Folders |
DyeStat Illinois – 2014 IHSA 1A Girls State Cross Country Meet PreviewPublished by
By Michael Newman
The first race of the day at Detweiller Park could have some suspense. The individual race will not be suspenseful. Defending champion Anna Sophia Keller has been untouchable this season. She will be the favorite but it might be closer than some think.
The team race should be interesting. There is no clear favorite Top ranked St. Joseph-Ogden has looked tough the past few weeks and could have the edge. Urbana University has Arielle Summitt and Annemarie Michael that should be in the top five making U-High a threat for the team championship. Petersburg PORTA is the emerging team with three runners possibly finishing in the first 15. Don’t forget about defending 1A champion St. Teresa. The 4 time champion has not had the best of seasons, but they always run their best race of the year in this meet.
Here is a look at all of the teams that will take part in the 1A race. There is also a preview of the individual race.
Good luck to all athletes, coaches, and fans Saturday morning!
Individuals
Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) has not been defeated by an Illinois runner in an IHSA cross country race the last two years. It is tough to see anyone getting within 15 seconds of her. If the conditions are favorable, I think we could see one or more runners under 17 minutes in this race. Arielle Summitt (University HS, Urbana) ran 17:27 earlier in the year at First to the Finish. Daly Galloway (Gardner South Wilmington HS) finished with the same time. Both runners could be under 17 in this race. Maria Brauer (PORTA HS, Petersburg) has been tough to beat all season. Her competitive nature could put her past the above two runners.
There a bunch of good individual runners that could end up in the top 25. Those runners include Megan Grady (Amboy HS), Ryan Block (Knoxville HS), Erica Hibser (Lewistown HS), Shelby Siltman (Olympia HS, Stanford), Nicole Beebe (Canton HS), Colleen Madden (Carlinville HS), Cassie Mundekis (Midwest Central HS, Manito), Demi Johnson (Illinois Valley Central, Chillicothe), and Haley Weidner (Bureau Valley HS, Manlius).
Team runners that could finish in the top 25 include Abigail Jones (Marian Central HS, Woodstock), Kirstie Ramsey (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee), Annemarie Michael (University HS, Urbana), Lauren Evelti and Bree Tschosik (St. Teresa HS, Decatur), Madeline Campbell (Rochester HS), Eva Bruno (Seneca HS), Taylor Renfroe and Nicole Bagwell (Unity HS, Tolono), Madison Tutich (Monticello HS), Kerri Burmester and Deana Deterding (Red Bud HS), Abby Fisher and Faith Houston (St. Joseph-Ogden HS), and Adrienne Brauer and Anna Tamborski (PORTA HS, Petersburg).
Teams (Listed in Final Rankings, then alphabetical)
St. Joseph – Ogden Final DS IL Ranking – 1 Sectional – 1st – Decatur St. Teresa Box – 28
Overview – The Spartans started their push for the state championship by first winning their own invitational against St. Teresa and Urbana University and then the Patriot Invitational three weeks ago. Faith Houston and Abby Fisher have been the top runners for most of the season. It would not surprise me if they finish in the top 20 on Saturday. SJO has been running splits in the low 50’s the past few weeks. Last week in their sectional win, it was 59 seconds. Their split needs to be under 50 seconds with two all-state runners for this team to win it all. Definitely a threat to do that.
Petersburg Porta Final DS IL Ranking – 2 Sectional – 1st – Elmwood Box – 35
Overview – PORTA has been always a threat to score low points up front with the Brauer sister. The improvement and emergence of Anna Tamborski as a state elite runner makes this team one of the favorites to capture the state championship. Over the past few races, the split has grown between the first three runners. Maria Brauer could be in the top 5 individually. Tamborski and Adrienne Brauer could be in the top 15. Their overall split has gone down to 139 seconds last week. With Maria up front, if the split goes to 125 seconds, the Bluejays could be taking another state championship back to Petersburg.
Decatur St. Teresa Final DS IL Ranking – 3 Sectional – 2nd – Decatur St. Teresa Box – 12
Overview – The four time defending state champions have struggled during the season. This is the state meet, however, where this program excels. The Bulldogs were on an upswing going into the state series. The loss of one of their front runners Kelsey Cleary hurts this team’s chances of advancing. Lauren Evelti has stepped up as the front runner on this team. She could be in the top 10 individually. Bree Tschosik and Ashton Jerger could be in the top 25, but they will need to be within 30 seconds of Evelti. Their 5 runner split this year has been near 100 seconds. If that can come down on Saturday, this team has a chance for another state trophy.
Rochester Final DS IL Ranking – 4 Sectional – 2nd – Elmwood Box - 17
Overview – The prospects did not look good at the beginning of the season when top runner Megan McNicholas was ruled out for the season due to injury. Rochester has responded running well throughout the season. From their last few meet performances, the Rockets have a shot of leaving Detweiller Park with another trophy. Madeline Campbell has stepped up to be the front runner for this team. Taylor Bartolozzi and Ellie Tjelmeland lead a good pack behind Campbell. In the last two big meets (Conference and Sectionals), Rochester has run splits in the mid 60’s. For this team to be in the top 3 or higher, they will need 1 runner in the first 15 along with an under 60 second split to achieve that.
