Illinois High School XC Roadmap to the Weekend - September 22, 2023

 

By Michael Newman

 

This is a weekend where Illinois teams will be all over the Midwest. #5 Naperville North Girls, Rockton Hononegah, #11 Batavia, and #17 Yorkville will all head north to Minneapolis and the Roy Griak Invitational takes place on Friday. #15 Lyons Township Boys will head to the Culver Academies Invitational in Indiana. #19 Hinsdale Central Girls team and Warren Township head to Janesville, Wisconsin for the Midwest Invitational.

 

You can read about the Palatine Invitational Meet of Champions here. There are many meets that will take place over the next two days. Here is a look at where some of your favorite schools are heading to compete.

 

SJO Spartan Classic @ on the streets of St. Joseph

Girls Teams – 1A #1 Tolono Unity, 1A #5 Shelbyville, 1A #8 El Paso-Gridley, 1A #23 Monticello, 1A #25 Effingham St. Anthony, Armstrong, Arthur-Lovington, Bismarck-Henning, Carlinville, Chrisman, Decatur St. Teresa, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Downs Tri-Valley, Fithian Oakwood, Heyworth, Liberty, Maroa-Forsyth, Neoga, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Thomas More, Seeger IN, Sullivan, Teutopolis, Tuscola, Urbana University

 

Boys Teams – 1A #1 Tuscola, 1A #8 St. Joseph-Ogden, 1A #10 Pleasant Plains, 1A #12 El Paso-Gridley, 1A #16 Tolono Unity, 1A #20 Urbana University, 1A #24 Decatur St. Teresa, 1A #26 Toledo Cumberland, 1A #30 Monticello; Armstrong, Arthur-Lovington, Bismarck-Henning, Carlinville, Chrisman, Cowden-Herrick, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Downs Tri-Valley, Effingham St. Anthony, Fithian Oakwood, Heyworth, Liberty, Maroa-Forsyth, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Pleasant Plains, St. Thomas More, Seeger IN, Shelbyville, Sullivan, Teutopolis

 

Notes – There are 9 Class 1A ranked teams in this field. Can any of the other 8 teams get close to Tuscola in this race. The Warriors could again take the top four runners in this race led by Jackson Barrett and Josiah Hortin. 5 runners in the top 10 is a good possibility. St. Joseph-Ogden, led by Carson Maroon, could be the closest team to Tuscola. #1 Tolono Unity headlines the teams in the Girls race. Shelbyville was a distant second to Tolono last week at Tuscola and could be the chief competition to the Rockets. The individual race should be a good one with Isabella Keller of St. Anthony racing for the win against Katie Foltz of Tuscola. Both runners have run under 17-minutes this season on a 3-mile cross-country course.

 

Naperville Girls Invitational @ Northwestern Medicine XC Course, Geneva (Friday)

Teams – #7 Naperville Central, #8 Sandburg, #13 Oswego East, #14 Wheaton North, #16 Lincoln-Way Central, #28 Plainfield North, 2A #21 Rosary, 2A #22 Benet Academy, Downers Grove South, Naperville North

 

Notes – A high powered Girls meet with 8 of the 10 teams in the field ranked. Liv Phillips ran 17:05 last week at Minooka entering the meet as the individual field. This is a loaded individual field with Brea Counihan of Lincoln-Way Central, Morgan Dick of Oswego East, and Lindsey Gerhardstein of Sandburg pushing Phillips in this race. Naperville Central and Sandburg are the top two ranked teams in this meet. Sandburg ran great last week at Peoria. We will see how the Eagles compare to the Redhawks in this meet Friday afternoon.

 

East Peoria Invitational @ Illinois Central College

Girls Teams – 2A #4 Washington, 2A #6 Normal University, 2A #13 Morton, 2A #15 Mahomet-Seymour, 1A #3 Eureka, Bartonville Limestone, Bloomington, Bloomington Central Catholic, Champaign Central, East Peoria, Galesburg, Normal Community, Normal Community West, Peoria Christian, Peoria Manual, Peoria Richwoods, Princeville, Streator, Urbana, Westville

 

Boys Teams – 2A #3 Normal University, 2A #6 Morton, 2A #15 Washington, 2A #23 Champaign Central, 1A #5 Eureka, Bartonville Limestone, Bloomington, Bloomington Central Catholic, Canton, East Peoria, Galesburg, Mahomet-Seymour, Normal Community, Normal Community West, Peoria Christian, Peoria Manual, Peoria Richwoods, Princeville, Streator, Urbana, Westville.

 

Notes – 4 ranked 2A teams along with 1A #3 Eureka will be the headlined in this meet. Washington has the edge in this race led by one of the individual favorites Sophia Ramirez. Normal University has a good duo up front. Natalie Bierbaum could win this race. Their #2 runner Zoe Carter will not race on Saturday. Becca Heitzig of Lincoln needed a kick to win ahead of Bierbaum at First to the Finish two weeks ago. This could be another close race. It will be the pack of Normal University facing Morton in the Boys race. Josh Weeks of Morton will be one of the race favorites but will be pushed by Caleb Mathias of Champaign Central for the win.

