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ILXCTF Illinois Distance Digest - February 2, 2023

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ILXCTF - Mike Newman   Feb 2nd 2023, 1:48pm
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7 - The Girls 4x8

 

By Michael Newman

 

Let’s have some fun with this event. For me and for most people that attend the state meet that  have sense, the 4x800 Meter Relay starts the IHSA State Meet with excitement and showcases some of the great distance talent in the state of Illinois.

 

The big spotlight is on Prospect in Class 3A as they look for their third straight state title in this relay. Two other schools in the bigger class have won the state title three times. Palatine accomplished if from 1991 to 1993. York dd the three-peat from 1997 to 1999.

 

We will look at each class and the quartets that qualified for the finals along with some schools that could be factors this May. Schools are listed by place within classification.

 

Class 3A

1 – Prospect – The team to watch for again in Class 3A after winning their second straight state title. Audrey Ginsberg has graduated and now at the University of Illinois. Everyone else is back including Lily Ginsberg, Cameron Kalaway, and Hailey Erickson. All had personal bests under 2:20 in the open half with Ginsberg the best at 2:14.38. The key will be who steps up into the fourth spot. It could be Meg Peterson, a freshman, who was all-state last fall for the team or Veronica Znajda, a sophomore, that finished sixth at Detweiller Park that could be a factor.  Sophie Fransen could be also someone to watch in this quartet. The team was 11 seconds faster than everyone else in that state race. Their success during cross country last fall winning a state title with the lowest Girls team title in state history will again give this team a huge boost.

 

2 – Naperville North – It always seems that the Huskies find their way into the state finals every year they get to Charleston. This season is a mystery and something to watch for as the season progresses. Only two runners are back from last year’s state team. Emma Berres was the team’s anchor runner last year and may not run this spring after tearing an ACL during the end of cross-country season. It is hard to tell if she will be close to 100% by the time outdoor season comes around. Sydney Day is the only runner back from that squad. We could see Logan Brennen or Marissa Magana part of the quartet. There are four runners that ran under 2:30 in the open 800 including Julie Piot and Morgan Flood that could step in. There is also the possibility the freshman sisters Shania and Riana Tandon could also be a factor in running in this event. Remember, it is only the beginning of the indoor season. It will be interesting to see how this quartet develops as the season progresses.

 

3 – York – The Dukes have three runners back including Brooke Berger and Katherine Klimek that were part of last year’s state quartet. Berger was all-state last year in the 800 Meter Run finishing fourth. She is a perfect complement to the other three runners able to come from behind to give the team a chance to win. Klimek led off for the Dukes last year and could contribute again. Maggie Owens missed almost all of cross country season due to an injury she suffered in last year’s state race. She should be back at 100%. Bria Bennis, if she decides to run the 1600 Meter Run, could play a factor in this relay after the successful cross-country season she had. Sofia Stoddard had an open time under 2:30 which could make a difference along with  Maggie Quinn or Lily Beerhalter who had great cross-country seasons.

 

4 – Yorkville – The Lady Foxes are always a team that you could find in the finals. They showed up again in 2022 finishing fourth. Margaret and Anna Hunter have graduated opening up two spots for this quartet. Katie Melzer gives Yorkville a strong anchor. Allegra Triner was also part of the quartet. Both runners had open times under 2:21. Lucy Anderson is a runner that could step into one of those two spots. Sophia Keeler and Mackenna Edwards also had good cross-country seasons. They are a number of possible combinations that we could see in this event.  

 

5 – St. Charles East – It could be a rebuilding year for the Saints after finishing fifth in last year’s finals race. Mandy Andelman, who anchored the team in the state finals is the only runner back from that quartet. We will get a better idea of this team and how it shapes up sometime in April. Claire Van Lue and Lauren Lewison could be some of the runners that you see in this foursome.

 

6 – Hersey – The Huskies are a team that I would keep an eye on in this event this spring. Hersey finished sixth in the finals with a 9:28.79. They lose their anchor runner Natalia Plewa to graduation. They return everyone else including Emily Lifka, Mackenzie Ginder, and Catherine Hany giving them a formable nucleus to work with. Anna Harden, who finished fourth last fall at Detweiller Park, ran 2:19.92 in an early season last April. Harden added with the other three runners could boost this team to one of the top four this year in the state. This team has depth and could have sub 2:30 runners Ryanne Engle and Gabi Makowski contribute.

