2022 Illinois High School XC Conference Meet Highlights

 

By Michael Newman [email protected]

 

Here are highlights from the high school conference meets taking place from October 11 to October 14. There will be a separate page for the meets that will take place on October 15 to October 16.

 

Friday, October 14 (Results)

 

Southwest Prairie Conference at Channahon Park, Channahon

Camyn Viger of Plainfield South ran the third fastest time ever on the Channahon Park course of 14:45.3 to win the Boys Varsity race with Oliver Burns of Plainfield South just one second back. Audra Soderlind of Oswego cruises to Girls Individual win. #1 Plainfield South Boys, #10 Minooka Girls claim conference titles. RECAP and VIDEOS of the meet can be found on the Southwest Prairie Conference Page.

 

Mid-Illini Conference at Detweiller Park, Peoria

This Girls conference race came down to two teams to decide the team champion. It was 2A #8 Washington that claimed the top prize placing 4 runners in the top 6, 5 runners in the top 11 tp win the conference team title with 27 points. 2A #2 Dunlap was just as impressive placing 4 runners in the top 8, 5 runners in the top 16 to finish second with 35 points. 2A #16 Morton (79 points) and 2A #21 Metamora (96 points) finished third and fourth.

 

Washington has four freshmen in their top seven. One of them, Sophia Ramirez, came away with the individual win with a 18:04.2 time. Dunlap’s Kate Robertson (18:13) and Abby Tudeen (18:16) finished second and third. Washington had a 59 second on their top five runners with Ramirez followed by a 4-5-6 finish from Jayne Hermann, Olivia Nordheilm, and Madeline James and Sophia Nordheilm placing eleventh.  Dunlap’s top five split was 62 seconds with front pack of Robertson and Tudeen followed by a 7-8 finish from Abbie Gleason and Saniya Mathew, and a 16th place finish from Mia Williams.

 

There was no question who would win the boys team title. 2A #5 Morton put four runners in the top five to repeat as conference champions with 26 points. Washington edged 2A #24 Dunlap by one point to capture second-place. Washington scored 78 points.

 

Josh Weeks led the charge for the Potters running 15:18.9 to win the individual title. Teammates Yonas Wuthrich (15:43) and Chase Sauder (15:54) finished second and third. Ayden Thompson of East Peoria broke up the Morton pack running 15:56 to finish fourth. Layton Knopp was Morton’s fourth runner finishing fifth (15:59). Christian Harris ran 16:30 as Morton’s fifth runner as he finished 15th overall. Morton’s top five split was 72 seconds. Their split from Wuthrich to Harris was 43 seconds.

Thursday, October 13 (Results)

 

South Seven Conference at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

With every race that Dylon Nalley of Marion runs, we wonder how far under 14-minutes he could go when he gets to Detweiller Park in November. Nalley was by himself in this race winning by 83 seconds. The winning time of 15:18 on this rugged 5k course at SIU is extremely good. So was the performance by the 2A #1 Wildcats as they took the first four places to repeat as Boys Conference champions in winning with 24 points. Mekye Lomax, Sean Hudspath, and Benja Stone were within 11 seconds of each other. Evan Dailey was Marion’s fifth runner finishing in 14th place. Dailey was 84 seconds behind Marion’s 2-4 pack. Carbondale finished second (50 points) ahead of 2A #25 Mt. Vernon who scored 57 points.

 

Eris Nelson of Althoff Catholic won the Girls Conference race running the 5k course in 20:11. Kara Odum of Marion was the closest runner to Nelson running 20:43 to finish second. The next group was over 90 seconds back. Centralia placed 6 runners in the top 10 to win the team title with 32 points. The Orphans were led by a 4-5-6 finish from Raelyn Dearing, Aurora Amason, and Reagan Cross. Centralia’s top five split was only 22 seconds. Carbondale (64 points) and Althoff Catholic (79 points) finished second and third.

 

Mississippi Valley Conference at Principia College, Elsah

2A #22 Bethalto Civic Memorial won their first Boys conference title in the history of their program scoring 45 points for the win. Waterloo (60 points) finished second ahead of Triad (66 points). Joe Schwartz of Waterloo was the individual race winner timed in 15:22 and winning by 20 seconds ahead of Jackson Collman of Civic Memorial. Collman led 4 runners form his school in the first 11 places separated by 54 seconds.