 

Rock River Run @ Hoover Park, Sterling

Girls Teams – #18 Hampshire, 2A #17 Dixon, 2A #28 Sterling, Belvidere, Belvidere North, Durand, East Moline United, Forreston, Freeport, Fulton Unity Christian, Geneva, Kaneland, Lanark Eastland, LaSalle-Peru, Machesney Park Harlem, Moline, Ottawa, Princeton, Rochelle, Rock Falls, Rock Island, Rockford Auburn, Sandwich, Sterling Newman, Sycamore, Yorkville JV

 

Boys Teams – 2A #10 Kaneland, 2A #12 Geneseo, 2A #20 Sterling, 2A #25 Dixon, 2A #27 Sycamore, Belvidere, Belvidere North, Durand, East Moline United, Forreston, Freeport, Fulton Unity Christian, Geneva, Hampshire, Hinsdale South, Lanark Eastland, LaSalle-Peru, Moline, Ottawa, Princeton, Rochelle, Rock Falls, Rock Island, Rockford Auburn, Sandwich, Sterling, Sterling Newman, Yorkville JV

 

Notes – A good individual race in the Boys meet with Dale Johnson of Sterling tuning up for his race next week in Peoria against a field led by Drew Nosek of Kaneland and Dylan Gehl of Geneseo. Hampshire has been the team on a roll this fall and are the favorites in the Girls race led by Hudson Szymonik.  

 

Meets across the state this weekend

 

Bartlett Flyin’ Hawk XC Invitational @ Bartlett HS

Girls Teams – #30 St. Charles North, 2A #10 Crystal Lake South, Addison Trail, Aurora East, Aurora West, Bartlett, Burlington Central, Conant, DeKalb, Elgin, Elgin Larkin, Glenbard North, Jacobs, Maine East, Maine West, New Trier JV, Niles North, Plainfield East, Ridgewood, South Elgin, Streamwood, Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton Academy

Boys Teams – #19 Conant, #27 Jacobs, 2A #28 Burlington Central, Addison Trail, Aurora East, Bartlett, Burlington Central, DeKalb, Elgin, Elgin Larkin, Glenbard North, Maine East, Maine West, Niles North, Niles West, Ridgewood, St. Charles East JV, St. Charles North, South Elgin, Streamwood, Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton Academy

 

Freeburg Invitational @ Smithton Park

Girls Teams – 1A #20 Father McGivney, Belleville Althoff Catholic, Benton, Breese Central, Breese Mater Dei, Centralia, Edwardsville Metro East-Lutheran, Greenville, Okawville, Salem

Boys Teams – 1A #3 Benton, Belleville Althoff Catholic, Breese Central, Breese Mater Dei, Centralia, Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran, Father McGivney, Greenville, Okawville, Salem

 

Grant JT Taylor Invitational @ Bulldog Athletic Complex, Ingleside

Girls Teams – 2A #11 Lakes Community, 2A #12 Lake Forest, 2A #19 Mundelein Carmel, Dundee-Crown, Grant Community, Johnsburg, Lake Forest Academy, Marengo, Richmond-Burton, Round Lake, Saint Viator, Vernon Hills, Wilmot Union WI, Zion-Benton

Boys Teams – 2A #22 Lakes Community, Crystal Lake South, Deerfield, Dundee-Crown, Grant Community, Johnsburg, Lake Forest, Lake Forest Academy, Marengo, Mundelein Carmel, Richmond-Burton, Round Lake, Saint Viator, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, Westlake Christian Academy, Wheeling, Wilmot Union WI, Woodstock North, Zion-Benton

 

Herscher Invitational @ Limestone Park

Girls Teams – Beecher, Fairbury Prairie Central, Herscher, Hoopeston Area, Kankakee, Kankakee McNamara, Lisle, Manteno, Minonk Fieldcrest, Peotone, Plano, Pontiac, Rantoul, Wilmington

Boys Teams – 1A #23 Herscher, Beecher, Clifton Central, Cullom Tri-Point, Dwight, Fairbury Prairie Central, Gilman Iroquois West, Hoopeston Area, Kankakee, Kankakee McNamara, Lisle, Manteno, Minonk Fieldcrest, Peotone, Plano, Pontiac, Rantoul, Watseka, Wilmington

 

Kewanee Boiler Invitational @ Baker Park GC

Girls Teams – 1A #6 Knoxville, Amboy, Bureau Valley, Galva, Henry-Senachwine, Illinois Valley Central, Kewanee, Lowpoint-Washburn, Mendota, Orion, Ottawa Marquette, Peru St. Bede, ROWVA/Williamsfield, Spring Valley Hall, Toulon Stark County, Tremont

Boys Teams – Amboy, Bureau Valley, Galva, Henry-Senachwine, Illinois Valley Central, Kewanee, Lowpoint-Washburn, Mendota, Orion, Ottawa Marquette, Peru St. Bede, ROWVA/Williamsfield, Spring Valley Hall, Toulon Stark County, Tremont

