IHSA Class 1A Sectional Highlights - October 29, 2023

By Michael Newman

Kankakee McNamara Sectional

Girls - #14 Chicago Christian, led by top finishes by Grace Mullin (3rd) and Kaylee O’Sullivan (8), helped their team with the sectional title with 64 points. Mia Kotler of Latin School ran 18:04 for the sectional title ahead of Sydney Gertsen of Lombard Montini (18:23) and Mullin (18:34). Kyla Babb of Westmont (18:39) and Ellen Anderson of Latin School (18:41) finished fourth and fifth.

#19 Herscher got a 10-12 finish from Kelly O’Connor and Gracie Kent to finish second with 83 points. #22 IC Catholic Prep made it back to state scoring 99 points to finish third led by Graziella Narcisi finishing sixth. Latin School (110 points) and Lombard Montini (113 points finished fourth and fifth. Harvest Christian finished sixth with 165 points. Beecher missed qualifying for state by nine points.

Boys – Northridge Prep was a clear winner in this sectional placing four of their runners in the top 9 easily winning with 35 points. John Kipp of Northridge ran 15:58 to win the individual race by six seconds ahead of Luca Bryja of Harvest Christian (16:04). Brady Kataoka of Northridge Prep and JJ Gonham of Harvest Christin Academy both ran 16:09 to finish third and fourth. Nolan Ferris of Lombard Montini ran 16:16 to finish fifth.

#29 Harvest Christian Academy scored 66 points ahead of #21 Herscher (85 points). Lombard Montini scored 103 points to finish fourth with Timothy Christian (120 points) and Chicago Christian (173 points) both advancing to the state meet.

Elmwood Sectional

Girls – This sectional was supposed to be tight especially with first eight teams. The race Saturday morning met those expectations. Meika Bender of Eureka pulled away to run 17:59 to win with Louisa Wilson of Williamsville running 18:18 to finish ahead of Emily King of Knoxville (18:21) and her teammate Alyssa Higgins (18:28), and Bre Lehman of Eureka (18:35).

#3 Eureka placed 5 runners in the top 38 to edge #6 Peoria Notre Dame 95-99. The Irish were led by the 7-8 finish from Meghan Zopel and Julia Mingus. #7 Knoxville scored 112 points to finish third with #9 Pleasant Plains scoring 121  points to place fourth. #12 El Paso-Gridley finished fifth scoring 143 points. #5 Williamsville was the final team to qualify scoring 166 points. #8 Delavan scored 167 points missing the state trip by just one point.

Boys – Eureka made it a team sweep in this sectional. Their #4 Boys team edged #3 Elmwood 83-86 for the team championship with #6 Peoria Notre Dame scoring 95 points to finish third. Isaiah Hill dominated on his home course on the final time he would race there running 14:59 to win by 17 seconds ahead of Dean Witzig of El Paso-Gridley (15:22). Elijah Teefey of Pleasant Plains ran 1522 to finish third ahead of Andrew Perry of Eureka (15:23) and Maxwell Perry of Peoria Notre Dame (15:23). #7 Pleasant Plains finished fourth (130 points) ahead of #12 El Paso Gridley (138 points) and #23 Delavan (194 points).

Decatur St. Teresa Sectional

Girls - #1 Tolono Unity scored 45 points to easily control this race and win their third straight sectional title. The Rockets will race after third straight state title next Saturday. Mackenzie Pound was the team’s top runner finishing fifth with a 18:07 time. Erica Woodard (6th) and Emily Decker (9th) were in the top 10 as the team’s second and third runners. Olivia Shike (12th) and Camryn Reedy (15th) were the team’s fourth and fifth runners. Isabella Keller remained undefeated in her freshman season running a comfortable 17:10 to win by 17 seconds ahead of Molly Farrell of Marshall. Tessa Bowers of Shelbyville ran 17:35 to finish third a second ahead of fourth-place Kate Foltz of Tuscola.

#4 Shelbyville scored 118 points to finish second. #18 Robinson scored 161 points to finish third with #24 Champaign St. Thomas More (186 points) and #10 Effingham St. Anthony (190 points) finishing fourth and fifth. #29 Clinton (198 points ) was the final team to qualify for state from this sectional. #13 Marshall missed qualifying by two points finishing seventh. #28 Fairfield missed by five points finishing eighth.