 

2A #9 Waterloo was in complete control of the Girls races scoring 22 points for the win. Hannah Meisner of Civic Memorial ran 18:27 for the win. The next four runners came from Waterloo with Cameron Crump, Angelynn Kanyuck, Ava Rau, and Danielle Mudd finishing second through fifth. Triad (62 points) and Mascoutah (85 points) were the second and third-place teams.

 

Central Illinois Conference at Clinton High School

1A #8 Decatur St. Teresa placed 5 runners in the top 9 to win the Boys conference title with 28 points. 1A #10 Tuscola scored 39 points in finishing second ahead of third-place Clinton (83 points). Tuscola and St. Teresa had runners in 8 of the first 10 places. The individual race was close as Josiah Hortin of Tuscola ran 15:33 for the individual win by one second ahead of Martin Velchek of St. Teresa (15:34). The next four runners were separated by five seconds. Jackson Barrett of Tuscola finished third (15:42) ahead of St. Teresa’s Caleb Kernaghan (15:43) and Evan Cook (15:45). Will Foltz of Tuscola ran 15:47 to finish sixth. St. Teresa top five split was 46 seconds.

 

1A #30 Shelbyville scored 34 points to win the Girls conference title behind the individual win from freshman Tessa Bowers. Clinton (45 points) and St. Teresa (72 points) were the second and third-place teams. Bowers ran 18:09 for the individual win ahead of another freshman Kate Foltz of Tuscola by 12 seconds (18:21). Shelbyville overall placed 4 runners in the top 8, 5 runners in the top 14.

 

Western Big Six Conference at Empire Park, Hampton

Quincy swept both team titles in this meet held in the Quad Cities area. It was close in the Boys team race with the first three teams separated by 10 points. Quincy put 5 runners in the top 20 to win the conference title with 66 points. Sterling was just two points behind finishing second with 68 points placing 4 runners in the top 17, 5 runners in the top 33. Geneseo scored 78 points to finish third. Dale Johnson of Sterling ran 15:23 in winning the individual race by 10 seconds ahead of Eric McClelland of Quincy. Dylan Gehl of Geneseo ran 15:58 to finish third.

 

Quincy was dominant in the Girls race scoring 34 points to win the title with 4 runners in the first 10 places. Sterling finished second with 74 points with Geneseo scoring 81 points to finish third. East Moline United freshman Rubi Tapi-Macias ran 18:06 to win the individual race by three seconds ahead of Olivia Schuering from Quincy who ran 18:09.

 

Independent School League at Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest

1A #3 Latin School tuned up for the state series winning the Boys team title in this league championship with 21 points. 1A #11 Northridge Prep scored 36 points to finish second. Latin School placed all 7 of their runners in the top 14 to claim the team win. Akili Parekh of Latin School cruised this 5k course on the Lake Forest Academy campus in 15:53 to win the individual title by 23 seconds ahead of teammate Ben Gibson. Parekh announced after the meet on social media that he made a verbal commitment to the attend the University of Michigan next fall. Jackson Ballard and Daniel Goodman finished fourth and fifth separated by two seconds. Jack Lyons was the team’s fifth runner placing ninth overall. The team’s top five split of Parekh was 81 seconds. The split from Gibson to Lyons was 58 seconds. Northridge Prep ran a good race with their first 4 runners in the top 8 and 5 in the top 12. John Kipp led his team finishing third. The team’s top five split was 61 seconds.

 

Willows Academy, led by the second-place finish from Francoise Lechner, placed 5 runners in the top 12 to win the Girls League title with 24 points. Regina Dominican scored 50 points to finish second. Kimiko Darcy of Latin School and Lechner both came across the line together at 20:04 with Darcy winning by 48 hundredth of a second. Nora McCabe (20:07) and Olivia Mauer (20:12) of Regina Dominican finished third and fourth.

 

Southern Illinois River to River Conference at Washington County Conservation Park, Nashville

The two Division races (Mississippi and Ohio) are run together but scored separately. Both the Boys and the Girls individual races came away with interesting results. 1A #26 Pinckneyville scored 20 points to win the Mississippi Boys Division with 5 runners in the top 10. Anna-Jonesboro scored 61 points to finish second in the division. 1A #9 Benton took the first three places and put 5 runners in the top 9 to win the Ohio Boys Division with 22 points. Herrin scored 59 points to finish second. Isaac Teel of Pinckneyville had the fastest time of the day running 14:48.2 to win the overall title finishing ahead of Benton’s Gavin Genisio (15:12), Gabe McLain (15:39), and Cole Buchanan (16:23).

