Surtz’s early lead brings her to second straight Class 1A Girls State title

Tolono Unity prevails in team win over shorthanded Winnebago

By Michael Newman [email protected]

Peoria, Ill – A fast start by Lianna Surtz of Rosary gave her the lead in the first quarter mile of the IHSA 1A Girls’ race Saturday morning at Peoria’s Detweiller Park. It was her perseverance in the final mile for her to hold on to capture her second straight 1A state title.

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Surtz won as a sophomore in 2019. The IHSA State Cross Country Meet was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Surtz’s winning time of 17:21 was eight seconds ahead of a charging Kate Ahmari of Urbana University (17:29).

“A lot of my races this year have been more tactical this season,” Surtz said. “I knew I had to go out fast and break up that pack early in the race.”

The strategy of Surtz worked as she passed through the first mile of the race in 5:28 opening a nine second lead ahead of Louisa Wilson of Williamsville, Anna Perry of Eureka, Carly Manchester of IC Catholic Prep, and Ahmari. The lead stayed close to the same at 2-miles as Surtz passed in 11:22. Ahmari had broken away from the rest of the pack but still was eight seconds away from the front.

Surtz kept her pace which kept the distance to claim her third state championship overall including track.

“I had a lot of people yelling at me that she (Ahmari) was coming,” Surtz added. “I just dug down and gave all that I had left.”

Wilson finished third (17:34) and replicated the finish margin she had on the fourth-place Perry (17:47).

Ava Knap of St. Joseph-Ogden finished fifth (17:48) just ahead of her teammate Savannah Franzen (17:51) who finished sixth. Ahry Comer of Pope County, who was the Trenton-Wesclin Sectional champion, ran 17:54 to finish seventh.

Manchester (17:55), Mabry Bruhn of Monticello (17:56), and Grace Erb of Winnebago (18:07) rounded out the top 10 runners in this race.

The finish of the team race demonstrated the joy and jubilation from Tolono Unity to the devastation and sadness that came from Winnebago. The two teams were within 20 points of each other throughout this race. Winnebago was making a charge in the final mile like they have traditionally down in other state races. Kaylee Woolery was the team’s third runner entering the final stretch of the race. Around 200-meters to go, Woolery collapsed to the ground. She was unable to finish. It gave Tolono Unity the edge to win with 126 points. Winnebago 138 points to finish second in what was one of the closest team finishes on this day. It was the Rockets third state team championship. It was their first state title since 2017.

Unity’s lone all-state finisher was Oliva Shike who finished 19th. Erica Woodard just missed all-state honors finishing 26th as the team’s second runner. Harper Hancock (30th) and Reagan Stringer (33rd) were together within four seconds of each other as the team’s third and fourth runner. Malia Fairbanks was the team’s fifth runner placing 57th. The team’s top five split was 90 seconds.

Winnebago had three all-state runners in this race. Erb’s 10 place finish was followed Marissa Roggensack in 12. Sophia Martino placed 23rd followed by Renee Rittmeyer in 38th. A tough performance was given by Katie Erb as the team’s fifth runner. Erb has been injured most of the season being in a boot when she was not running. Erb finished 108th in this race.

Eureka earned the third-place trophy with 150 points behind Perry’s finish in fourth and Laurel Munson earning all-state honors placing 19. Ellie Knapp (29th), Claire Albertson (62nd), and Meika Bender (109th) were the Hornets other top five runners.

St. Joseph-Ogden missed a trophy by 10 points scoring 167 points in the fourth position behind the top ten finished from Knap and Franzen. Rosary finished fifth (182 points) as Chiara Surtz joined her sister Lianna on the podium as the freshman finished 25th.