As always, we begin our previews for the 2024 cross-country season in Illinois with the same classification that will open the state meet 1A Girls. As many as 40 teams may share time in the top-25 rankings throughout the year, but as we enter the competitive season in the fall with only numbers on paper, here is where the teams fall pre-season.
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Head Coach: Andrew Wszalek
2023 Finish: State Championship- 24th place
Key Returners: Paige Stark (Sr.), Francie Williamson (Sr.), Alex Anderson (So.), Claire Kluesner (So.), Natasha Constable (So.), Ava Stark (So.)
Analysis: The Lady Sabers experienced a lot of roster turnover from the 2022 season to 2023. However, that did not stop them from a successful season, including finishing second (to eventual state champ Unity) at the Illinois Prairie Conference meet and concluding with a 24th-place finish at state. Francie Williamson improved to join Paige Stark at the lead of the team's pack, but freshmen Alex Anderson and Claire Kluesner provided a huge boost. These four interchanged places throughout the season, and 2024 should be no different. Although Williamson did not score at the state meet, her presence will improve the outlook for the team in the postseason. Natasha Constable and Ava Stark also return from that state team, rounding out a deep cornerstone sophomore class for the Sabers.
Head Coach: Art Geen
2023 Finish: State Championship- 14th place
Analysis: There is no question who the Bulldog's best runner will be. If St. Anthony makes the state meet, they will almost certainly score the one stick with Isabella Keller leading the way. A major development outside Keller during last season, however, was the emergence of her classmate Aubrey Denning, all-state in both the 800 and 1600 in the spring. Denning has an amazing amount of footspeed with a 2:12.9 800 best, putting her right in the thick of podium contention at Detweiller (she was 35th last year). However, qualification as a team to state remains a big 'if' for the Bulldogs, who only return four runners under 25 minutes. These two will need help from new runners so the team can join them at Detweiller on November 9th.
Head Coach: Joe Hughes
2023 Finish: State Championship-15th place
Key Returners: Graziella Narcisi (Sr.), Grace Gildea (Jr.), Chloe Brandt (Jr.), Lily Fisher (Sr.), Janna Techamontreekul (Jr.)
Analysis: The Knights, Illinois' only parochial catholic high school, return five of seven state meet runners from a 15th-place finish, including all-stater Graziella Narcisi (25th). However, two of the graduates were scorers, and without many runners behind this returning five, there are some depth questions for Immaculate Conception if returning to the state meet in 2024 is in the cards. IC is solid through two runners with Grace Gildea backing up Narcisi.
Head Coach: Gabe Poser
2023 Finish: Oregon Sectional- 18th place
Key Returners: Ella Dannhorn (Sr.), Lorelai Dannhorn (So.), Abbie Ludwig (Jr.), Val Davis (Sr.), Arianna Chapa (So.)
Key Newcomers: Jillian Hammer (Fr.)
Coach Gabe Poser, entering his eighth season at Oregon: " All five of our girls from last season are returning, with Ella Dannhorn leading us into her last cross country season. We will be bringing in several new girls and boys that will hopefully make a positive contribution to our program's culture. We should have much better numbers than last year. I think with hard work, a positive culture, and sheer determination. Our girls could place higher in our sectional than an Oregon team has in over a decade. I am not ruling a potential state qualification out!"
Petersburg (PORTA) / Ashland (A-C Central)
Head Coach: Jacob Wooldridge
2023 Finish: Elmwood Sectional- 13th place
Key Returners: Alanna Sparks (So.), Maggie Zimmerman (Jr.), Maggie Wankel (Jr.), Haven Anderson (So.)
Key Newcomers: Addison Corum (So.), Savannah Guilliou (Fr.)
Analysis: PORTA runs Co-Op with A-C Central and is coming off a solid 13th-place finish at the best sectional. Alanna Sparks and Maggie Zimmerman will eventually lead this group into battle in the Sangamo Conference, attempting to make it again to sectionals. Coach Jacob Wooldridge enters his ninth year coaching the team: "With how much better we were than expected last year, I do have a lot of high hopes for this team. Things include winning our home invite for the 1st time since 2014, trying to get back to being a top 3 Conference Team (5th of the 5 full teams last year), and a successful postseason where the girls PR at the end of the year. I doubt we'll be in the hunt for a top 6 team qualifier spot in our Sectional, but I think trying to aim for a top 10 team finish is a challenging but realistic end-of-season goal."
Head Coach: Jeremy Melick
2023 Finish: Elmwood Sectional- 11th place
Key Returners: Bethany Sennett (So.)