 

1A #6 Anna-Jonesboro dominated the Girls Mississippi Division race placing 5 runners in the top 12 to win with 37 points. Brodie Denny led her team finishing third overall in the division standings. The Wildcats had a 58 split on their top five runners. Pinckneyville (64 points), 1A #22 DuQuoin (67 points) and 1A #23 Carterville (70 points) finished second through fourth in this tough division. Benton scored 20 points to win the Ohio Division with 27 points placing 5 runners in the top 9 led by the third divisional place from Mia Willis. Murphysboro scored 49 points to finish second. Miah Gilmore of Murphysboro had the fastest overall time of 18:20 to claim the individual win. Moly Robertson of Carterville (18:37) and Vanessa Teel of Pinckneyville (19:08) were second and third overall.

 

Black Diamond Conference at Leo French Park, Fairfield

Host Fairfield won the Boys team title with 31 points taking three of the top four places. Hamilton County scored 47 points to finish second. Chase Smith of Fairfield ran 17:43 on the 3.11-mile course to win the individual title by 48 seconds ahead of Tanner Spence of Carmi-White County. Fairfield also won the Girls title with 21 points as they placed 3 runners in the top 6 finishers. Vienna scored 45 points to finish second. Fairfield’s Ella Sager ran 21:07 to win the individual title as Molly Merrill of Goreville ran 21:40 to finish second.

Wednesday, October 12 (Results)

 

Southwestern Conference at Milburn Campus Course, O’Fallon

It was no contest in the Boys Varsity race. Host #19 O’Fallon took the first six places in scoring 15 points to win the Boys conference championships. Edwardsville was a distant second scoring 48 points ahead of Alton (95 points) in this seven team field. Dylan Ybarra led the Panthers running 14:41.70 to win by 25 seconds ahead of teammate Eli Greenstreet. Zach Thoman, Harrison Schroeder, Ethan Nieroda, and Robert Wocking followed. Ben Perulfi of Edwardsville was the first non-O’Fallon runner to finish placing seventh. O’Fallon’s top five split was 59 seconds.

 

It was closer in the Girls race. Runners from Edwardsville and O’Fallon captured the first 12 places in this race. #11 Edwardsville placed 7 runners in the top 11 to win the team championship with 25 points. O’Fallon scored 32 points to finish second. Emily Nuttall of Edwardsville ran 17:49.40 to win the individual conference title by 20 seconds ahead of O’Fallon’s Britney Brown and Ellie Bush who both ran 18:09. Edwardsville’s top five had a split of 101 seconds. Madison Popelar led the pack finishing fourth followed by Emma Patrick in fifth, Olivia Coll in seventh, and Maya Lueking in eighth. The split from Popelar to Lueking was 70 seconds.

 

Lake Shore Athletic League at Butler Park, Evanston

The Boys race had only 19 runners finish and only one team scoring. Intrinsic Charter-Downtown Campus of Chicago won the league title with 15 points. The individual race was competitive as Jason Gould of Wolcott ran 15:55 to claim the win with track all-stater Julian Aske of Beacon Academy running 16:05 to finish second. It was the same situation in the Girls race as only 14 runners finishing and Beacon Academy the only team scoring and winning with 15 points. Ludie Burr of Lycée Français de Chicago ran 22:16 to win the Girls individual race. Yanelise Santiagullio of Beacon Academy ran 22:28 to finish second.

 

Tuesday, October 11 (Results)

 

Apollo Conference at Lakeland College, Mattoon

2A #13 Mt. Zion dominated the Girls race scoring 32 points for the conference title placing 6 runners in the top 10. Effingham (60 points) and Mahomet-Seymour (70 points) finishing second and third. There were no runners close to Lincoln’s Becca Heitzig in the individual race. The junior tuned up for the upcoming state series meets winning in 18:03.4 on the Lakeland College 3-mile course. Ava Boyd of Mahomet-Seymour finished second with a 18:44.2 time.

 

Mt. Zion had an 84 second split in their top five runners led by the third-place finish from Sofia Munoz. Ellie Fritsche in fifth place led the next four Braves’ runners across the line with Renee Ballard, Avery Sommer, and Camille Mavis finished between seventh through ninth and within 18 seconds of Fritzsche.

