2020 IHSA Class 1A XC Regional Meet Previews

 

 

By Michael Newman

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The next two weeks take up more importance than they usually do during the normal season. COVID-19 has eliminated the state meet in Peoria. The change of format in which Regional Meets will be more in the forefront than usual. Instead of cake walk city in most every regional meet, the change of only five teams advancing to the sectional meets make this Saturday even more important.

 

There are usually seven teams that make it out of a Class 1A regional race. It just ramps up the pressure heading into the final two weekends of this season.

 

Here is a look at each of the 15 regionals that will take place in Class 1A on Saturday.

 

 

Belleville Althoff Sectional

 

Freeburg Regional

 

Things to Watch – The Girls races should be interesting to watch especially the championship wave. It should be a pair of seniors leading the way. Kristin Ess of Breese Central is coming off a win at the Cahokia Conference Meet and will be one of the runners to watch. Julia O’Neill of Althoff Catholic finished second at the South 7 Conference last week but should be right with Ess.

 

Five teams advance out of regionals. Freeburg will have the slight advantage on their course if they can keep their top five split under 50 seconds. Althoff Catholic has improved this fall and could win if they can get two runners in the top five. Breese Central and Breese Mater Dei should advance. Christ Our Rock Lutheran surprised on the boys in 2019. It may be the Girls team in 2020 that advances. Red Bud is a team also to keep an eye on.

 

Justin Mumford of Trenton-Wesclin is a lock to win in the Boys race. Jack Hiller of Althoff Catholic and Evan Wilkerson of Freeburg along with Zach McKowen of Christ Our Rock Lutheran will lead the next pack.

 

There could be a five team group that will separate themselves from the rest of this regional. Freeburg has an edge ahead of the rest. In any order, Althoff Catholic, Christ Our Rock Lutheran, Trenton-Wesclin, and Breese Mater Dei should be the teams to advance to sectionals

 

Hamilton County Regional

 

Things to Watch – The possibility of host Hamilton County to place four runners in the top 10 in this meet is there. I do like Benton’s team to challenge for the win. Maddie Karcher has been the premiere runner for Ham County and could be the favorite in the top wave race. Mia Wills of Benton should be the closest competition individually.

 

The Boys individual race should be dynamite. Ty Barbre of Carmi-White County is ready for a great final two races of the season. Benton’s Reese Johnson and Gavin Genisio are possibilities of 1-2 on Saturday. Also watch for Seth Hamerski from Bluford Webber to be in that front pack.

 

Benton should have all the “generals” in this race led by Johnson and Genisio. Five runners in the top eight is reasonable. Fairfield and Nashville should be the Rangers’ chief competition.

 

Marissa Regional

 

Things to Watch – The Girls individual race should be a good one to watch. Ansley Bailey of Massac County stands ahead of the rest having run 18:39 at her conference meet last week. DuQuoin’s Olivia Phillips is the one runner that could stay close to Bailey.

 

Phillips should lead DuQuoin to the regional title as they could have five runners in the top 12.I think there will be five teams fighting for the final four spots including Vienna, Pinckneyville, Marissa, Murphysboro, and Anna-Jonesboro.

 

Isaac Teel of Pinckneyville and Landen Swiney of DuQuoin faced off at the Sparta Invitational in September with the Pinckneyville freshman winning by three seconds. Teel won again last with in their conference meet last week by 13 seconds. The two will be the front runners in the individual race.

 

Pinckneyville, led by Teel and Steven Hirte, should have the edge ahead of Steeleville and DuQuoin in the team race.

 

 

 

Decatur St. Teresa Sectional

 

Carlinville Regional

 

Things to Watch – We will talk about Shelbyville in this piece. It is their top runner Gabrielle Spain that you should keep a close eye on. Spain ran 17:44 last Thursday in her conference meet to win by almost two minutes. Possibly waiting for Spain in this race is Lydia Roller of Staunton. The senior, who finished second at state last fall, was in a walking boot during the summer. In her first race of the season in September, she collapsed halfway through the race but still finished race. She was diagnosed with iron deficiency the day after. We have not seen any results from Staunton this fall. However, she is on the team’s state roster for the state series. Freshman Kaitlyn Hatley of Father McGivney will be the closest runner to Spain in this race if Roller does not race.

 

Shelbyville’s race last week on their home course is convincing to put them as the favorite in this team race. Roxana is also good led by Janelynn Wirth and Riley Doyle and could be within 10 points or under in this meet. Father McGivney is a team that could sneak up on the two. Alton Marquette and Pana are teams that should also advance to Decatur next week.