Monticello Final DS IL Ranking – 5 Sectional – 3rd – Decatur St. Teresa Box – 25
Overview – The Sages started out slowly this season. They have come on strong during the state series with visions of a state trophy in their sights. Madison Tutich is a definite threat to finish in the top 10. The gap between her and the pack has been between 30 seconds and 62 seconds. Last week it was 43 seconds. If they can be within 40 seconds of Tutich with a pack split near 42 seconds, this team will be in the hunt for a top 3 finish.
Urbana University Final DS IL Ranking – 6 Sectional – 4th – Decatur St. Teresa Box – 11
Overview – It helps when you have two strong runners towards the front of the race. That holds true for U-High. Arielle Summit and Annemarie Michael have been towards the front all season. They will give their team single digit numbers on Saturday. That was the key earlier in the year when the Illiniweks won the First to the Finish Invitational. They hope the same thing will happen Saturday. The key for this team will be the gap between the front two and the pack. At FTTF, the split was 114 seconds from Summitt. At the sectional meet, it was 159 seconds. That split needs to come down to 120 seconds for this team to be in the hunt for a state trophy.
Freeburg Final DS IL Ranking – 7 Sectional – 1st – Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran Box – 31
Overview – This team has flown under the radar most of the year mainly because they are a southern Illinois school. The Lady Midgets could be a threat to be in the top five in this meet. They were fifth at First to the Finish in September. They came close to beating Rochester at Carlinville in the middle of October. Freeburg has a solid first three with Ashley Gilmore, Emily Marler, and Kayla Whitworh. They were within ten seconds of each other last week. That will need to happen again. The potential is there to have a runner in the first20. The 5 runner split was 58 seconds. If it gets lower than that, Freeburg could be in the top 5 with maybe a chance of getting into the top 3.
Tolono Unity Final DS IL Ranking – 8 Sectional – 5th – Decatur St. Teresa Box – 24
Overview – Unity finished fifth in the tough St. Teresa Sectional with eyes on another top five finish or better at the state meet. Nicole Bagwell has been the lead runner for the Rockets most of the season. She should be in the top 10 in this race. Teammate Taylor Renfroe was only 11 seconds behind Bagwell last week. That kind of an effort could get her into the top 15. Unity ran a 132 second split on their top 5 this year. That was their best split so far. The key is if Bagwell and Renfroe are in the first 15 with a gap of 40 seconds between the two and the pack, good things could happen for this squad.
Kewanee-Annawan Wethersfield Final DS IL Ranking – 9 Sectional – 1st – Oregon Box – 7
Overview – This team started out the season in the top 5. It would not be a surprise if they are in that position at the end of the race on Saturday. Kirstie Ramsey has been the front runner all season for this team. She could be in the top 10 or better Saturday. They key is the gap between Ramsey and the pack. Last week it was 70 seconds with an overall split of 21 seconds. If that gap diminishes to 60 seconds with an overall split of 110 seconds, the Flyin Geese could be in contention for a trophy.
Rock Island Alleman Final DS IL Ranking – 10 Sectional – 3rd – Elmwood Box – 34
Overview – This team surprised many by finishing third at First to the Finish in September. The Pioneers have been in and out of the top 10 ever since. This team is young with 3 of their top 5 either freshman or sophomores. Kaitlyn Golding has been the front runner for Alleman most of this season. Their 5 runner slit has come down in recent weeks. Last week, it was 50 seconds at Elmwood. With their first runner in the first 30 and then the pack near 45-50 seconds, the Pioneers could be a surprise top finisher again at Detweiller.
Seneca Final DS IL Ranking – 13 Sectional – 2nd – Oregon Box – 20
Overview – This is a young team that could be a surprise in this meet. Their entire top five are either freshmen or sophomores. Eva Bruno has been the top runner all year for the Irish. The sophomore could be in the top 15 individually. Their split on 2-5 the last few weeks has been near 100 seconds. That needs to come down in this race. Their normal #2 runner Carina Collet should be 30 seconds near Bruno for this team to have success in this meet.
Elmwood-Brimfield Final DS IL Ranking – 14 Sectional – 4th – Elmwood Box – 16
Overview – The Trojans made another trip to Detweiller for state with a solid performance in their own sectional finishing fourth. Their 5 runner split was only 18 seconds in that race. Emilly McCauley and Kendra Gorham have been the front runners for this team. E-B is deep with any of their top 5 capable of finishing towards the front spot for the team. The same kind of pack starting in the mid-30’s on Saturday could put them in the top 8 in this meet.
Henry-Senachwine Final DS IL Ranking – 17 Sectional – 4th – Oregon Box – 19
Overview – A team that could finish in the top ten in this meet. They have a solid front runner in Jillian Monier. The senior has the talent to be in the top 20 in this race. Ronna Pettis and Melanie Yanke give this team a solid pack behind Monier. The split was 109 seconds last week.
