IHSA Class 2A Girls Regional Highlights - October 25, 2020

By Michael Newman

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Here are highlights from the IHSA Class 2A Girls Regional Meets based off the overall results submitted to the IHSA.

Olney Richland County Sectional

Taylorville Regional

Mahomet-Seymour got their top three runners in the first nine positions. That helped the Bulldogs to score 50 points and to win the team regional. Elizabeth Sims helped her team I that effort as she ran 19:08 to win the individual race by four seconds ahead of Brooklynn Sweikar of Champaign Centennial. Kylie Haacke of Mattoon (19:24), Megan Garrett of Charleston (19:35) and Klein Powell of Mahomet-Seymour  rounded out the top five. In like most 2A regionals this weekend, there were some close margins around the fifth and final sectional qualifying spot. This regional is an example. Charleston finished second behind Mahomet scoring 110 points. Richland County (119 points), Taylorville (129 points), and Mattoon (139 points) were the other sectional qualifying teams. Champaign Central missed qualifying by two points.

Highland Regional

Incredible close team finishes in this regional meet. Mascoutah placed five runners in the first 18 places with their sixth runner next in 19th place to win the regional with 58 points on a sixth runner tie-break. Highland also scored 58 points but with five runners in the top 20. Waterloo and Troy Triad were separated by one point for third and fourth with Waterloo scoring 77 points. Carbondale was the final sectional qualifying team scoring 142 points. Angelynn Kanyuck of Waterloo captured first of many of regional championships. The freshman ran 18:34 to win by 25 seconds ahead of Highland’s Grace Meyer. Madeline Prideaux of Carbondale (19:12), Amelia Martin of Mascoutah (19:29), and Danielle Mudd of Waterloo (19:31) were all runners to finish in the top five individually.

Jacksonville Regional

Chatham-Glenwood used great pack running in their regional team win. The Titans placed five runners in the top 11 with only a 39 second split to score 34 points. Mt. Zion was a distant second-place as they scored 85 points. Springfield (102 points), Rochester (104 points), and a surprising Lincoln team (109 points) were the other sectional qualifiers. Bethalto Civic Memorial missed qualifying by nine points. Glenwood had a five second split within their top three runners of Ava Gorrie (4th), Emma Leahy, and Reagan Weichold. Colleen Zeibert of Rochester continued a strong season as she ran 17:34 to roll to a 36 second victory ahead of Lincoln’s Becca Heitzig. Hannah Meiser of Civic Memorial ran 18:32 to finish third.

Peoria Notre Dame Sectional

Morris Regional

Geneseo traveled east on I-80 to this regional and left with a convincing win. The Maple Leafs placed four runners in the top five with their fifth and sixth runners 11-12 to easily win the team title with 25 points. Joy Dudley of Morris and Esther Brown of Geneva came to the finish line together with Dudley getting the win by a tenth of a second (19:24.3 – 19:24.4). Geneseo only had a 29 seconds on their top four with a 77 second split on their top five scorers. Lemont scored 65 points to finish second ahead of Providence Catholic (72 points). Morris and Ottawa were the other sectional qualifying teams.

Metamora Regional

Morton, with four freshman in their top seven, are coming of age at the right time. The Porters placed their scorers in the first 17 to score 52 points and win the regional championship. Kaitlin Skeate of Bloomington ran 17:48 on the 2.94 Black Partridge course. Emma Skinner was Morton’s first runner and second overall timed at 18:05. Morton’s top five split from Skinner to fifth runner Anna Klopfenstein was 81 seconds. Peoria Notre Dame finished second (86 points) with top five finishes from Maria Stedwill (3rd) and Irene Ehrhart (5th). Dunlap (88 points), Washington (92 points), and Metamora (96 points) also made it to sectionals.

Chicago Agricultural Science Regional

Oak Forest scored 30 points for the regional win and finished ahead of host Agricultural Science (45 points) and Bremen (63 points). Caitlin Bitunjac of Agricultural Science ran 19:55 for a convincing individual win by 63 seconds ahead of Mia Nutile of Oak Forest.

