ILXCTF 2024 Individual Runners Season Previews: Class 3A Girls

By Michael Newman

 

14 all-state runners are back from last year’s race. Do we see a repeat of last year when Scout Storms and Veronica Znajda challenged each other. We know what happened at the end with Storms winning and Znajda forced to drop out. It could be a lesson that the Prospect senior will use when she gets to state. We can’t forget about Mia Sirois who took a step up during track winning the Class 3A 3200 Meter Run last May. Sirois finished sixth as the second returning runner.

 

Several runners could be challenging these top three runners including Lily Eddington, Meg Peterson, and Nicole Poglitsch.

 

Here is a look at some of the Class 3A runners to watch for during this upcoming season.

 

Girls 3A Individuals – 14 top 25 runners returning

1 Mia Sirois – SO – Barrington

XC: 6-3A, 27-NXRMW. TF: 1-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:25.42, 4:58.28, 10:19.29.

 

2 Scout Storms – SR – Barrington

XC: 1-3A, 11-NXRMW; 8-3A (’21). TF: 3=3A 1600, 3-3A 4x8; 3-3A 1600, 2-3A 4x8 (’23); 18-1A 1600 pre (’22). Season Bests: 2:16.07, 2:13.8s, 4:55.92, 11:00.74.

 

3 Veronica Znajda – SR – Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

XC: DNF-3A, 21-NXRMW, 79-NXN. 6-3A (’22). TF: 6-3A 1600, 1-3A 4x8. Season Bests: 1:00.39i, 2:15.21, 2:14.9s, 4:58.79i, 10:39.50i.

 

4 Lily Eddington – JR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 10-3A, 31-NXRMW, 90-NXN; 40-3A (’22). TF: 7-3A 1600, 2-3A 4x8; 3-3A 4x8, 31-3A 800 pre (’23). Season Bests: 2:14.71, 2:14.3s, 4:54.19.

 

5 Meg Peterson – JR – Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

XC: 8-3A, 18-NXRMW, 59-NXN; 8-3A, 11-NXRMW, 59-NXN (’22). TF: 7-3A 800, 4-3A 4x4, 1-3A 4x8; 3-3A 800, 3-3A 4x4 (’23). Season Bests: 59.49, 2:14.65, 2:13.8s, 4:59.07i, 10:58.11i.

 

6 Nicole Poglitsch – SR – Wheaton-Warrenville South

XC: 7-3A, 31-3A (’22), 52-3A (’21). TF Season Bests: 1:02.83, 2:22.63, 5:09.92, 11:09.59.

 

7 McKenzie Willard – SR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 170-NON (missed state due to injury), 5-NNTwi. TF: 23-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:24.13, 5:18.20i, 10:59.51.

 

8 Emma Berres – SR – Naperville (North)

XC: 66-3A; 72-3A (’21). TF: 4-3A 800, 25-3A 4x4 pre, 30-3A 4x8 pre; 17-3A 800 pre, 14-4x4 pre, 2-3A 4x8 (’22). Season Bests: 1:00.60, 2:12.92, 4:55.01.

 

9 Margaretha Grabske – SR – Arlington Heights (Hersey)

XC: 17-3A; TF: 10-3A 4x8, 41-3A 800 pre. Season Bests: 2:16.77, 5:08.90, 11:23.16.

 

10 Jane Lynch – SR – Wilmette (Loyola Academy)

XC: 29-3A, 44-3A (’22). TF: 8-3A 3200; 13-3A 3200 (’23). Season Bests: 2:26.3i, 4:58.56, 10:48.22

 

11 Brea Counihan – SO – New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)

XC: 18-3A. TF: 24-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:27.0, 5:20.32, 10:56.39i

 

12 Lindsey Gerhardstein – JR – Orland Park (Sandburg)

XC: 20-3A, 32-3A (’22). TF Season Bests: 5:46.79i, 11:33.71.

 

13 Sabrina Roach – SR – Barrington

XC: 34-3A. TF: Season Bests: 2:27.56, 5:15.74, 11:13.74.

 

14 Shania Tandon – JR – Naperville (North)

XC: 15-3A. 33-3A. (’22). TF: 25-3A 3200; Season Bests: 2:27.19, 5:14.77, 10:56.13i.

 

15 Ava Gilley – SR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 24-3A, 66-NXRMW, 101-NON. TF: 9-3A 800, 2-3A 4x8, 12-3A, 12-3A 4x4 pre. Season Bests: 58.69, 2:12.44, 2:11.9s, 4:54.74.

 

16 Maggie Quinn – JR – Elmhurst (York)

XC: 28-3A, 86-NXRMW, 143-NXN; 28-3A, 45-NXRMW, 129-NXN. Plays soccer in spring.

 

17 Rianna Tandon – JR – Naperville North

XC:  23-3A; 56-3A (’22). TF: 23-3A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:26.45, 5:11.25, 10:57.05.

 

18 Sofia Borter – JR – Geneva

XC: 95-3A, 78-3A (’22). TF: 26-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:22.7s, 5:24.27, 11:28.47.

 

19 Alexa Izenstark – SO – Arlington Heights (Hersey)

XC: 27-3A. TF Season Bests: 5:16.10i, 11:16.00.

 

20 Sophia Keeler – SR – Yorkville

XC: 26-3A, 63-3A (’22). TF: 29-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:34.91i, 5:22.13, 11:29.92.

 

Other Class 3A Girls Runner to Watch

Holly Johnson – SR – Downers Grove (South)

XC: 25-3A. TF Season Bests: 5:15.97i, 11:08.95i. Injury during outdoor track will prevent her to run this fall.

