ILXCTF 2024 Individual Runners Season Previews: Class 2A Girls

By Michael Newman

 

This could be one of the deepest races we could see in November and the deepest division in the state. The Class 2A race at state was the closest in state meet history with Becca Heitzig holding off Annika Swan by a tenth of a second. Could it be Swan challenging Sundara Weber in the 2024 race. We know how Swan fails to give up. We saw that last year. In track, Swan did not run her best race finishing fourth in the Class 3A 800 and then coming back to finish second just behind Ali Ince.

 

Swan proved her fitness level this summer by running 16:32 to win at Detweiller at Dark. If Keller does not run the fastest time on November 9, it could be one of these two runners.

 

Natalie Bierbaum and Zoe Carter give Normal University a solid 1-2 up front. Carter earned All-American honors in the 5k both indoor and outdoors. Cameron Crump and Delialah Helenhouse showed great improvement during the track season where both could be under 17 and hungry to be among the top three runners.

 

Here is a look at some of the runners in Class 2A to watch for during the upcoming season.

 

Class 2A Individuals

1 Annika Swan – JR – Chicago (St. Ignatius Prep)

XC: 2-2A, 14-NXRMW. TF: 5-3A 800, 2-3A 1600, 25-NBNO 800. Season Bests: 58.9s, 2:11.36, 4:46.81, 10:36.04.

 

2 Sumara Weber – JR – Sandwich

XC: 3-2A. 2-1A (’22). TF: 1-2A 3200, 2-2A 1600; 2-2A 3200, 3-2A 1600 (’23). Season Bests: 2:19.1, 5:02.48, 10:30.16.

 

3 Zoe Carter – SR – Normal (University)

XC: 5-2A. 9-2A (’22), 26-2A (’21). TF: 2-2A 3200, 4-2A 1600. 6-NBNO 5k, 20-NBNO 2-Miles. Season Bests: 5:03.35i, 10:35.58, 16:59.60.

 

4 Natalie Bierbaum – JR – Normal (University)

XC: 4-2A, 20-NXRMW. TF: 3-2A 3200, 8-2A 1600. 13-3200 (’23). Season Bests: 5:10.80, 10:35.68.

 

5 Cameron Crump – SR – Waterloo

XC: 10-2A, 27-2A (’22). TF: 4-2A 3200. 20-2A 3200 (’23). Season Bests: 5:09.78, 10:38.08.

 

6 Delilah Helenhouse – SR – Lisle (Benet Academy)

XC: 112-2A, 2-2A Sec, 2-2A Reg. TF: 3-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:26.4, 5:06.6, 10:47.61

 

7 Ali Londrigan – SO – Chatham (Glenwood)

XC: 7-2A. 65-NXNMW. TF: 23-3A 800 pre, 10-3A 4x4 pre, 17-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:17.55, 5:08.25.

 

8 Molly McGreal – JR – River Forest (Trinity)

XC: 8-2A. TF: 18-2A 3200. Season Bests: 2:35.65, 5:44.45, 11:40.34.

 

9 Niki Tselios – SR – Lemont

XC: 9-2A. TF Season Bests: 5:22.64.

 

10 Emily Stecky – SO – Chicago (DePaul College Prep)

XC: 18-2A. TF: 3-2A 800, 3-2A 1600. Season Bests: 2:15.37, 5:01.54, 11:06.56.

 

11 Ashlyn Chopra – JR – Chatham (Glenwood)

XC: 11-2A, 33-2A (’22). TF: 17-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:23.3s, 5:27.18, 11:36.00.

 

12 Brianna Gara – SR – Lake Villa (Lakes)

XC: 13-2A. TF: Did not run last spring

 

13 Juliana Gamboa – SO – Oak Park (Fenwick)

XC: 14-2A. TF Season Bests: 2:33.6, 5:27.37i, 11:46.55.

 

14 Josslyn Wade – JR – Bensenville (Fenton)

XC: 16-2A. TF Season Bests: 5:36.94, 11:45.01.

 

15 Sophia Ramirez – JR – Washington

XC: 40-2A, 11-2A (’22). TF: 4-3A 1600, 7-3A 4x8. 5-3A 1600, 19-3A 4x8 pre (’23): Season Bests: 1:01.55, 2:16.83i, 2:13.2s, 4:55.42

 

16 Lulu Ton-That – SR – Chicago (Northside)

XC: 6-2A, 10-2A (’22), 8-2A (’21). TF Season Bests: 59.3, 2:27.43, 5:31.16, 11:49.17.