Analysis: Head Coach Jeremy Melick, entering his 14th year coaching, outlines the 2024 season for the Princeville Tigers: "The 2024 season is going to look a bit different for our girls' team. As of now, Bethany Sennett is the only girl going out for the team. Therefore, there will not be much consideration of what the team can do unless we get enough girls to come out and have a team. As far as what Bethany can accomplish, I don't want to place any limitations on her. She is a talented runner who improved a lot last fall and then again during the spring track season. She has consistently worked this summer and has run more miles than last year. She is setting herself up to have a better season this year than last, which is exciting. She just continued to drop time last fall and then in the spring. Just when you thought she might have reached her "best," she would run even faster. I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do this season. "
Head Coach: Lauren Clark
2023 Finish: State Championship- 17th place
Key Returners: Sophie Stark (Sr.), Terynn Loftis (So.), Ella Tingley (Sr.), Mallory Mosbey (Jr.), Milaina Kramme (Jr.)
Analysis: The Maroons have become one of the most consistent distance squads in the classification and regularly earn state berths in both seasons. A strong pack earned the Maroons 17th at state last year, but three of the top seven graduated, including two of the top three. Sophie Stark remains the lone sub-20 returner, and Terynn Loftis, Ella Tingley, and Mallory Mosbey also experience state. The next returner with the best bet to fill in the top five is Malaina Kramme. Another top-20 finish would be a successful state showing for Robinson.
Sullivan / Okaw Valley
Head Coach: Zach Plank
2023 Finish: Sullivan Regional- 9th place
Key Newcomers: Julia Schrock (Sr.)
Analysis: Sullivan adds Okaw Valley on a Co-Op this season, which helps round out a roster looking to advance past their home regional. "This year has the potential to be very successful for the program," says Coach Plank. "Currently, only four girls are on the team, but if a fifth joins before the season, the team could be very competitive and would have the chance to qualify for the sectional meet. Julia Moody will also be looking to qualify for the state meet this year."
Head Coach: Kyle Daubs
2023 Finish: Elmwood Sectional- 10th place
Key Returners: Lyla Unzicker (Sr.), Elly Heineke (Jr.), Kyndre Delagrange (So.), Alaina Moore (So.), Abi Hodel (Sr.)
Key Newcomers: Chloe Oltman (Fr.), Maddy Hummel
Analysis: Don't be misled by the 10th-place result at sectionals. The Wildcats are a program on the rise, ranked through the 2023 season. "Our girls are true gamers," says coach Kyle Daubs. " This group of girls does not like to lose and will do anything to win. Last year, we were a state team, but we didn't make it to state because the IHSA alignment was completely messed up [in reference to the loaded Elmwood sectional. Our girls do not care who the competition is. They want to go out and do their best against anyone. They are exactly the kind of kids you would want to run for you."
The Wildcats lose almost half their varsity roster to graduation or swimming but return Kyndre Delagrange and Elly Heineke to lead the team. Both qualified for state individually and finished top-75 to anchor the L-W scoring squad. They are ready for the season and have been competing on the track through the summer. Kyndre Delagrange returns as the next certain scorer. There are some question marks about who steps up, but the return of Abi Hodel helps, as does the return of newcomers Chloe Oltman and Maddy Hummel. "Our hope is to defend our conference crown and make it back to sectionals as a team. We have several meets, and we believe we can be a top-3 team and walk out with a trophy," says Daubs.
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25. Pinckneyville
Head Coach: Ryan Bruns
2023 Finish: State Championship- 18th place
Key Returners: Vanessa Teel (Sr.), Zoey Conway (Sr.), Love Rojek (So.), Maddy Dill (So.), Madison Bruns (Jr.)
Analysis: Pinckneyville returns four of their top five from an 18th-place finish at state. Vanessa Teel leads the way after logging her second straight 23rd-place finish at state in a big PR of 18:04 for three miles. A similar form for Teel will be a big key for the Panthers to return to the state as they compete in the improving southernmost sectional.
Zoey Conway, Love Rojek, Maddy Dill, and Madison Bruns are the other returners for Pinckneyville. Rojek ran her best early in the season but did not finish the year, and can be a boost for Pinckneyville on top of their four state returners. Only Dill and Conway logged distance marks from the outdoor track season, so there is limited information about where Pinckneyville should fall competitively early in the season.
Head Coach: Leah Bohr
2023 Finish: State Championship- 22nd place
Key Returners: Cece Hilby (Jr.), Isabella Matty (Jr.), Sofia Corral (Sr.), Nicole Smith (Sr.), Cayla Oldenburger (Sr.), Ailidzie Perez (So.), Sofia Orozco (So.)
Analysis: The Chargers finished 22nd at the state meet in their first year in a new conference. There is a strong pack of runners in Central Catholic's 20:00-21:30 range, but multiple-time all-state runner Cece Hilby primarily bolsters their prospects for state qualification. Hilby finished 16th at the state cross country meet in her first competitive fall during her sophomore season. But the 400 and 800-meter runs have been her bread-and-butter, giving her two more all-state medals, including a fifth-place finish in 2A in May 2024, which required a 2:15.9 personal best to do it. The pack behind her will include Isabella Matty, Sofia Corral, Nicole Smith, Cayla Oldenburger, and Ailidzie Perez. The runner with the best shot to bridge the gap to Hilby will probably be Sofia Orozco, who produced ACC's second-best returning time early in the year at First to the Finish (20:16).
23. Sherrard
Head Coach: Grant Iles
2023 Finish: Did not score at 1A Manlius (Bureau Valley) Regional
Key Returners: Tori Browning (Jr.), Anna Churchill (So.), Beth Churchill (Sr.), Cami Anderson (Jr.), Nadia Anderson (Sr.)
Key Newcomers: Evelyn Weakly (So.), Kylie Mathis (Fr.)
Analysis: Despite having the best 1-2-3 punch in the Oregon Sectional in 2023, the Tigers didn't qualify for state and didn't even qualify for the sectional, with only four runners competing at the Bureau Valley Regional. Sherrard showed their mettle in the spring at the state level, qualifying their 4x800 to the finals and running an incredibly competitive 9:32 for fifth at the 2A level.
Sherrard rosters five runners returning from the 2023 season, and those five alone are strong enough to get Sherrard down to state and compete for a top-10 spot. Fielding enough for a scoring roster in the postseason is a question mark. However, so additional runners will be a welcome development for the Tigers. Tori Browning and Anna Churchill broke 20:00 at state, but Beth Churchill showed the chops to run with these two throughout the year. Cami Anderson and Nadia Anderon ran competitive three-mile performances late into the season and would round out Sherrard's roster nicely. One name to watch is Evelyn Weakly, the second leg on the 4x800 all-state squad. Weakly did not compete in the fall and primaried the 400 and 800 in track, but her 2:22.9 split put per right with both Churchill's and would make Sherrard much more dangerous in the fall if she contests three miles.
In his first year, coach Grant Iles said, "This year's team has all the potential in the world. Returning two 2023 individual state qualifiers (Tori Browning and Anna Churchill) combined with Senior Beth Churchill and returning Junior Cami Anderson will be a very competitive pack of experienced runners. Our goals include continuing to build on last year's regular season successes and qualify the entire team for the IHSA state meet."
22. Clinton
Head Coach: Rachel Lyons
2023 Finish: State Championship- 23rd place
Key Returners: Lydia Cahill (Sr.), Amerie Hemphill (Sr.), Adyson Beebe (Sr.), Maddi Leonard (Sr.), Brielle Morrison (Sr.)
Key Newcomers: Aubrey Peterson (Fr.), Kacy Koritz (Fr.)
Analysis: The Maroons made program history in 2023 by qualifying both Boys' and Girls' teams to state for the first time, but more history can be made this year. "This year (as with most teams), our goal is to make it to the state meet at Detweiller," says senior Lydia Cahill. "However, this goal has a special meaning for us because our team has never gone to the state meet in back-to-back years. By making it state, we can make history and prove that we are strong enough to get there despite the runners we have lost. Through this goal, we can display how far each of us has come in our running journey and our commitment to one another to ensure we get there as a team."
The Maroon's pack will have to overcome the loss of Lexi Lord, who briefly transferred from Clinton to Herscher before returning to Clinton but is not on the roster for the 2024 season. The good news is most of the rest of the state team returns, led by Cahill, Maddi Leonard, Adyson Beebe, and Amerie Hemphill, returns. This group also gets a substantial boost from some newcomers, most notably Aubrey Peterson, the 2023 5th place finisher at the 3A IESA state meet, running 12:16. Peterson may slot in as the Maroon's best runner very early in the year. "Our plan is that the '23 season is the beginning of a streak," says coach Rachel Lyons, entering her sixth season. "Last season was the 1st time the girl's team had advanced to state since the course was 3 miles. Only one other time had the team advanced, in 1993."
Head Coach: Alex Zasso
2023 Finish: State Championship- 21st place
Key Returners: Sydney Gertsen (Jr.), Ashlynn Lindt (Jr.), Annalee Defeo (Sr.), Rosie Callaghan (So.), Naomy Gonzalez (Jr.), Maryfaith Considine (So.), Yeon Park (Sr.)
Analysis: The Broncos finished 21st last year and return all seven of their state runners on a small roster, including one of the best 1-2 punches in the classification with top-10 finishers Sydney Gertsen and Ashlynn Lindt. Gertsen has stacked two strong years between cross country and track, running 17:27, 10:54, and 5:10. Her teammate Lindt made her biggest strides in spring 2024, shrinking her 3200 best to 11:15 and also running 5:20. Both Broncos are solidly in the all-state-running-,-with Gertsen looking to set the tone for the chase pack at state. Montini is in good shape to qualify to state again out of the Chicago-area sectional, returning scorers Annalee Defeo, Rosie Callaghan, and Naomy Gonzalez, but none have broken 21 minutes yet. A couple of pack runners closer to 20:00 quickly move Montini's needle towards top-10 in the classification.