Boys – A 1-2-3 finish helped #1 Tuscola win this sectional team title with 74 points. #5 St. Joseph-Ogden scored 89 points to finish second. Josiah Hortin, Jackson Barrett, and Will Foltz all ran 15:29 with Hortin winning the race. Xander Neamtu was Tuscola’s fourth runner placing 26th with David Hornaday placing 51st. The team had a 111 second split on their top five. The Warriors were without one of their top five runners Blake McLeese. The sophomore has not raced since his conference meet. It is doubtful that he race next weekend in Peoria. St. Joseph-Ogden was led by Carson Maroon finishing 9th and Aden Armstrong placing 12th.The Spartans placed 5 runners in the top 35 with a 60 second split.

#10 Georgetown Notre Dame de la Salette scored 137 points to qualify for the state meet for the second straight year led by a 17-18 finish from Marco Cruz and John Brauner. #17 Clinton finished fourth (197 points) ahead of other state qualifiers #22 Tolono Unity (28 points) and #16 Decatur St. Teresa (215 points).

Oregon Sectional

Girls – It was supposed to be a rebuild year for Winnebago. Instead, they make a return trip to Detweiller Park as a sectional champion. #15 Winnebago edged #16 Seneca 99-107 for the sectional title led by the sixth-place finish from Morgan Capriola. Bago placed 5 runners in the top 45 to capture the team win. Another surprise in this race was when Evelyn O’Connor used a strong kick to win the individual title in 19:07 to win by two seconds ahead of Emily Downing of Cambridge. Kennady Anderson of Kewanee Wethersfield finished third (19:34) ahead of Cecilia Hilby of Aurora Central Catholic  (19:38) and Dusti Smith of Stark County (19:48).

Aurora Central Catholic scored 130 points to finish third ahead of #27 Stark County (158 points), Richmond-Burton (186 points), and Erie-Prophetstown (197 points). Rockford Christian scored 199 points missing it to the state meet by two points.

Boys -  It was a close Boys team race as #9 Rockford Christian scored 80 points to edge #13 Aurora Central Catholic (86 points) and #15 Winnebago (92 points) for the Sectional title. Winnebago’s Nicolai Martino ran 16:04 for the individual win with Weston Forward of Rockford Christian (16:16) and Patrick Hilby of Aurora Central Catholic (16:26) finished second and third. Andrew Kurien of Rockford Christian and Braeden Bode of Riverdale both ran 16:27 finishing fourth and fifth.

Rockford Christian had 5 runners in the top 40 to help them to the win. #14 Riverdale makes a return trip to state scoring 116 points to finish fourth. #20 Erie-Prophetstown with 116 points and #30 Sterling Newman (179 points) were the final two team qualifiers in this sectional.

Benton Sectional

Girls – A great individual race with three runner under 17-minutes on this 2.92-mile course. Elena Rybak of Father McGivney ran 16:47 to win with Ahry Comer of Pope County (16:51) and Jadyn Gerardi of Anna-Jonesboro (16:57) finishing second and third. Vanessa Teel of Pinckneyville finished fourth (17:37) ahead of Kaitlyn Hatley of Father McGivney (17:45) and Caroline Tepe of Okawville.

#2 Anna-Jonesboro looks ready for a run towards a state title winning this sectional with just 38 points. The Wildcats placed 55 runners in the 13 led by Jeraldi’s finish. Aleah Box was the second runner finishing seventh. Their 2-5 pack had a 23 second split. #11 Father McGivney continues to improve scoring 79 points to finish second. #20 Pinckneyville finished third (101 points) ahead of other state qualifying teams Belleville Althoff (148 points), DuQuoin (161 points), and Breese Mater Dei (173 points).

Boys - #2 Benton is ready for next Saturday scoring only 25 points to win their home sectional. #8 Pinckneyville was the closest to the Rangers scoring 66 points to finish third. Benton finished 5 runners in the top 9 led by the individual win from Gavin Genisio. In his final time racing on his home course, Genisio ran 14:03 to win by 14 seconds ahead of Isaac Teel of Pinckneyville (14:17). Gabriel McLain of Benton ran 14:33 to finish third ahead of Cayton Cratch of Steeleville (14:59) and Cole Buchanan of Benton (15:08).

Belleville Althoff Catholic finished third (165 points) ahead of Murphysboro (172 points) and #24 Roxana (173 points). DuQuoin was the final team to advance out of this sectional with 184 points.