 

7 – Loyola Academy – The talent is there for the Ramblers to challenge for a state title. Staying healthy is a key for this group. All four runners are back from the state team that finished seventh in Charleston. Jane Lynch, Ellie Grammas, and Morgan Mackie all ran times between 2:21 and 2:23. Those times could drop under 2:20 this spring. Maeve Norman ran 2:26 as a sophomore in 2021 and will be close in time with that threesome. Kathryn San Roman is another runner that you see jump into this quartet at some point this season.

 

8 – Lyons Township – The Lions earned all-state honors finishing eighth in Charleston. This team is deep in talent and could run various combinations of runners and be among the top five teams in the state. Lyons Township returns all four runners from the state finals team including Shannon Cranny, Scarlett Lestina, Anna Bylsma, and Kristina Findlay. Madison Findlay ran 2:23 in her sectional race in the 800 and could factor in somewhere in this quartet. Molly Hill and Leigh Ferrell you could see running with a baton at some meets. Catherine Sommerfeld missed most of last indoor season due to an injury. She came on strong outdoors in the 3200 and 1600. Sommerfeld ran on the team’s 4x8 at the WSC-Silver Meet and the team ran 9:32.30. Their state time was 9:27.72. This team could be dangerous in May.

 

9 – Oswego East – The Wolves were the final team to make it to the state finals finishing 12th in the prelims. Oswego East followed that up in the final all-state spot placing ninth. It could be a reloading season for this team with half of their quartet having graduated. Sydney Williams gives the Wolves a strong anchor runner. Angeles Mendoza was on that state team and again will give the team a boost along with Emma Berglund. We could see another sophomore Olivia Van Denend contribute in this relay.

 

10 – Lane Tech – There was close to a 12 second gap between ninth and tenth in the state finals. Lane Tech was the tenth qualifier in the prelims. They maintained that position in the finals. Their state prelim time of 9:43.09 was the best time of the season for the Indians. They will be in position for all-state honors with their entire quartet from state returning. Kate Roarty, Charlotte Muller, and Sophie Mullins  all ran open 800’s last spring under 2:30. Ella Hartig, Sydney Coomer, Claire Davis, and Caroline McCarthy should also contribute in this relay for the 2023 season.

 

11 – Minooka – The Indians were one of those 10-12 place teams in the prelims and state finals. Minooka finished 11th in the finals and return Cassie Fuhrman and Gabrielle Kics from that team. Maya Ledesma and Gabriella McCollom both ran under 2:27 last year and could jump into those open spots. Freshman Caprice Rodely, who was in the team’s top five runners last fall at state, is another runner to watch in the quartet. The Indians ran a season’s best of 9:36.15 in the Southwest Prairie Conference Meet.

 

12 – Chatham-Glenwood – The Titans did not run their best race in the finals finishing 12th. Glenwood did surprise some by making it to the finals running a 9:42.10 seasonal best. They did lose Nia Gibson, their leadoff runner from the state team, but do return everyone else including Rachel Behrens, Lydia Gurnsey, and Grace Hopper from that quartet. Glenwood had a good freshman group from cross-country including top runner Ashlyn Chopra and fourth runner Ally Knudson that could contribute immediately in this relay.

 

State cutoff from Finals and Prelims was 9:44.33 / 9:44.79

 

Lincoln-Way East – The Griffins just missed making the finals at state as the 13th place team in the prelims. East tends to lurk around getting into the finals. 2023 could be one of those years. It could be a reloading year for this quartet with Maura Hanrahan the only runner back from that team. The Griffins ran 9:40.70 in the sectional race. They ran four seconds slower in the state prelims. Kylie LaMonto ran under 2:28 and could be a part of that quartet along with Maddie Yacobozzi and Bailey Orozco.

 

McHenry – The Warriors did not make the finals at state but did run 9:33.98 to make it to state in their sectional. A team that has the potential to make it to the state finals with Alyssa Moore, Peyton Stinger, and Lydia Rotundo returning. This team could have a special 2023 if cross-country all state runner Danielle Jensen, who finished 14th at Detweiller Park, is part of this quartet.

 

Edwardsville – This team is loaded and could be a top five factoring team when all is said and done in May. The Tigers ran 9:36.12 in their sectional and returning everyone from that quartet. Edwardsville has six runners from last year that ran between 2:25 to 2:31 including Riley Knoyle, Maya Lueking, and Olivia Coll. A freshman, Madison Popelar who was second runner for the Tigers in the State Cross Country Meet, could be a runner that is part of that quartet.

 

Downers Grove North – One team that I would keep an eye on in 2023. The Trojans did miss making it to the state meet by less than a second running 9:37.80 in their sectional race. North returns all their runners from that sectional team with  juniors Karly Harkness and Sydney Hnatiuk along with sophomores Hannah Renner and Jillian Peters. Freshman Lily Eddington was the top runner for the team last fall in the state cross country meet. She could give this team a boost in this event.

 

Class 2A

1 – Mt. Zion – The Braves narrowly won the Class 2A title in this event by just more than a second. They could repeat as state champions in this event with three of the four runners from that quartet returning. Sofia Munoz, who was all-state last fall at Detweiller Park, gives Mt. Zion a strong anchor runner. Camille Mavis, Renee Ballard, Emma Crowley, and Hanna Gebke are among seven runners that could step into this quartet.

 

2 – Lakes Community – This team missed a state championship last May by under two seconds. The Eagles will have a chip on their shoulder looking for that elusive final and could accomplish that with all four runners from the 2022 state team back. They will have the momentum with them after a good cross-country season where they finished second in the 2A State Meet. Becca Runyan and Madison Perez both ran times under 2:23 for 800-meters last spring. Paige-Elicia Caruth and Madison Twarling both were under 5:20 for 1600-meters in their conference meet. The potential is there from this group to run under 9:30 when they get to championship season.

 

3 – Northside Prep – It could be a rebuilding season for the Mustangs after finishing third in this event in 2022. Two runners are back from that state team. Lucia Ton-That is the top runner on this team and could be a strong anchor runner again. Zuzana Bielak ran under 2:36 last spring and also returns. A key will be finding runners under 2:40 for 800-meters that could contribute to this relay.

 

4 – Tolono Unity – The Rockets showed their strength in winning the Class 1A State Cross Country Championship for the second year in a row. Unity is in Class 2A for track. They still have the talent to contend for the title in this event. They return three runners from last year’s team that finished fourth in the 2A finals. Sophomores Emily Decker, Ashlyn Denny, Josephine Cler, and Camryn Reedy give this team some youthful experience in this group. Junior Erica Woodard ran the fastest open 800 for the team last season (2:26.45). Woodard qualified for state in the 1600-3200 last year. She could give a team a boost if she is in the relay.

 

5 – Sacred Heart-Griffin – The Cyclones are another team to watch for this season. All of their quartet is back that finished in the 2A finals with a 9:48.51 time. Sterling Scarlette ran 59.79 in the open 400 and ran a 2:30 split leading off the team. Ava Hancock and Maggie Fleischli give the team a strong twosome in the middle of the relay. Kaitlyn Lee ran an open 2:26.25 for 800-meters last year. She could get close to 2:20 in her senior season.

 

6 – Monticello – This could be a rebuilding year for the team in this relay after finishing sixth at state last year. Mabry Bruhn is the only runner back from that quartet. Sisters Estella and Sylvia Miller could jump into this relay along with Josephine Walker. Bruhn was all-state last spring in the 800 Meter Run and enters this winter as the 2022 Class 1A State Individual Cross-Country Champion.

 

7 – Payton Prep – Another team that I would keep an eye on. The Grizzlies should again be a factor and improving their seventh-place finish that they achieved a year ago. Three runners are back from that team with Veronica Fuller, Cyriana Lara, and Kaylen Chang. Josephine Dziedzic is the team’s top runner and most likely will concentrate on the 1600 and 3200. He does has the team’s top time at 800-meters (2:26.12) and could play a part in this relay. She was part of the sectional quartet that qualified for the state meet.

