport athlete. She might play volleyball in the fall along with running, plays basketball in the winter, and the track in the spring. Her season starts at Murphysboro next week followed by First to the Finish the following week.

 

Emily Decker – JR – Tolono (Unity)

2023 Bests – 800m – 2:37.14; 1600m – 5:16.85; 3200m – 11:27.00; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 19th place.

 

Notes – Decker was part of Tolono Unity’s second-place finish in the 4x800m Relay at last spring’s state meet. Emily has been part of both state championship teams and finished 122nd as a freshman in 2021. She made huge strides in the last year including dropping her 1600 time down to 5:16 last spring. “Emily Decker had made huge improvements last year in cross country and it didn’t stop there,” said her coach, Kara Leaman. “She came through for us in the 4x800 at state - running the fastest split - while filling in for someone who was ill. She has a competitive drive that is second to none and will be ready to show up on the cross country course again this fall.”

 

Emily Downing – SO – Cambridge

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:18.57; 1600m – 5:09.77; 3200m – 11:11.68; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 13th place.

 

Notes – Her freshman season was great. She has already started out her sophomore campaign running 18:09 to win at Rock Falls on August 21. Dowling ran 18:05.8 at the Patriot Invitational last October, then 18:13 on wet grounds at Detweiller Park for state. For a freshman that just runs distances and has already earned all-state four times is great. Dowling sixth at state in the 3200 Meter Run, fifth in the 800 Meter Run and the 1600 Meter Run. Upcoming races for her include next week at Kewanee Wethersfield and then at First to the Finish.

 

Savannah Franzen – JR – St. Joseph-Ogden

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:23.39; 1600m – 5:39.28; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 14th place

 

Notes – Franzen is a two-time all-state runner in cross country. She finished sixth as a freshman in 2021. Savannah qualified for three events at last spring’s state track meet which included the 800 Meter Run along with the 4x4 and 4x8. Franzen was all-state as a freshman in the 1600 Meter Run in the 1A race finishing sixth along with being in the 4x8 finishing fourth. “Savanna is a very talented young lady who is continuing to learn the details of the sport,” said SJO Coach Jason Retz. “If she can continue to put those puzzle pieces together she will continue to evolve as a student-athlete.”

 

Sydney Gertsen – SO – Lombard (Montini)

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:28.28; 1600m – 5:14.46; 3200m – 11:15.93; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 21st place

 

Notes – A runner that showed improvement during last track season that will lead to bigger things in her final three years of high school. Gertsen should improve on last year’s state finish. Her track season included another all-state performance in the 3200 Meter Run finishing eighth in the Class 2A State Meet. Her first two meets this fall are at St. Ignatius on September 2 and then the following week at First to the Finish Invitational.

 

Miah Gilmore – JR – Murphysboro

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:28.37; 1600m – 5:24.03; 3200m – 11:27.51; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 10th place

 

Notes – Gilmore earned all-state for the first time last fall after finishing 35 as a freshman at state in 2021. Murphysboro runs in Class 2A in the spring but the now junior improved her times in the three distance events. Her personal best dropped 14 seconds in the 1600 Meter Run and 67 seconds in the 3200 Meter Run. Gilmore qualified for state in the 1600 Meter Run but missed the finals by two places. She should have a good junior season waiting for her. Miah will race at Marion this week (weather permitting) and then next week at Murphysboro followed by a meet at West Frankfort the following week.

 

Nellie Mellick – JR – El Paso-Gridley

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:34.98; 1600m – 5:34.96; 3200m – 12:52.77; 2022 State XC Finish – 33rd Place

 

Notes – Mellick should be the top runner for her team once again and bounce back this fall as finishing 33rd last year as a sophomore. She was all-state as a freshman placing 20th. Mellick earned all-state status with her teammates last spring as the Titans finished fourth in the Class 1A State 4x800m Relay. She also qualified for state in the 1600 Meter Run “I love her.  She's awesome,” said her father and coach, Michael Mellick. “Her volume was lower this summer, but her attitude, energy, and leadership are all up this fall.  Our team is in a better place because of her, even if her mileage looks like less in the ledger.” Mellick’s first big meet will be at Normal next Friday (9/1) and then at First to the Finish the following week.