Woodstock Marian Central Final DS IL Ranking – 18 Sectional – 3rd – Oregon Box – 4
Overview – This could be the surprise team in this field. The Hurricanes have run against mainly 2A and 3A schools this season and took their lumps in the process. Those efforts have made them stronger in the state series. They could finish in the top 8 in this meet. Abigail Jones should be in the top 10 in this race. Marian had a tight 17 second split between their 2nd and 5th runners last week. If they could run that kind of pack with Shelby Truckenbrod within 85 seconds of Jones, surprises will happen for this team.
Herrin Final DS IL Ranking – 19 Sectional – 2nd – Edwardsville Metro – East Lutheran Box – 15
Overview – Kara Martin and Maura Farrell have been the top two runners for this team all season. At last year’s state meet, they finished near 30th place. The two could be in the top 15 on Saturday. The gap between the duo and their 3-5 pack has been in the mid two minute range for most of the season. Last week, it was only 118 seconds. That kind of split along with their overall split of 180 seconds could see this team finish in the top 15.
Carterville Final DS IL Ranking – 22 Sectional – 4th - Edwardsville Metro – East Lutheran Box – 13
Overview – The Lions make another a repeat trip to state. Scarlett DeRouse has been their top runner in the last two meets. She could finish in the top 50 on Saturday. Their split last week was 279 seconds. They will need that to come down if they want to finish in the top 20.
Winnebago Final DS IL Ranking – 23 Sectional – 5th – Oregon Box – 3
Overview – The Indians were a solid fifth in advancing out of their sectional at Oregon. Hannah Insko has been the front runner for this team since their conference meet and could be among the top 50 in this race. Winnebago’s split last week was 69 seconds. An under 60 second split could put this team in the top 15.
Clifton Central Final DS IL Ranking – Unranked Sectional – 4th – Lisle Box – 21
Overview – This team has been a mystery squad most of the season not running in the high profile meets. They showed how good they were with a win at the McNamara Regional and then qualifying fourth last week. Katie Kleinert and Andrea Pace have run within 10 seconds of each other the last two weeks. This team could sneak into the top 15 if their overall split dips under 160 seconds.
Des Plaines Willows Academy Final DS IL Ranking – Unranked Sectional – 5th – Lisle Box – 5
Overview – This suburban Chicago team is developing into one of the top 1A programs in the Chicago area. Maeve Dunaway has been their front runner all year. She could finish in the top 25 in this meet. Thy ran their best race of the year last week with a season low 5 runner split of 118 seconds. The same type of race could place them in the top 20 on Saturday.
Elgin Harvest Christian Academy Final DS IL Ranking – Unranked Sectional – 3rd – Lisle Box – 8
Overview – This could be a sleeper team that could end up in the top 20. Valerie Richter is the front runner on this team. Last week, freshman Nygia Pollard was within 3 seconds of Richter. Their split was 157 seconds on five last week. A little lower with the two top runners in the low 40’s could place them in the top 20.
Murphysboro Final DS IL Ranking – Unranked Sectional – 5th – Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran Box – 27
Overview – The Red Devils were a surprise taking the fifth and final spot out of their sectional meet by only three points. Taija Nelson has been the front runner on this team with Molly Grollinger close behind. The two could finish between 40 and 60 on Saturday. Their split on 5 last week was 173 seconds last week. That needs to come down if this team wants to finish higher than 20th.
Monmouth-Roseville Final DS IL Ranking – Unranked Sectional – 5th – Elmwood Box – 32
Overview – The Titans were a surprise making it out of their sectional ahead of ranked Eureka. They ran their best pack race of the year last week with only a 56 second gap between 1 and 5. Maddie Dulin and Griselda Gandarilla will be up front again for their team.
Palos Heights Chicago Christian Final DS IL Ranking – Unranked Sectional – 1st – Lisle Box – 9
Overview – This could be a surprise team. They won the Lisle Sectional last week running a 31 second split on their first 4 runners. It has been in the teens the last couple of weeks. Freshman Allie Boss has been the #1 runner for this team since the beginning of October. Their split on five has been near 100 seconds most of the season. With their strong first 4 and a possible split near 85 seconds could find this team in the top 10.
Red Bud Final DS IL Ranking – Unranked Sectional – 3rd – Edwardsville Metro – East Lutheran Box – 29
Overview – This team has good presence up front led by Keri Burmester and Deana Deterding. Both could be in the top 15 in this meet. Their gap between the duo and the rest of the pack is huge. Last week it was 244 seconds. That needs to come down to place 20th or higher in this meet.
Westmont Final DS IL Ranking – Unranked Sectional – 2nd – Lisle Box – 23
Overview – The Sentinels did not make it to state last season. The addition of 5 freshmen to the top 7 could guarantee that this team will be making visits to Detweiller for years to come. Senior Imogene Asa has been the front runner for this team all season. This team will need a strong pack for a top 15 finish. Last week, the split was 47 seconds. More news |