 

Tyler Guthrie of Father McGivney is one of the top Class 1A runners in the state and should show that the next two weeks. Guthrie should win by more than a minute if he pushes the pace. Roxana’s Carlos Ruvalcaba and Lukas Stokes of Shelbyville will be the pack front runners.

 

I think we could have six teams challenging for the five qualifying spots in this meet. Father McGivney and Shelbyville both have the talent to finish within 10 points on Saturday. Roxana could also challenge for the win. Pana, Alton Marquette, and Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran will be the three teams fighting for the final two spots.

 

Chrisman Regional

 

Things to Watch – Marshall dominated the Little Illini Girls Conference Meet taking the first three spots and winning with only 26 points last week. They will be the team to beat in this meet led by Brooklyn Bender, Ally Compton, and Cailin Morris. Bender, who won the individual conference race last week, will be the individual to watch on Saturday. Robinson and Casey-Westfield will be the chief teams to watch behind Marshall. Robinson’s Katelyn Jones is the one runner to watch for behind the Marshall pack.

 

Effingham St. Anthony is the team to watch in the Boys’ races. They could place all their scorers in the first 13 places. Marshall, led by Ben Ross, could push his team closer to St. Anthony. Newton, Sullivan, Toledo Cumberland, and Robinson all will be in the hunt for a top five finish. Brian Dust of St. Anthony will be the runner in this meet to watch. It will be closer than you think with Ross, Isaac Stanford of Flora, Nick Zwilling of Newton, and Braden Cox of Toledo Cumberland all are possibilities to come away with the win.

 

Decatur St. Teresa Regional

 

Things to Watch – The toughest of the three regionals in this sectional complex. Mabry Bruhn of Monticello has gone undefeated this season. The sophomore should not be challenged again in this race. Erica Woodard of Tolono Unity is having a strong freshman season and should be one of the runners in the chase pack along with Urbana University’s Kate Ahmari and Gabriella Moreman of Bismarck-Henning.

 

The Girls team race will be a battle of the packs from Monticello against Tolono Unity. Monticello have strong runners in the front with Bruhn, Rachel Koon, Grace Talbert, and Estella Miller. The gap between four and five has averaged 80 seconds at points this season. That needs to stay under 60 seconds for the Lady Sages to win. Tolono Unity will have Woodard in the front with Reagen Stringer and Malia Fairbanks leading their pack. Their split on the next six runners is 44 seconds. If that gap closes and they can put the group ahead of Monticello’s fifth runner, the Rockets could end up winning. St. Joseph-Ogden, Urbana University, and St. Thomas More are locks to advance to Decatur.

 

Layton Hall of Arthur-Lovington should be the favorite in the Boys individual race. He is the only runner under 15-minutes for 3-miles for this regional this season. The pack behind him should be fun to watch. You should see Monticello’s Jackson Grambart and Josh Baysore, Logan Beckmier of Arthur-Lovington, Brandon Mattsey of St. Joseph-Ogden, and Eli Mojonnier of Bismarck-Henning all could be within 10 seconds of each other.

 

The battle for the team title should be just as tough as finishing in the top five in the individual race. Monticello’s edge is ever so slight on St. Joseph-Ogden and Arthur-Lovington. Monticello and St. Joseph-Ogden have averaged splits between 65 to 70 seconds this season. It will be a matter of which team can get their fifth runner in first. Arthur-Lovington has been running with a chip on their shoulder all season after just missing state in 2019. Hall and Beckmier should finish in the top five. They will need in four in the first 15, five in before 25 to secure the team win. Tolono Unity, St. Teresa, and maybe Tuscola have a chance for one of the final two qualifying spots.

 

 

 

Elgin Harvest Christian Academy Sectional

 

Chicago Latin Regional

 

Things to Watch – The Girls Individual race should be interesting as Chicago University’s Amanda O’Donnell and Allison Tabellione of DePaul College Prep are close to a minute ahead of everyone else in this race. The two teams are tops in this regional. It will be a fifth runner thing in which team can get their final scorer in first. U-High will need four runners in before DePaul’s third runner to have the edge. Regina Dominican could be the closest team to those two squads.

 

Latin School should be the team to beat in the Boys races. The trio of Akili Parekh, Peter Bernhardt, and Ryan Hardiman should all be among the top five runners in the race. Any of the three runners could win. Nicky Edwards-Levin of Chicago University also has the talent to come away with the regional win. DePaul College Prep along with Chicago University will be the two teams that could challenge Latin School.

