3A-
Normal Community-
Boys summary: #1 Plainfield South made light work of the field scoring 32 points courtesy of a 41-second scoring split. All five scorers finished in the top 10. Junior Camyn Viger was the individual winner with a time of 14:42- three seconds ahead of Parker Nold (Sr., Oswego East)
Girls summary: The anticipated battle between #7 Minooka and #9 Edwardsville never materialized. The Indians faced little resistance in scoring 63 points. Maya Ledesma (So., Minooka) led the charge with a second place finish in 17:51. Edwardsville could place third, one point behind #16 Oswego East 114-115. Audra Soderlind (Sr., Oswego) took the gold medal with a time of 17:51.
Roselle (Lake Park)-
Boys summary: The pre-race favorite Riley Newport (Sr., Dekalb) and Jacob Barraza (So., Dekalb) opened with a sizable lead on the field from the gun. Newport would eventually pull away with the easy win in 14:50 to Barraza's 15:10. #15 Wheaton-Warrenville South slipped past a hard-charging #24 Chicago (St. Ignatius) 88-91 for the team crown.
Girls summary: Grace Schager (Sr., Carol Stream Glenbard North) continues to amaze even though her performance seemed like a dress rehearsal for next weekend's big dance in Peoria. Schager quickly dispatched the field with the first mile in 5:18 and won in 16:04- more than a minute ahead of runner-up Evelyn Hett (Sr., Chicago Jones) 17:16.
#8 Huntley wins their first sectional title scoring 111 points on the strength of top ten finishes by senior twins Breanna Burak and Brittney Burak. For the first time in IHSA history, two teams from the Chicago Public League qualify for the state championship. Unranked Whitney Young and Jones College Prep advanced with third and sixth place finishes respectively.
Hoffman Estates Sectional-
Boys summary: Dylan Myers (Sr., Lake Zurich) stock continues to rise after defeating a tough field in 14:39 at Busse Woods. Mario Torres (Sr.. Buffalo Grove) took second in 14:49. #20 Palatine used a 32-second split to score 60 points in easily defending #16 Lake Zurich and #5 New Trier 100 and 111 points.
Girls summary: Three girls break 17:00 led by Lake Zurich senior Brooke Johnston's 16:46 performance. Juliet Frum (So., Northbrook North) nipped Veronica Znajda (So., Prospect) at the line to take second 16:53-16:54. #2 Prospect dominated the field with 40 points. The eye-popping 17:24 average is a HE Sectional record as all seven runners placed in the top 20!
Aurora (Waubonsie Valley)-
Boys summary: As expected it was a thriller among WSC Silver titans #2 Hinsdale Central, #3 Oak Park-River Forest, #4 Downers Grove North, and #8 Lyons Township. When the dust settled DGN got by with the skinny win by three points over HC 75-78. OPRF dipped under 100 pts (99) ahead of Naperville Central. Liam Newhart (Sr., OPRF) held off Dan Watcke (Sr., Hinsdale Central) with a time of 14:44.
Girls summary: Bria Bennis (Sr., York) cruises home in 16:59 to win her first sectional crown. The top ranked Lady Dukes scored 37 points to outdistance #3 Naperville North who tallied 84 points. This deep sectional will send six ranked teams (five of them top 10 ranked) to Peoria.