Jenna Schwartz appears relaxed running in last year's state championship prelim
It appears as though the fans are going to receive a makeover in the distance arena this season.
Oh really?
Class 2A will see key defections from state champions on down to aspiring runners. Departures come in many forms. Some of it from graduation, another is transferring to another school out of state, and then there is movement in and out of the classification to accommodate enrollment changes via waivers and population displacement. The top three state championship cross country placers Belvidere North, Vernon Hills, and Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge) will compete in 3A; overall six of the top ten teams will see a shift to another class, and 11 of the 25 teams will see their kids compete else this year.
While there is some misfortune for the fans who were looking forward to seeing the same clashes from the fall season, it is at the same time an opportunity to witness some new faces who perform well.
Top returning classification times: