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3200m-
2021 Best: Josephine Welin (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest) 10:03.72
3A state champion: Welin 10:36.36
2A state champion: Ava Parekh (Sr., Chicago Latin) 10:29.75
1A state champion: Mattie Kindelsperger (Sherrard) 11:19.93
Top returners: Welin, Parekh, Tatum David (Jr., Richland County (Olney), Mary Grace Hegberg, Ali Ince (So., Normal Community), Aly Negovetich (Sr., Fox Lake Grant), Sophia McNerney (Sr., Downers Grove South), Anna Perry (Sr., Eureka), Caroline Schoen (Jr., Homewood-Flossmoor), Elia Ton-That (Sr., Chicago Northside Prep), Brooke Johnston (Jr., Lake Zurich), Grace Schager (Jr., Glenbard North), Katrina Schlenker (Sr., Batavia), Anna Harden (Jr., Hersey), Peyton Schieppe (Sr., O'Fallon), Lianna Surtz (Sr., Aurora Rosary), Katherine Klimek (So., York)
Breakdown: Welin cemented herself as an all-timer in the 3200 with her 10:03.72 performance at the Illinois Meet of Champions in late June. Welin suffered an injury following the meet and struggled to regain racing form during cross country, but still grinded out a laudable 3A cross country state championship. When she is able to get back on the playing field, she will be among the favorites this season.
After standout cross country seasons Brooke Johnston, Grace Schager, Grace Hegberg, Mia Pasha (Jr., Warren), Aly Negovetich, and several others, it's safe to say the crop will be as deep as ever.
Mainstays Ava Parekh and Mary Grace Hegberg return as all-timers in the 3200, with sub-10:20 clockings and aim to do some damage. Particularly, it's Parekh who proved to be the best overall distance runner in cross country and at the top food chain makes her a lethal foe.
Beware the return of Tatum David to the fray. The once AWOL star dashed to the sunny confines of Florida, she is back and appears happy. David has not run an official 3200 in high school, but she is the #4 all-time cross country athlete in our states' history, so the 3200 may be her most impactful performance this spring.
Distance running is as strong as ever with the immediate emergence of new talent. Mia Kotler (Chicago Latin), Holly Johnson (Downers Grove South), Hadley Ferrero (Crystal Lake Central), and Scout Storms (Barrington). These freshmen battled their older and more experienced heavyweights throughout the cross country season with tremendous poise.