IHSA Announces Fall Classifications for 2021-22 Cross Country Season

By Michael Newman

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The IHSA announced on Thursday, February 11 the new classifications for the 2021-2022 school year classifications. It included Cross Country but did not mention football since the season will be competing beginning in March.

There were some notable changes that we will keep an eye on for this fall. The one that caught our eye is the Chicago (Latin School) had their Girls team move from Class 2A down to Class 1A to join the Boys team who was already in Class 1A. It could set up dynamic race at Detweiller Park in November between Latin School’s Ava Parekh and Lianna Surtz of Rosary.

Here is a list of schools that will move in classification for the 2021 Cross Country season. IHSA FULL LIST

Cary-Grove – Boys/Girls move from Class 3A to Class 2A

Chicago (Kennedy) – Boys/Girls move from Class 3A to Class 2A

Chicago (Latin School) – Girls move from Class 2A to Class 1A. Boys remain in Class 1A.

Chicago (St. Ignatius Prep) – Boys move from Class 2A to Class 3A. Girls remain in Class 2A.

Deerfield – Boys/Girls move from Class 3A to Class 2A.

Hampshire – Boys/Girls move from Class 2A to Class 3A.

Harvey (Thornton) – Boys/Girls move from Class 3A to Class 2A.

Lake Forest – Boys/Girls move from Class 3A to Class 2A.

Lisle (Benet Academy) – Girls move from Class 2A to Class 3A. Boys remain in Class 2A.

Normal (University) – Boys move from Class 2A to Class 1A. Girls remain in Class 1A.

Oak Lawn (HL Richards) – Boys/Girls move from Class 2A to Class 3A.

Richton Park (Rich Township) – Boys/Girls move from Class 3A to Class 2A.

Riverside-Brookfield – Boys/Girls move from Class 2A to Class 3A.

Rock Island – Boys/Girls move from Class 3A to Class 2A.

Salem – Boys/Girls move from Class 2A to Class 1A.

Woodstock (Marian Central Catholic) – Boys/Girls move from Class 2A to Class 1A.

Note: There were some schools that did not compete in the 2020 XC season due to COVID-19 and were not listed in the IHSA Classification Chart.

An instance like this happened in 2019 when East St. Louis-Senior’s Boys Track team did not compete in the state series. The school was not listed in the Classification list. IHSA Assistant Director in charge of Cross Country/Track & Field Kraig Garber said that once the school registered for the season, they would be placed in a classification.