Class 1A-
[Girls]
In the first race of the day, there was still frost on the grass at 8 a.m., but the excitement for the runners to compete was high. A no-show by pre-meet favorite Mia Kotler (Jr., Chicago Latin) gave way to a rising talent, Kate Foltz (So., Tuscola), who rose to the challenge and took off like a bandit. Foltz blitzed through the first mile in a brisk 5:25 and 12 seconds up on the field- she never looked back despite making a wrong turn inside the "Bermuda Triangle" that lost about 15+ seconds.
Foltz hit the second mile in 11:10 and increased her lead over Kennady Anderson (Sr., Weathersfield) up to 15 seconds. According to contributor Dave Behm, the team title had Anna-Jonesboro leading with one mile to go over #1 Tolono (Unity). But as champion mindset teams do, they find a way to pull off the victory. The final score on paper shows an 81-116 win for the Rockets over Anna-Jonesboro. A strong finish by ace runner Mackenzie Pound (So) netted a fourth-place finish with a time of 17:39. Not to be outdone was a surprising finish by newcomer Jadyn Gerardi (Fr), she placed seventh in 17:51.
Foltz would not falter down the stretch as she breezed home and became the first girl this season to break 17:00 with a blistering time of 16:48. Anderson could not hold on to second place because Elena Rybak (Jr., Father McGivney) used her tremendous track speed to run her down 17:28-17:39.
[Boys]
All eyes were on #1 Tuscola to determine how this incredible team would fare. Right away, Josiah Hortin (Sr.) and Jackson Barrett (Sr.) took charge of the race within the first half mile in 2:17. Will Foltz (Sr.) joined the group to form a Voltron-looking trio. The first mile was negotiated in 4:49-50 by the Tuscola leaders, and it was clear they were out to send a serious message on perhaps being one of the elite teams in the state regardless of class.
Inside the back loop, Barrett motioned for teammate Blake McLeese (So) to join the group. Only Weston Forward (Sr., Rockford Christian) could break up the black and yellow quartet up to this point. They were about 9:52 at the second mile and on a mission to complete the deal.
In a display that may have never been seen before, Tuscola came home in total domination with the top four finishers: Barrett, Hortin. McLeese, and Foltz. They ran 14:59, 14:59, 15:00, and 15:01 respectively. Only Forward could hang among them in fifth place with a time of 15:09. The Warriors' fifth man, Xander Neamtu (Jr), trotted home in 18th place with a respective 15:41.