 

8 – Dixon – The Duchesses have the numbers to run faster than the 9:56.91 they achieved to finish eight in the state finals. All four runners from that quartet are back led by Emma Smith who made the state finals in the 1600 Meter Run along with this relay. She finished 11th in the finals. Hannah Steinmeyer, Kait Knipple, and Keeley Mick give this team a good nucleus behind Smith.

 

9 – Dunlap – The Eagles were the final team to earn all-state honors in this relay finishing ninth. They could be a team that will challenge for a top five finish in May with all four runners back from last year’s quartet. Saniya Mathew is the team’s top runner and the only senior on this quartet. Junior Maggie Diefenthaler along with sophomores Dakota Rousseau and Abby Tudeen were also part of the quartet. Dunlap had a season’s best of 10:02.55 in their state finals’ race. They should be faster than that this spring.

 

10 – Waterloo – A young team last year that had two freshmen and two sophomores in their quartet. The Bulldogs missed all-state by over two seconds last year. You should expect a higher finish from this team in 2023. Angelynn Kanyuck and Danielle Mudd are the “elder” runners in this quartet. Cameron Crump and Kamryn Rader were also part of last year’s team. Like we said, they should be well under the 10:04.94 time that they ran in Charleston.

 

11 – Rochester – This team could be a difference maker in this event especially after their performances from last fall during the cross country season. All four runners are back from that team led by all-state 800 runner Colleen Zeibert and her sister Brooke Zeibert. Colleen ran 2:13.88 last year and will chase after a state title in that event. Brooke ran 2:22 as a freshman last year. Her time should surely drop in 2023. Trinity Hicks and Addi Schmedeke were also part of their state quartet. That order could change with a strong group of freshman that made their mark during the cross country season including Ashley Zeibert and Natalie Nichols who both finished in the top 50 in the 2A State Meet. How the incoming freshmen influence this event we will have to wait and see.

 

12 – Peoria Notre Dame – The Irish were the final team to qualify for the finals with a then season’s best of 10:20. They did maintain the place in the finals but did run five seconds faster. The entire quartet is back from that team including Mary Breitbach, Julia Mingus, Corrina Fassino, and Meghan Zopel. Olivia Finch and Grace Yontz could also contribute in this relay in 2023.

 

Class 1A

1 – Winnebago – The Indians are the two-time defending champions looking to make it three state titles in a row. Bago dominated last year’s final running 9:28.95 and winning by almost 15 seconds. They do lose one runner from their quartet in Katherine Erb who graduated. Winnebago does have a talented group back with all-state 800 runner Grace Erb and all-state 1600 runner Kaylee Woolery and Marissa Roggensack. Erb, who finished sixth last fall in the 1A state meet and was runner-up in the 800 last May, will be going after an individual state title as well being a strong anchor for this team. Roggensack and Woolery will also be all-state in individual events and will give Bago a strong nucleus in the quartet. Replacing Katherine Erb is the key for success for this squad. It could be freshman Morgan Capriola, or it could be possibly Emma Woolery or Anna Palmer that will be part of this relay team.

 

2 – Father McGivney – The one team that could finish Winnebago in the finals this May. The Griffins have all four runners back from the all-state team led by Kaitlyn Hatley and Elena Rybak. Hatley had a great cross-country season culminating with a seventh place finish at Detweiller Park. She finished third last year at state in the 800 and will push for the state title in that event. Rybak is the defending state champion in the 1A 1600 Meter Run and anchored the relay last season. She ran a 2:11.7 anchor split to bring her team from fourth to second. Jane Cummins and Alyssa Terhaar were also on the 2022 quartet and could contribute. Lilly Gilbertson ran 62.6 in the 400 last year as a freshman. It could be a possibility she could move up a distance in this relay and might give this team a boost.

 

3 – DuQuoin – The Indians finished second in this event in 2021 and third three seconds behind Father McGivney in last year’s state finals with a 9:46.13 time. Three of their top runners from the past four years including Olivia Phillips and Grace Alongi have graduated. Phillips anchored their team last year with a 2:14 anchor leg. Kallie Oestreicher is the only runner back from the state quartet. Isabella Phillips would be a good choice in the relay. It is hard to tell who could step into the final two spots. Maggie Kellerman finished 59th in last fall’s 1A State XC Meet and could contribute this spring.

