Distance Running 360: How Did 2021-22 Class 1A Girls Do?

ILLINOIS XC 2022: PRESEASON PREVIEW SERIES
Tony Jones


2021 cross country champion Lianna Surtz was able to have a very productive full calendar athlete season


High school sports are 360 degrees in nature- a full circle if you will. Most long-distance runners will begin their quest during the early months of summer training for cross country. The three months of training that kids put in are an attempt to run in the state championship in November. For the few lucky ones, they will go on and compete in Nike Cross Nationals, Foot Locker, or some other post-season meet.

But what has been lost in the sauce is the entire school calendar which runs through the winter indoor campaign and finally back around to the all-important outdoor track and field season. We wanted to chronicle the very beginning and end. Obviously, athletes get lazy after cross country or hurt. Some play other sports in the spring-like lacrosse, club soccer, baseball, volleyball, etc.

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1. Lianna Surtz (Sr., Aurora [Rosary]) 17:21.45 - competed in 2A; 5th state (1600), 6th state (3200); 4:54.84, 10:40.10 PBs

2.  Kate Ahmari  (Jr., Urbana [University]) 17:29.24- 1600m state runner-up (PB 5:06.46 at Distance Night in Palatine); 4th/state 3200m (11:01.62 PB)

3.  Louisa Wilson (Fr., Williamsville) 17:34.48- 9th/state 3200m (11:32.24 PB); 1600m (5:31.07)

4.  Anna Perry (Sr., Eureka) 17:47.33- 3200 State Champion (10:49.98); 8th/state 1600m (5:14.71)

5.  Ava Knap (Sr., St. Joseph-Ogden) 17:48.51- competed in state 1600m, ran PB 5:27.34; 3200m (11:59.71 PB); ran on 4th place state 4x800 relay

6. Savanna Franzen (Fr., St. Joseph-Ogden) 17:51.72- 6th/state 1600m (5:13.71); 3200m (11:29.80); anchored 4th place 4x800

7.  Ahry Comer (So., Pope County) 17:54.79- 800m state champion (2:14.23 PB prelims); 3200m state runner-up (10:57.60 PB); 9th/state, 5:03.60 PB

8.  Carly Manchester (Sr., Elmhurst (IC Catholic) 17:55.90- 8th/state 800m (2:20.01 PB); advanced to state in 1600m (5:14.40 PB); 5th/ state 3200m (11:07.67 PB)

9.  Mabry Bruhn (Jr., Monticello)  17:56.13- placed 6th/state 800m (2:18.64 PB); 1600m (14th- state prelims)

10.  Grace Erb (Jr., Winnebago)  18:07.07- Anchored 4x800 to a state title; 800m state runner-up (2:16.57); 400m (1:00.71)

11.  Olivia Phillips (Sr., DuQuoin) 18:08.86- 5th/800m state, 2:16.65 PB; anchored 4x800 to 3rd place

12.  Marissa Roggensack (Jr., Winnebago) 18:11.09- placed 5th in state 1600m (5:13.63); ran on the state champion 4x800

13.  Rachel Koon (Sr., Monticello) 8:13.37- did not advance to state in any events; 800m (2:31.16); 1600m (5:36.25)

14.  Nora Brady (Jr., Bloomington [Central Catholic]) 18:20.10- 7th/state (5:13.88 PB); 6th/state (11:20.94)

15.  Graziella Narcisi (Fr., Elmhurst [IC Catholic]) 18:21.73- Did not compete in track & field

16.  Mackenzie Russell (So., Oakwood) 18:21.94- did not compete in track & field

17.  Brooklyn Bender (Jr., Marshall) 18:22.95- 7th/state 3200m, 11:23.37 PB; 1600m state prelims 14th place, 5:25.46 pb

18.  Laurel Munson (Jr., Eureka) 18:22.99- placed 5th in the state long jump, 18'1.25" PB

19.  Olivia Shike (So., Tolono-Unity) 18:23.01- did not advance to state in any events; ran 12:00.51/3200m PB

20.  Nellie Melick (Fr., El Paso-Gridley) 18:23.61-11th place/state 1600m, 5:22.42; 16th place/state 3200m (12:03.63) 

21.  Rylea Borgic (Sr., Newton) 18:23.83- competed in state 800 (22nd prelims- 2:26.40), 100HH (22nd prelims- 17.06), 300H (48.71)

22.  Kaitlyn Burge (So., Mackinaw (Deer Creek-Mackinaw) 18:24.88- competed in state 1600m prelim (5:31.59)

23.  Sophia Martino (Sr., Winnebago) 18:25.40- ran on the 1st place state 4x800; 12th state 3200m (11:39.04)

24.  Kennady Anderson (So., Annawan)  18:29.31- 6th/800m state, clocked 2:15.91 PB; 4th/1600m, 5:08.41 PB; 3rd/3200m (10:57.69 PB)

25.  Chiara Surtz (Fr., Aurora (Rosary) 18:30.86- 15th/state 3200m (11:31.32 PB); 1600m/23rd prelim, 5:25.10