Petersburg-PORTA will look to keep the top spot all season long on the strength of Maria and Adrienne Brauer (Colin Boyle photo)
Opening Remarks: The parity is real! We will forget for a moment that three of the top fifteen teams from last year got bumped up to 2A. Out of ten of the top ten teams, five of those teams (that haven’t been bumped) have at least five of their varsity returning, including each of their front runners. In addition, the incoming class of freshmen really look strong, and will look to contribute to a lot of the said teams on the varsity level. While the outcome may seem pretty obvious looking now into all the returners for some teams, the sudden emergence of some of these freshmen coming in could really shift the tide as to who comes out in November with the trophy. In fact, the rankings showcase a well-known phenomenon in 1A cross country: A team that did not even qualify for state contending for a trophy.
10. Breese (Mater Dei)
2014 final placement: 9th place Decatur (MacArthur) Sectional
Possible Roster: Sophia Lager (Jr.), Abby Haag (Sr.), Grace Fuehne (So.), Malina Isaak (So.), Amy Krebs (Sr.), Sophie Kuhl (Jr.)
Snap Analysis: You’d think with all these top 1A teams from last year going 2A that you’d have at least one team getting bumped down! Well that’s this team right here! The Lady Knights return six from a solid pack that has about a 1:20 split between the first and last runner, and have their sights set on perhaps a top ten state finish instead of a top ten sectional one.
9. Kewanee (Wethersfield)
2014 final placement: 3rd place state
Possible Roster: Kirstie Ramsey (Jr.) 18:02, Olivia Draminski (Sr.) 19:21, Diana Satkauskas (Jr.) 21:20, Kaleigh Nimrick (So.) 21:31
Snap Analysis: Even in a year with perhaps greater parity than the one before, the Flying Geese still found a way to snag the third place trophy! Although they lose a lot of key runners, including number two Kaitlyn Cline, they still keep Kirstie Ramsey for low points, plus enough of their varsity for a good foundation. The main concern will be to find a fifth runner.
8. Monticello
2014 final placement: 7th place state
Possible Roster: Hannah Offenback (So.) 19:21, Taylor Helenthal (Sr.) 19:29, Morgan Elmore (So.) 19:53, Alex Danos (So.) 20:48, Alyssa McPike (Fr.)
Snap Analysis: The Sages lose team leader Madison Tuitch among three others on the varsity, but with three sub 20:00 returning veterans, front runners should not be of too much concern. Neither should finding a fifth, as the Sages are known to find good runners like magic every year. Also, if McPike goes out for the team, she should fit right in the front pack of three.
7. Clifton (Central)
2014 final placement: 17th place state
Possible Roster: Andrea Pace (Jr.) 18:53, Katie Kleinert (So.) 19:02, Lauren Ladehoffn (Jr.) 20:20, Hanna Gray (Sr.) 21:16, Eilish Alexander (Sr.) 22:20, McKenna Goldtrap (Fr.)
Snap Analysis: Everyone returns from this five runner varsity that ran at state last year, but there’s gaps based on last year’s race so what’s the deal? The deal is that there are a bunch of possible incoming freshmen from a 2A IESA qualifying Clifton Nash team. In other words, the Lady Comets could have more than five women on the team, including some talented ones
6. Seneca
2014 final placement: 9th place state
Possible Roster: Eva Bruno (Jr.) 18:30, Carina Collet (Jr.) 18:57, Sarah Virgo (Jr.) 19:20, Sarah Cameron (Jr.) 19:45, Eve Odum (So.) 21:02, Emily Misener (Jr.) 21:21, Karlie Punke (Sr.) 21:44
Snap Analysis: They return everyone back from a 9th place showing at state, enough said! Even without newcomers, it’s safe to say the Lady Irish are major contenders for a trophy this fall. One thing that will majorly help their chances is finding a fifth that can run 20 minutes or less.
5. Liberty
2014 final placement: 8th place Elmwood Sectional
Possible Roster: Katelyn Obert (Jr.), Megan Barry (Jr.), Katie Cook (Sr.), Becky Lucas (Sr.), Blair Genenbacher (Jr.), Christen Balzer (So.), Jacki Graham (Sr.), Katelyn Robbins (Fr.), Kaela Wellman (Fr.)
Snap Analysis: The beauty of 1A cross country is one or two things change for a team and suddenly you’ve got a team contending for a trophy, whether the team made it to state last year or not. This fact could never be truer of the Liberty Eagles! Honestly though, anyone who knows Liberty cross country decently well should be more surprised than anything that they did not make it to state in the last two years. “In years past (last 2-3 years),” notes Liberty coach Jared Schmidt, “We have had bad luck the last month of the season (injuries/car accidents/sicknesses/etc) and we haven't performed at sectionals the way we should have due to losing a major piece/s. We've done well, but in my opinion we should have qualified at least once.” This year seems very special for the Eagles in that there is now quite a lot of room for error, for reasons I shall now explain. Of their varsity, they return everyone if you account for the fact that Jacki Graham was out all of last year due to a foot injury. Finally, they officially get all four incoming freshmen from a 6th place middle school 1A IESA team, which includes all staters Kaela Wellman and Katelyn Robbins. This is huge, especially because Robbins seems very VERY promising in terms of low scoring.