 

Macnider Invitational @ Hoover School, Schaumburg

Girls Teams – #9 Minooka, #27 Huntley, Aurora West, Elk Grove, Glenbrook North, Hoffman Estates, Plainfield Central, Rolling Meadows, St. Charles East, Schaumburg

Boys Teams – #12 Aurora West, #23 Glenbard West, 2A #16 Payton Prep, Elk Grove, Glenbrook North, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Minooka, Oswego, Plainfield Central, Schaumburg

 

Midseason Harvest Classic XC Invitational @ Harvest Christian Academy Campus Course

Girls Teams – 2A #5 Wheaton St. Francis, 2A #8 DePaul College Prep, 1A #14 Aurora Central Catholic,1A #26 Montini Catholic, 1A #30 IC Catholic Prep; Aurora Christian, Chesterton Academy, Harvest Christian Academy, IMSA, Metea Valley, Plainfield South, Reginia Dominican, Resurrection, Riverside-Brookfield, Schaumburg Christian, Timothy Christian, West Chicago, Willows Academy

Boys Teams – #20 Riverside-Brookfield, 2A #24 DePaul College Prep, 2A #30 Wheaton St. Francis, 1A #2 Aurora Central Catholic, 1A #17 Montini Catholic, 1A #29 Harvest Christian Academy, Aurora Christian, Chesterton Academy, Christian Liberty Academy, Elgin Academy, Hinckley-Big Rock, IC Catholic Prep, IMSA, Metea Valley, Schaumburg Christian, Timothy Christian, Walther Christian, West Chicago, Westmont

 

Run Down at the Round Barn @ Round Barn Farm Park, Manhattan (Boys Meet)

Teams – #29 Lincoln-Way Central, Andrew, Brother Rice, HL Richards, Homewood-Flossmoor, Lemont, Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way West, Lockport, Plainfield East, Shepard

 

Springfield Invitational @ Lincoln Park, Springfield

Girls Teams – 2A #1 Chatham-Glenwood, 2A #14 Mt. Zion, 1A #7 Williamsville, 1A #9 Pleasant Plains, 1A #10 Delavan, 1A #15 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Auburn, Bluford Webber, Decatur MacArthur COOP, East St. Louis-Senior, Franklin, Granite City, Lincoln, Mascoutah, Mt. Vernon, Petersburg PORTA, Pleasant Plains, Rochester, Springfield, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Lutheran, Springfield Southeast, Taylorville, Virden North Mac

Boys Teams – 2A #14 Mt. Vernon, 2A #17 Mascoutah, 2A #18 Chatham Glenwood, 2A #19 Taylorville, 1A #19 Petersburg PORTA, 1A #21 Delavan, Auburn, Bluford Webber, Cahokia, Decatur MacArthur COOP, East St. Louis-Senior, Franklin, Granite City,  Jacksonville, Lincoln, Litchfield, Mt. Zion, Pleasant Plains JV, Rochester, Springfield, Springfield Lanphier, Springfield Lutheran, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Williamsville

 

Tolfree/Farley XC Invitational @ Midlothian Meadows, Midlothian

Girls Teams Championship  – #22 Lincoln-Way East, 1A #17 Chicago Christian, AA Stagg, Andrew, Blue Island Eisenhower, Bolingbrook, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Evergreen Park, Homewood-Flossmoor, Joliet Central, Lincoln-Way West, Marist, Mother McAuley, Reavis, Rich Township, Romeoville, Thornton Fractional South, Thornwood

Girls Teams Olympic – Agricultural Science, Bremen, Crete-Monee, De La Salle, Glenbard South, HL Richards, Joliet Catholic, Lemont, Oak Forest, Providence Catholic, Thornridge, Thornton, Thornton Fractional North, Tinley Park

Boys Teams Championship – #21 Lincoln-Way East, #24 Sandburg, AA Stagg, Andrew, Bolingbrook, Bradley-Bourbonnais, De La Salle, Evergreen Park, Joliet Central, Marist, Reavis, Rich Township,  Romeoville, Thornton Fractional South, Thornwood

Boys Teams Olympic – 2A #1 Glenbard South, Agricultural Science, Bremen, Chicago Christian, Crete-Monee, De La Salle, Evergreen Park, Hillcrest, Joliet Catholic Academy, Oak Forest, Providence Catholic, Thornton, Thornton Fractional North, Thornridge, Tinley Park

 

Winnebago Schmidt Invitational @ Fuller Forest Preserve

Girls Teams – 2A #16 Rockford Boylan, 1A #24 Winnebago, Byron, Dakota, Genoa-Kingston, Harvard, Oregon, Rock Island Alleman, Rockford East, Rockford Lutheran, Rockford Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Stillman Valley, Stockton, Winnebago

Boys Teams – 1A #11 Winnebago, Byron, Dakota, Genoa-Kingston, Harvard, Machesney Park Harlem, Oregon, Rock Island Alleman, Rockford Boylan, Rockford East, Rockford Jefferson, Rockford Lutheran, Rockford Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Stillman, Stockton