 

4 – St. Joseph-Ogden – The Spartans finished fourth last year in Charleston and return half of that quartet. Savannah Franzen and Chloe Burkhalter had the top two open 800 times and again will be the nucleus of this team. Helene Jones was within a second of Burkhalter and could this team a boost along with Lauren Lannert who ran 65-seconds for 400-meters last season.

 

5 – Bloomington Central Catholic – The Saints were under 10-minutes in their state fifth-place finish. It might be tough for the team get back to the finals with three of their quartet having graduated. It is nice that their lone returning runner from that group is multi all-state runner Nora Brady. Sophia Yaklich was under 60 seconds at 400-meters as a freshman. She also ran an open 2:31 for 800 during the season. She could be a good fit on this relay team. Sophomores Lauren Emm and Lauren Jones were near 2:40 last year and should improve on those times. If Brady and Yaklich run on this relay, this team could make it back to the state meet.

 

6 – Robinson – The Maroons made a step up last fall making it back to Detweiller Park for the 1A State Meet. Robinson could improve on last year’s sixth place finish especially with everyone from that state quartet coming back. This team is young with juniors Katelyn Jones and Elizabeth Shea along with Ella Tingley and Sophie Stark part of the foursome. Tinley is the fastest of the group having run 2:24.14 in her freshman season. They were sixth and final team last May that was able to run 10-minutes. They could be under 9:50 by the time they get to May.

 

7 – Eureka – The Hornets used miss sub 10 minutes last year by just over a second in last year’s state finals. Last year’s lead off runner Elle Knapp has graduated but do return everyone else led Meika Bender who is also the team’s top pole vault athlete. Claire Albertson has the fastest returning time in the open 800. She missed the end of last season due to an injury. Albertson in this quartet will give this team a boost. Callie Schumacher was the last year’s anchor runner and is back along with Grace Wegner. Junior Natali Roth also is a runner that you could see on this relay team throughout the season.

 

8 – Seneca – Another team that should improve on last year’s eighth place finish. The Irish return their entire state quartet. Sophomores Evelyn O’Connor and Clara Bruno lead the group both having run under 2:30 last spring. Ashley Alsvig and Gracie Steffes could help this team run under 10-minutes by the time they get to the state series.

 

9 – Harvest Christian Academy – It could be a rebuilding year for the Lions after just getting on the podium last May. HCA lost their top two runners Ella Richter and Eva Camp to graduation. Camp graduated a year early. Emma Leslie and Caitlyn Terrien are back from their state quartet. The top two runners from last fall’s cross-country team, freshmen Lizzy McCloughlin and Cynthia Ortega could make an immediate contribution.

 

10 – Sherrard – This team surprised some last fall by making it to Detweiller Park and the state meet. It won’t be a surprise this spring if this quartet makes it to the podium in the top nine. The Tigers just made it to the finals as the final qualifier with a 10:10 time. They ran the same time in the finals to finish tenth. All four runners from that team are back led by Madis Mathis who ran 2:30.34 in her sectional race. Beth Churchill is back just two seconds behind Mathis. Jocelyn Skelley and her sister Madisyn both ran in the state prelims. Hailie Shemek replaced in the finals. Freshman Tori Browning was their top cross country runner last fall. She could be a part of this relay. This is a deep team. Keep an eye on them.

 

11 – Pleasant Plains – Another young team that could be a factor if they get into the state finals. Their entire quartet is back led by Abigail Wolters who ran 2:20 last year as a freshman finishing seventh in the open 800. This is a talented group with Jaidynn Albers, Megan Derrick, and Teagan Galloway could put this team in the hunt if Derrick and Galloway can lower their bests under 2:34. Caroline Willenborg was the team’s top runner at state last November. The freshman could give this quartet a boost.

 

 

12 – Knoxville – The Blue Bullets return two runners from their state finals team led by Addi McKee and Ciara Shreeves. Freshman Emily King, who qualified for the state meet last November individually, could be a runner you see in this team’s quartet. 

 

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