4. Tolono (Unity)
2014 final placement: 10th place state
Possible Roster: Taylor Renfroe (Sr.) 18:27, Nicole Bagwell (Jr.) 18:56, Savannah Day (So.) 19:45, Natalie King (So.) 20:48, Morgan Amdor (Jr.) 20:51, Jordan Harmon (Fr.), Audrey Hancock (Fr.), Mackenzie Brunk (Fr.), Miranda Fairbanks (Fr.)
Snap Analysis: Like Liberty, this is another team that returns a lot of their varsity, but will be relying a lot on an incoming squad from their 3rd place 2A IESA team. There are four of these freshmen that ran below 13 minutes for two miles at state, including all-state standout Jordan Harmon. It’s safe to say that quite a few of these freshmen could race with their third runner, and you may even have some early bloomers who keep up with Renfroe and Bagwell. While young, these Rockets are unquestionably looking to trophy!
3. St. Joseph-Ogden
2014 final placement: 1st place state
Possible Roster: Faith Houston (So.) 18:02, Abby Gawthorp (Sr.) 18:15, Hayley Grice (So.) 18:55, Keely Smith (Jr.) 19:05, Emma Melchior (Sr.) 20:14
Snap Analysis: Don’t get me wrong. SJO was really good all season. But the Spartans especially showed up at state to win on November, all running breakthrough races, which not only earned them the first place trophy by an unexpected longshot, but makes them look really hot for another trophy going into this season. Of their varsity seven, they lose their third and sixth, which includes one of their frequent front runners Abby Fisher. To say the least, these are big losses, but nevertheless they have what they need to defend their title. And on that note Coach Jason Retz thinks “the season should be fun.” He not only sees the work that’s cut out for them but the work that they have put in over the summer: “The girls have had a great summer building chemistry. We'll see if that pays off on November 7th. We know there are some great teams out there that will also be ready to go.”
2. Urbana (University)
2014 final placement: 2nd place state
Possible Roster: Arielle Summitt (So.) 17:17, Annemarie Michael (Jr.) 17:27, Katie Tender (Sr.) 19:22, Tori Aber (Jr.) 19:37, Ha-il Son (Jr.) 19:55, Berit Hudson-Rasmuss (Sr.) 20:01, Elizabeth Atkinson (So.) 20:46
Snap Analysis: The Illineks have always been an interesting team, with an interesting coach named Doug Mynatt, who has interesting insights about last year’s second place trophy team: “This was an atypical summer of training for us as I saw the fewest number of my runners ever. This wasn’t because of disinterest, but more a factor of conflicting schedules, family travel, summer jobs. We’ll need some time to tell what those summer miles they did on their own will bring.” Looking at the returning roster, expectations for this squad should still be pretty obvious: “Returning everyone that ran in last year’s state runner-up effort, the expectations are just as high once again…” However, he warns, “there are some big questions that will need to be answered before that can be realized,” As you might’ve guessed, he is referring to his extremely crucial top two all-staters Summit and Michael, for they are both coming off of injuries that afflicted them during track and recovering from these injuries is a bigger priority for them right now than logging summer miles. Although it’s important to note they are by no means “out for the summer”; they are only taking necessary precaution before treading into risky training waters. Speaking of water, Coach Mynatt is optimistic about the means that they have as “excellent swimmers” to cross train this summer; so that despite the setbacks, arguably the best 1-2 punch of any Class 1A girls team will still be in good shape.
1. Petersburg (PORTA)
2014 final placement: 4th place state
Possible Roster: Maria Brauer (Sr.) 17:21, Anna Tamborski (Sr.) 17:50, Adrienne Brauer (Sr.) 18:18, Katherine Pickerill (Sr.) 19:44, Amber Stier (So.) 20:58, Keely Miller (Sr.) 21:46, Madison Kuehl (Jr.) 22:40
Snap Analysis: In terms of the team favorite, this is the experienced bunch of seniors that one is looking for. “We will have the same girls this year and I would expect about the same result through the Sectional Meet,” remarks Coach Jim Brauer. In analytical reference to last year’s state meet (where I wrongfully predicted them as the favorite), he further mentions: “If Keely Miller can avoid a late season injury, State should be a lot more fun.” Keep in mind she was their fourth fastest runner at sectionals, and a major reason why I thought the Lady Jays would win state. As much as they have the greatest three runner pack of last year all back