 

Tessa Russo – JR – Plainfield (North)

XC: 106-3A, 1-Sec, 1-Reg. TF: 8-3A 4x8. Season Bests: 2:26.10, 2:17.0s, 5:28.93.

 

Stella Davis – SR – Evanston (Township)

XC: 30-3A. TF: 8-3A 1600. Season Bets: 2:23.63i, 4:59.80, 11:06.51.

 

Sophia Galiano-Sanchez – JR – Elmhurst (York)

XC: 32-3A, 95-NXRMW, 154-NXN. TF: 5-3A 4x8, 11-3A 800. 10-3A 4x8 (’23). Season Bests: 2:13.03, 5:18.35.

 

Alayna Todnem – SR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 14-3A, 45-NXRMW, 116-NXN. TF Seasonal Bests: 2:24.01, 5:12.25, 11:23.31.

 

Gwen Hobson – SO – St. Charles (North)

XC: 33-3A. TF: 9-3A 4x8, 34-3A 800 pre. Season Bests: 2:19.73, 2:18.3s, 5:20.39, 11:49.50.

 

Maria Polyakov – SR – Northbrook (Glenbrook North)

XC: 35-3A. TF Season Bests: 2:30.7, 5:18.24.

 

Ireland Wildhart – SR – Mt. Prospect (Prospect)

XC: 22-3A, 89-NXRMW, 146-NXN; 4-3A, 82-NXRMW, 114-NXN (’22). TF Season Bests: 2:25.60, 5:26.55i, 11:43.43.

 

Amelie Ojeda – SR – Villa Park (Willowbrook)

XC: 37-3A. TF Season Bests: 2:26.78i, 5:22.90i.

 

Abby Lewis – JR – Barrington

76-3A, 78-NXRMW; 65-3A (’22). TF: 3-3A 4x8, 22-3A 800 pre. Season Bests: 2:15.71, 5:08.03, 11:25.25.

 

Angelica Hil – SO – Barrington

59-3A, 185-NXRMW. TF Season Bests: 2:28.04, 5:20.83, 11:46.60.

 

Kaylee Wilson – SO – Gurnee Warren

52-3A. TF Season Bests: 2:30.28, 5:19.52, 11:26.20.

 

Maya Ledesma – SR – Minooka

68-3A, 54-3A (’22). TF: 5-3A 3200, 13-3A 1600 pre. Season Bests: 2:21.46, 5:04.59. 10:53.48.

 

Kylie Simpson – JR – Rockton (Hononegah)

XC: 38-3A, 35-3A (’22). TF: 22-3A 4x8 pre, 17-3A 4x4 pre. Season Bests: 2:16.98, 5:18.20, 11:45.02.

 

Lily Baibak – JR – Aurora (Waubonsie Valley)

XC: 215-3A, 29-3A Sec.; 84-3A (’21) TF: 12-3A 1600. Season Bests: 2:28.7i, 4:59.45, 11:12.51.

 

Audrey Casten – SR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 204-3A, 82-3A (’22). TF: 9-3A. Season Bests: 5:20.55, 10:50.75.

 

Marlie Czarniewski – SO – Plainfield (North)

XC: 40-3A. TF: 18-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:23.29, 5:11.91, 10:59.58.

 

Ellie Bush – JR – O’Fallon

XC: 65-3A, 9-3A Sec. TF: 14-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:22.46, 5:14.33, 11:06.45.

 

Kaitlyn Burns – JR – Glenview (Glenbrook South)

XC: 41-3A; 72-3A (’22). TF Season Bests: 2:31.7i, 5:23.65, 11:28.93.

 

Madison Popelar – JR – Edwardsville

XC: 46-3A, 68-3A (’22). TF: 36-3A 800 pre, 19-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:20.23, 2:18.8 si, 5:16.90, 11:48.39.

 

Annabelle Reeder – JR – Yorkville

XC: 31-3A. TF: 29-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:24.0 si, 5:22.71, 11:33.38.

 

Maddie Romaine – SR – Wheaton (North)

XC: 43-3A. TF: 29-3A 800 pre. Season Bests: 2:19.81, 5:20.30.

 

Sofia Stoddard – SR – Elmhurst (York)

XC: 1-WSCs JV, 51-NXRMW Open. TF: 13-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:23.80, 5:18.77, 11:08.82.

 

Norah Dorrance – SR – St. Charles (North)

XC: 37-3A Sec, 67-3A (’22), 77-3A (’21). TF Season Bests: 2:37.9, 5:32.8i, 11:54.71.

 

Haley Rahman – SO – Huntley

XC: 45-3A. TF: 20-3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:22.2s, 5:13.49, 11:18.18.

 

Julie Bach – JR – Normal (Community West)

XC: 48-3A, 6-2A (’22). TF: 19-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:29.6si, 5:16.52, 11:05.36.

 

Emily Offutt – SO – Wheaton (North)

XC 69-3A. Did not run track in the spring.

 

Lola Satre-Morales – SR – Naperville (Central)

47-3A. TF: 6-3A 4x8, 13-3A 800 pre. Season Bests: 26.95, 58.42, 2:13.26, 5:10.27

 

Sofia Arcuri – SR – Park Ridge (Maine South)

62-3A, 31-3A (’21). TF: 15-3A 800 pre, 18-3A 4x4 pre; Season Bests: 1:00.45, 2:16.63, 5:12.68, 10:57.98i.

 

Elizabeth Hall – SR – Naperville (Neuqua Valley)

XC injured, last race 27-NNTwi. 74-3A (’22). TF: 10-3A 3200. Season Bests: 1:02.34, 2:19.70, 5:08.62, 10:58.80.

 

Madeline Mellin – SR – Bradley-Bourbonnais

XC: 57-3A, 51-3A (’22). TF: 15-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:29.55, 5:21.66, 11:13.02.