 

17 Hadley Ferrero – SR – Crystal Lake (Central)

XC: 21-3A, DNF-2A (’22), 4-2A (’21). TF Season Bests: 1:03.59 (played soccer, did not run track outdoors).

 

18 Ava Henne – JR – Grayslake (Central)

XC: 20-2A, 7-2A (’22). Does not run track.

 

19 Izzy Bing – SR – Mundelein (Carmel)

XC: 19-2A, 23-2A (’22), 41-2A (’21). TF: 6-2A 1600. Season Bests: 2:28.59, 5:09.74, 11:19.27.

 

20 Erin Hinsdale – SO – Wheaton (St. Francis)

XC: 27-2A. TF: 2-2A 800, 1-2A 4x8. Season Bests: 2:14.83, 2:15.2s, 5:18.13, 11:49.78.

 

Other 2A Girls Runners to Watch

Jayne Herrmann – JR – Washington

XC: 29-2A, 44-2A. TF: 7-3A 4x8, 39-3A 800 pre. Season Bests: 1:02.60i, 2:18.26, 2:16.0s, 5:24.77.

 

Eleana Mamminga – SO – Wheaton (St. Francis)

XC: 26-2A, TF: 1-2A 800, 14-2A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:27.17, 2:19.5s, 5:16.37, 11:31.02.

 

Abby Tudeen – SR – Dunlap

XC: 33-2A, 42-2A (’22). TF Season Bests: 2:30.82, 5:31.64, 11:19.99.

 

Maddie James – JR – Washington

XC: 28-2A, 38-2A (’22). TF: 7-3A 4x8. Season Bests: 2:24.67, 2:19.9si, 5:38.99.

 

Avery Braker – SR – Morton

XC: 61-2A. TF: 10-2A 800, 2-2A 4x8, 20-NBNO 4x8. Season Bests: 2:18.14, 2:18.6s, 5:18.42.

 

Molly Robertson – SR – Carterville

XC: 30-2A, 32-1A (’22). TF: 12-2A 3200, Season Bests: 2:26.48, 5:30.50, 11:31.99.

 

Olivia Pinta – SR – Crystal Lake (South)

XC: 31-2A, 37-2A (’22). TF: 21-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:27.1, 2:22.1s, 5:25.09, 12:05.31

 

Ariel Hernandez – SR – Rock Falls

XC: 34-2A, 41-1A (’22). TF: 13-2A 3200. Season Bests: 2:33.86, 5:29.00, 11:32.25.

 

Katie Sell – SR – Dunlap

XC: 45-2A. TF Season Bests: 12:26.40 (also played soccer.)

 

Abigail Burke – SR – Burlington (Central)

XC: 37-2A. TF Season Bests: 2:22.07i, 5:31.05i.

 

Caylie Ahten – JR – Washington

XC: 11-MIC. TF Season Bests: 5:42.82, 11:49.12.

 

Avery Sommer – JR – Mt. Zion

XC: 39-3A. TF: 4-2A 4x8, 11-2A 4x4 pre. Season Bests: 2:33.25i, 2:20.8s, 5:22.83.

 

Natalie Tekampe – SR – Rockford (Boylan Catholic)

XC: 41-2A. TF: 14-2A 4x8 pre, 27-2A 4x4 pre, 19-2A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 1:01.9s, 2:21.81, 2:21.32s, 5:13.85, 11:50.04.

 

Sophie Rentmeister – SO – Chatham (Glenwood)

XC: 24-2A. TF: 17-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:22.66, 5:30.10.

 

Lizeth Montes – SR – Chicago (St. Ignatius Prep)

XC: 54-2A. TF: 26-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:26.90i, 2:26.4s, 5:20.01i, 11:34.86.

 

Ashley Zeibert – JR – Rochester

XC: 46-2A, 42-2A (’22). TF: 12-2A 4x8, 26-2A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:29.38, 2:27.51s, 5:18.62, 11:46.26.

 

Farah Scott – SO – Champaign (Centennial)

XC: 47-2A. TF: 25-3A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:27.23, 5:16.84, 12:16.65.

 

Brooke Zeibert – SR – Rochester

XC: 53-2A, 77-2A (’23). TF: 4-2A 800, 12-2A 4x8, 18-2A 4x4 pre. Season Bests: 2:15.88, 5:06.58.

 

Ally Knudson – JR – Chatham (Glenwood)

XC: 36-2A. TF Season Bests: 2:29.13, 5:26.30

 

Payton Mathelier – SO – Lisle (Benet Academy)

XC: 48-2A. TF: 19-3A 400 pre. Season Bests: 58.20, 2:21.49, (Transferred to Mountain Vista CO summer 2024)