2015 Girls State Championship Filled With Surprises and Delight

Once again the 3A competition demonstrated how tough and talented Illinois girls cross country has become over the past eight years in terms of talent and depth. Several of the top girls in the state were casualties of a furious opening pace that hit the first mile in 5:08! (Colin Boyle photo)

Winning and losing used in the same breath was often called an oxymoron for a number of folks Saturday at beautiful Detweiller Park in Peoria, IL. The more than 12,000 fans in attendance for the festivities had to enjoy each race from start to finish.

3A-

#3 Minooka won its first team trophy in the grandest way- superstar talent ruled the finish line. The gold medal was presumably ticketed for the Naperville North trophy case. However, the Indians pulled a major upset over the heavily favored #1 Naperville North 130-147. Minooka snatched the victory on the strength of possibly the state's best ever trio of Ashley Tutt, Emily Shelton, and Mackenzie Callahan who earned all-state honors; Batavia defied the odds and grabbed the third place trophy in the best season in their school's history.

Individually, it was one of the deepest fields in state history with 79 girls breaking 18:00 (the second most in IHSA meet history). Along the way some young lady by the name of Judy Pendergast made history by becoming the first girl to break 16:00 in a three-mile race. The Naperville North senior led from the gun in clocking 15:53.8.


2A-

Yorkville won their fifth consecutive state championship with their most dominating race of the season scoring 58 points. The Foxes put all five scorers in the top 25 led by junior Alexis Grandy's third place finish in 17:00. Belvidere North redeemed themselves after finishing fourth a year ago. The Blue Thunder took a hard fought second over Vernon Hills 122-143.

Maryjeanne Gilbert (Sr., Peoria Notre Dame) easily repeated as champion in 16:23. Jenna Lutzow (Jr., Belvidere North) took second in 16:52.


1A-

#1 Weathersfield took fifth scoring a distant 215 points. Instead #4 Tolono Unity got the job done with 124 points. St. Joe Ogden finished second ahead of Urbana U High by a point 159-160.

Effingham St. Anthony junior Anna Sophia Keller made it three for three taking the title in 16:21. Once again it was junior Daly Galloway of S. Wilmington Gardner finishing in the runner up spot. She ran 16:50.