 

Elgin Harvest Christian Academy Regional

 

Things to Watch – The Girls races on the Harvest Christian Academy should be lights out with some of the top Class 1A runners in this state competing. Defending Class 1A Individual champion Lianna Surtz of Rosary has run on this 5k course and could have the advantage. Julia Wolke of Christian Liberty Academy has been challenged against 3A competition this fall preparing herself for the final two weeks of this season. IC Catholic Prep’s Carly Manchester, Kennedy Calcagno, and Frankie Chaidez, along with Caroline Bend of Indian Creek and Maia Italia of Rosary will be among the runners challenging for top five finishes.

 

Rosary and IC Catholic Prep finished within nine points of each other last week. It should be just as close on Saturday. Aurora Central Catholic, Wheaton Academy, and Montini Catholic all should advance back to this course next week.

 

The Boys races will not have to step aside in this meet. Harvest Christian Academy just missed a state championship last season by six points and is hungry to make themselves known in this state series. Matthew Olech, Hayden Colclasure, and Daniel Winkelman could all finish in the top five. Getting five runners in the top 20 will be something to watch for from this squad. Northridge Prep has not run a ton of races this fall but will be ready to challenge for the win led by Andrew Brockmeier and Max Elder. Aurora Central Catholic will have Rohn Ritchie among the leaders in this race. The Chargers have the talent to advance back here. Wheaton Academy, Montini Catholic, and Timothy Christian will challenge for the final two team qualifying spots.

 

Kankakee McNamara Regional

 

Things to Watch – Four of the top five runners that could possibly win in the Girls race could all be freshmen. Evita Martinez of host McNamara will be challenged for the individual win from fellow freshman Trixie Johnson of Paxton-Buckley-Loda. Ella Dwyer from Joliet Catholic and Anna Enderle from Chicago Christian should be other runners to keep an eye on. Joliet Catholic has the slight edge on Chicago Christian and Kankakee McNamara for the Girls team title with most likely Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Herscher advancing.

 

Drew Rogers of Herscher has one of the fastest times in the state (14:38). He should be the favorite in the Boys race with Ryder James of Paxton-Buckley-Loda is closest competition. Chase Provost of Kankakee McNamara, Connor Price of Iroquois West, and Ben Morgan of Herscher should lead the chase pack behind that duo. Herscher could have the edge with three runners possibly in the first eight runners. It will be close behind Herscher as five teams: Leo Catholic, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Joliet Catholic, Chicago Christian, and Kankakee McNamara, all fight for the final four advancing spots to Elgin.

 

 

 

Elmwood Sectional

 

Liberty Regional

 

Things to Watch – The Girls individual race could be close in this regional with Macomb’s Olivia Bishop and Kyleigh Diggs will challenge Astoria’s Meg Simmons for the title. Knoxville, led by Bryn Bahnks and Lauren King, will be pushed by Macomb for the team championship. Havana, Liberty, Hamilton (COOP), and Astoria should challenge for the final three qualifying places.

 

There is no question on who will win the Boys race. Miles Sheppard of Hamilton (COOP) set a new course record at Macomb last Friday running 14:47 for 3-miles. How fast will he go in this regional? We will find out on Saturday afternoon. Havana’s Adam Bohm and Stan Melkumian will challenge for second-place. Hamilton (COOP) has been a team surprise entering the state series. They will get a chance to see how good they are starting Saturday and led by Sheppard. Macomb and Franklin should be locks to get to sectionals. Rushville, Beardstown, and Havana will challenge for the final two spots.

 

Petersburg PORTA Regional

 

Things to Watch – The Girls race is wide open led by Vivian Rahmel and Kaitlyn Lee of Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Emma West of Auburn, and Addie Symonds of Elmwood-Brimfield. The Elmwood freshman ran 19:01 on her home course at the beginning of October. Auburn has a slight edge in the Girls team race led by West and Rylee Chelbian who could both finish in the top five. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin has Rahmel and Lee in the front but will need to move their pack up to challenge Auburn. Williamsville has the talent to challenge for the second spot along with Elmwood-Brimfield. Pleasant Plains and Athens will challenge for an advancing spot in this tough regional race.

 

Elmwood-Brimfield is better than we expected heading into this regional race. We will find out how good they are at PORTA. Luke Hoffmann and Thomas Harmon lead the Trojans and should challenge for the individual race title. Five runners in the top ten is a good possibility for this group. Zach Fales of Springfield Lutheran would not be a surprise if he won the individual race. Williamsville and Petersburg PORTA will be the teams challenging for second. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Princeville, and Riverton all have the talent to advance to Elmwood next week. Only five teams advance unfortunately.

 

Stanford Olympia Regional

 

Things to watch – The Girls race at this regional is oh so good. Anna Perry of Eureka won the inaugural Heart of Illinois Conference last Thursday at Detweiller Park running the course in a fast 17:08. Teammate Alexi Fogo ran 17:30 and should be among the leaders in this race. Lyndsey Wolters of Normal University and Savanah Beavers of Stanford Olympia will also be in the mix. We could have four runners under 18-minutes in this race.