Lake Villa Lakes Community Sectional

Antioch Regional

It was a close finish for the regional team championship. Lakes Community edged Vernon Hills 50 to 52 for the title. Lakes placed five runners in the top 17 led by the individual win by Brooke Stromsland. The win for the 2018 state champion was not that close. The senior ran 17:31 on her home course to win by 41 seconds ahead of Bella Domier of Grayslake Central. Rachel Soukup of Prairie Ridge ran 18:14 to finish third. Lakes placed their second through fifth runners with a 49 second split from 8th to 17th. Vernon Hills placed three runners in the first seven, five runners in the top 20 led by the fourth-place finish from Anna Todd. This is a tough team regional with Grayslake Central (68 points) and Prairie Ridge (80 points) finished third and fourth. Wauconda scored 151 points to finish fifth.

Belvidere Regional

Crystal Lake South made a statement heading into next week’s sectional race at Lakes Community. The Gators swept the first three places and put six runners in the top ten to win easily with a measly 21 points. Bella Gonzalez commanded the race from the start as she ran 18:17 for the win. The South sophomore finished ahead of teammates Abby Machesky (18:45) and Addie Frisch. Crystal Lake Central finished second (52 points) behind the fourth-place finish of Annie Ferrero (19:31). Boylan Catholic (83 points), then Woodstock (137 points) and Belvidere (141 points) advanced to next week’s sectional. Belvidere North missed advancing to another week of racing by two points.

Kaneland Regional

It was all Dixon in this regional. The Duchesses swept the first three spots while placing five in the first ten for the easy regional championship win. Emma Smith led the Dixon sweep. The freshman ran 19:04 for the win with teammates Jade Miller (19:27) and Taylor Hills (19:40) next. Their top five split was only 66 seconds. Kaneland finished second (74 points) led by Olivia Franklin’s sixth-place finish. Burlington Central (88 points), Sycamore (94 points), and Sterling (125 points) were the other team qualifiers. Sandwich missed advancing to sectionals by six points.

Chicago Latin School Sectional

Wheaton St. Francis Regional

This was a deep and talented regional meet. In the end of the Girls race it was all Benet Academy. The defending Class 2A state champion placed five runners in the first nine to score 19 points to claim the regional title. The Redwings put four runners in the first five paced by the 1-2 finish from Louisa Diamond (19:04) and Elisabeth Camic (19:09). Bella Daley of Fenwick broke up the Benet pack finishing third (19:16). Then came in Benet’s third and fourth runners Kelly Andrews (19:34) and Joy Jackson (19:35). Meaghan Andrews rounded out Benet’s top five (19:45). The team’s split was 41 seconds. Nazareth Academy finished second (90 points) followed by Hinsdale South (108 points), St. Francis (111 points), and Fenwick (120 points). Trinity missed qualifying for a trip to Lincoln Park by 11 seconds.

Chicago St. Ignatius Prep Regional

Latin School tuned up for next week’s match up with Benet Academy placed five runners in the first seven with a controlled 19 points. The Romans swept the first three places led by the 17:25 win from Ava Parekh. Teammates Marianne Mihas (18:01) and Olivia Syftestad (18:03) finished second and third. McKenna Fellows (19:15) and Bea Parr (19:20) were the team’s next two runners. The split from Mihas to Barr was 79 seconds. St. Ignatius Prep finished second (54 points) led by the fourth-place finish of Lexi Affolter (18:39). Payton Prep (61 points), Solorio Academy (125 points), and De La Salle Institute (155 points) also get the opportunity to come back and race next week at Lincoln Park.

Chicago Mather Regional

Northside Prep put four runners in the first ten to edge St. Viator 38 to 43. St. Viator placed five runners in the top 14. Fenton (85 points), Resurrection (95 points), and Ridgewood (145 points) made it to the Lincoln Park Sectional next week. Northside’s Ella Ton-That was an easy winner for the individual regional title. The junior ran 18:41 to win by 62 seconds ahead of St. Viator freshman Nadia Diaz.