 

Brenden Heitzig of Lincoln and Julian Baker set a fast pace in the Boys race going through the opening mile in 4:48.  Heitzig pulled away from Baker passing two-miles in 9:58 and opening a nine second lead. Heitzig’s final mile of 5:08 gave him the race win with a 15:06.6 time and over 36 seconds ahead of Baker. Owen Morgan of Taylorville finished third (16:18) just ahead of Jake Bivin of Lincoln (16:21) and Garrett Wagoner of Effingham (16:22).

 

2A #26 Mahomet-Seymour packed it up for the Boys Conference title with 49 points. Lincoln (66 points) and Taylorville (75 points) placed second and third. The Bulldogs placed all of their scorers in the top 12 led by the seventh-place finish from Blake Dillman. Ben Wallace led their pack finishing ninth with the next three Mahomet runners Henry McMurry, Kaleb Kasper, and Hayden Grotelueschen following in succession. The team’s top five split was just 14 seconds. The Bulldogs were without their top runner Augustus Gaudio for the second meet in a row.

 

Little Illini Conference at Panther Trail, Charleston

Tatum David’s last conference meet before the state series races was a successful one. The senior ran 17:23 on the Eastern Illinois University course to win the Girls individual race by 23 seconds ahead of Marshall freshman Molly Farrell who ran 17:46. 1A #5 Marshall edged 1A #17 Robinson 46-60 behind the 2-3 finish from Ferrell and Brooklyn Bender. Marshall was without one of their top runners Isabel Arthur in this race. Richland County and Newton both scored 63 points finishing third and fourth.

 

1A #15 Newton ran a 48 second split while placing five runners in the top eight to win the Boys conference title with only 23 points. Three teams scored in this meet. Robinson (55 points) and Marshall (57 points) finished second and third. Holden Hough of Richland County was the individual winner timed in 16:22.9. He finished nine seconds ahead of Newton’s Clay Bergbower who had a 16:31.2 time.

 

Sangamo Conference at PORTA HS, Petersburg

1A #22 Williamsville placed their top four runners in the first eight places to claim the Boys conference title with 54 points. The Bullets were paced by a 2-3 finish from Avery Glasgow and Daniel Giacomini. The two were separated by five seconds. Isaac Crumrine won the individual race in 15:22 and ahead of Glasgow by 33 seconds. 1A #21 Pleasant Plains (54 points) and Petersburg PORTA (71 points) finished second and third.

 

Louisa Wilson of Williamsville won her second straight conference title on Tuesday. The sophomore was timed in 18:14 for the win with a winning margin of 42 seconds ahead of Carolie Willenborg. The team results were closer. 1A #8 Stanford Olympia placed 5 runners in the top 10 to edge 1A #9 Pleasant Plains 38-39 for the team conference title. The Spartans, led by a fourth-place finish from Amelia Kistner, had a 28 second split from their second runner Abby Litwiller and fifth runner Chrystal Cornwell. Pleasant Plains was led by a 2-3 finish from freshmen Caroline Willenborg and Alaina Hawker.

 

Gateway Metro Conference at Father McGivney School, Glen Carbon

1A #12 Father McGivney dominated the Girls three team race on their home course scoring only 23 points placing four runners in the top six. Alton Marquette scored 46 points to finish second. Elena Rybak won the race on her home course crossing the line in 18:02. Teammate Kaitlyn Hatley was 23 seconds behind finishing second. Sarah McGowen of Christ Our Rock Lutheran ran 20:07 to finish third.

 

Father McGivney edged Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran 36-39 for the Boys Team title. Max Weber, a freshman from Metro-East Lutheran ran 16:41 to win the conference title with Elijah Gregory of Christ Our Rock Lutheran running 17:09 to finish second. Father McGivney placed 5 runners in the top 12 led by the fourth-place finish by Liam Schmidt. The team’s top five split was 63 seconds.

 

National Trail Conference at Sacred Heart Parish Grounds, Effingham

Effingham St. Anthony swept both conference team titles on their home course. The St. Anthony’s Boys team put runners in the first four places where only two teams were scored. The Bulldogs scored 15 points. Dieterich scored 48 points to finish second. Griffen Elder was the individual winner running 16:26 to win by 55 seconds ahead of teammate Julius Ramos. Three teams were scored in the Girls race. Host St. Anthony scored 22 points to win the team title behind the 1-2 finish from Emma Helmink and Stacie Vonderheide. Helmink was 25 seconds ahead of her teammate with a winning time of 21:06.