 

Eureka and Normal University should challenge for the Girls team championship Saturday morning. Both teams match up almost evenly. U-High will need to win the 3-4-5 matchups against Eureka to win this race. Olympia is a solid third and should advance to Elmwood. Tremont, El Paso-Gridley, and Clinton are among six teams that will challenge for two spots in this regional.

 

Charlie Kistner of Olympia will have the advantage on his final time on his home course. Kistner ran 14:57 at the beginning of the month on this course and will have the advantage. Clinton’s Ethan Black, Nathan DeMarb of El Paso-Gridley, and Logan Wheeler of Olympia will be the leaders of the pack chasing after Kistner.

 

Olympia has the edge on their home course but should be challenged by El Paso-Gridley. Olympia has the depth through seven runners and could put that grove in ahead of EPG’s fifth. The key for El Paso is getting four runners in front of Olympia’s third runner in order to get within single digits of the host team. Deer Creek-Mackinaw and Eureka are the next teams to keep an eye on.

 

 

 

Seneca Sectional

 

Oregon Regional

 

Things to Watch – Most of the races for defending Class 1A Girls State Champions Winnebago have been cake walks all season. Saturday’s race at Oregon should be another example. The possibility of top five sweep for Bago looks good led by individual race favorite Natalia Martino along with Grace Erb and Kaylee Woolery. Hailey Heiar of East Dubuque ran 17:49 last week at Durand. She could break up that pack. Rockford Christian, led by Kelly Giardina, appears the closest team to be near Winnebago. Oregon, Lanark Eastland, Durand, Byron, and Rockford Lutheran are five teams that will battle for three sectional qualifying spots.

 

As Winnebago will roll in the Girls race, the same will hold true for Rockford Christian in the afternoon’s Boys races. The Royal Lions ran a great pack last week in winning the Big Northern Conference Meet. D’Artagnon Beaver and Steven Thomas give Rockford a strong duo in the front. Expect this group to have a top five split lower than 30 seconds in this race. The individual favorite could be Galena’s Sam Hesselbacher who has the only season’s best for 3-miles under 16 minutes. Durand and an improved East Dubuque squad should also advance to Seneca. Byron and Polo are among the teams that could also make it out of this regional.

 

Peru St. Bede Regional

 

Things to Watch – Rock Falls heads east to Peru for this regional when they normally host. This is not a normal year. The Rockets do have the edge in the Girls team race. Calin Gaulrapp leads Rock Falls after a solid run last week at the Big Northern Conference Meet. She has the best time heading into this regional by 20 seconds. She will be challenged by Ashley Alsvig and Amber Vroman from Seneca along with Grace Rippy of Rock Falls for the individual win.

 

Rock Falls has the depth able to put seven runners in before Seneca’s fifth runner crosses the finish line. Both teams are locks to make it to sectionals. Five teams will challenge for the final three sectional spots led by Henry-Senachwine, Lowpoint-Washburn, Amboy, Princeton, and Ottawa Marquette.

 

Lucas Hoffman of Ottawa Marquette should be one of the runners to watch in the front of the Boys race. Hoffman ran 15:41 at Lowpoint-Washburn last Thursday. He will be challenged by Brock Loftus of Amboy who ran 16:11 at a meet on the same day. Minonk Fieldcrest, Amboy, and Rock Falls all could be within 15 points of each other for the team regional championship. Mendota, Seneca, and Lowpoint-Washburn could be within another 15 points of the front three making this a close finish to see who qualifies for sectionals.

 

Rock Island Alleman Regional

 

Things to Watch – Host Rock Island Alleman enters this meet at Saukie GC as the hot team in this regional after a strong performance last week at the Western Big Six Conference Meet at this same venue. They could roll to the team title behind individual favorite Maddie Kindelsperger who ran 18:30 here last Thursday. Freshman Kennedy Anderson of Kewanee Wethersfield ran under 19-minutes at the beginning of October at Elmwood and should be a factor up front in this race. Alleman should score under 30 points in this meet for the win. The next four teams should be back from Alleman. Watch for Mercer County, Cambridge, Stark County, and Orion to secure the other four team positions.

 

Sherrard surprised some last year qualifying for the state meet. They will be among the team favorites in the Boys race along with Riverdale and Rock Island Alleman. These three teams should be separated by under 24 points. Mercer County and Erie-Prophetstown should also advance. Briar Nevills of West Carroll, Tommy Murray of Riverdale, and Jacob Belha of Sherrard should be the three runners in the front with one of the trio coming away with the race win.