 

Arianna Neisen – SR – Liberty

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:30.45; 1600m – 5:17.09; 3200m – 10:55.29; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 39th place

 

Notes – Last season was the first state cross country meet that Neisen had run in after finishing 31st at the Elmwood Sectional as a sophomore in 2021. She had a major breakthrough during the track season dropping her 3200 time from 11:29.03 in 2022 to a third-place finish at state in 10:55.29. “Arianna had a really solid summer of training. Probably the best she’s ever had. Consistent mileage to get a really good base to build off of track season,” said Liberty Coach Jared Schmidt. She did get a ton of confidence from track season that built from the beginning all the way through. She had a small setback during track that hindered her training some otherwise I think she would have run faster in the 1600 for sure. She’s currently dealing with a slight issue with her hip right now. Once we can get that lined out she’ll be back to training. I think the small break she’s getting right now will be good in the long run for this season. I can’t set any expectations on this fall for her because I know she’s still getting stronger and more confident as she gains fitness. She’s capable of a lot more in my opinion.”

 

Evelyn O’Connor – JR – Seneca

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:19.64; 1600m – 5:11.42; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A –

 

Notes – A good track season for O’Connor as she earned an individual all-state honor finishing seventh in the 800 Meter Run. She helped the Irish in a big way in that meet anchoring the 4x800m relay to all-state fifth and then anchoring the team to a state championship in the 4x400m Relay. She was all-state in both relays including the 4x400m Relay in 2022 that they won. O’Connor has run in the state meet twice with an all-state performance last year and finishing 44th as a freshman in 2021. A top 10 finish is possible for this junior in a couple of months. She will be one of those runners at First to the finish on September 9.

 

MacKenzie Pound – SO – Tolono (Unity)

2023 Bests: 800m – 2:20.89; 1600m – 5:25.78; 3200m – 11:45.81; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 11th place

 

Notes – A fantastic freshman that has three more years of great running at Tolono Unity. She ran 17:59 at the Patriot Invitational three weeks before state. Her state finishing time in the rain was 18:05. Pound was part of Unity’s second-place finish in the Class 2A State 4x800m Relay. Pound did make the finals in the 800m Run. “Mackenzie Pound is a force,” said her coach, Kara Leaman. “She is super focused and wants to win. She can be counted on to get the job done as much as it is up to her.”

 

Elena Rybak – JR – Glen Carbon (Father McGivney)

2023 Bests – 800m – 2:11.43; 1600m – 5:02.45; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 35th place

 

Notes – This should be the season that success on the track transfers over to the cross-country course for Elena Rybak. Her freshman season ended when she had to drop out of the state race due to an injury. Last year she finished 35 at Detweiller after finishing 11 the week before in the Benton Sectional. She continues to roll on the track. Rybak is the two -time Class 1A State champion in the 1600 Meter Run. She anchored the 4x800m Relay team to second  and to third in the 4x400m Relay. Rybak has earned six all-state medals in two years including four in the relays. She concentrated in the 800 last spring and ran under 2:12 twice. Rybak ran 2:11 at Festival of Miles but just two seconds behind the winning time. It’s a great confidence builder heading into this fall. It will not surprise me if she is among the top 10 Class 1A runners in November.

 

Vanessa Teel – JR – Pinckneyville

2023 Bests: 400m – 1:01.58; 800m – 2:32.27; 1600m – 5:49.41; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 23rd place

 

Notes – Teel ran a big race last fall at state finishing 23rd. She finished 53 as a freshman in 2021. One of the reasons why Pinckneyville could challenge for a trophy. Teel qualified in the 400 Meter Dash, and the 4x4 and 4x8 relays in the state meet.  “Vanessa has had a good summer and is definitely our leader,” said Pinckneyville Coach Ryan Bruns.  “She is the first girl in school history to be an All Stater, and she has very high expectations for herself.”

 

Caroline Tepe – SO – Okawville

2023 Bests: 400m – 1:00.80; 800m – 2:21.43; 1600m – 5:40.6; 2022 State XC Finish – Class 1A – 20th place

 

Notes – Tepe surprised some last fall and came on strong when it counted. She won her division at the Cahokia Conference, then third at the Carterville Regional, and eighth at the Benton Sectional before the state race. She focused on the 400/800 during the track season. She made it state in the 4x400m Relay. Okawville missed making it to the finals by two-places. Earning all-state as a freshman is eye-catching. She is ready for higher finishes in 2023.

 

Erica Woodard – SR – Tolono (Unity)

2023 Bests: 800m: 2:26.03; 1600m – 5:12.98; 3200m – 11:02.50; 2022 State XC Finish – 30th place

 

Notes – Woodward will look to lead this team to a third straight team title and hopefully her first top 25 finish at state. She missed all-state last fall by one place. Woodard finished 30th as a sophomore in 2021. Erica had a big track season finishing sixth in the Class 2A 3200 Meter Run with an 11:02.50 personal best. She also made the finals in the 1600 Meter Run. “Erica needed her successful outdoor track season to start this fall off with confidence. She is a strong leader in practice, and I think this year is her year to shine also in cross country.”