Date: 11/8/2025
Location: Detweiller Park; Peoria, IL
Course: 3.0 miles
Race Time: 10:00 a.m.; awards ceremony- 11:00 AM at the Detweiller Park venue
Weather forecast: 45F, possible rain shower and cloudy, wind @ 4 mph
MileSplit IL 50 Rankings: Read Here
The qualifying teams: 1 Eureka, 2 El Paso-Gridley, 3 Elmwood, 4 Rockford (Christian), 5 St. Joseph (Ogden), 6 Tolono (Unity), 7 Clinton, 8 Glasford (Illini Bluffs), 9 East Dubuque, 10 Effingham (St. Anthony), 11 Winnebago, 12 Edwardsville (Metro-East Lutheran), 13 Toledo (Cumberland), 14 Pinckneyville, 15 Pleasant Plains, 16 Georgetown (Notre Dame de La Salette), 18 Murphysboro, 20 Monticello, 21 Byron, 22 Roxana, 23 Sherrard, 24 Elgin (Harvest Christian Academy), 25 Herscher; Cullom (Tri-Point), Fairfield, Glen Carbon (Father McGivney), Johnsburg, Rock Island (Alleman), Kankakee (McNamara), Hoopeston (H. Area)
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Outlook: It is either put up or shut up for those teams destined to have their best final performance of the season. Twenty-three of the final 25 ranked teams are here, and they are hoping for happy returns.
This meet should be a showdown of the top five teams, with any of them having a chance to win a state title. Eureka has been the top dog throughout the season. The Hornets have five state championships donning the halls of their school. They must lock in for number six after being surprised at the Elmwood Sectional, 84-91, by the hosts. Both teams ran well; it was the adversary that was able to close better. Top runner senior Gavin Stalter did not compete. Hopefully, he will be in the fold on Saturday.
As expected in the late portion of the season, Elmwood has really come on strong and is ready to roll to another state title. The Trojans took down Eureka at their sectional. Led by top seven finishes by seniors Aiden Faulkner and Kam Stevenson, the team was key. They will have to duplicate their great performances again if they want to achieve the program's eighth state title, but the first one since 2017.
Long-time Rockford Christian coach Randy Moore has one state plaque on his resume and hopes to add another. He has a dangerous team and possesses the talent to upset the favorites.
St. Joe-Ogden and El Paso-Gridley have a history of always racing well at state; they will be in the mix. This is another team race that will be so close, it could come down to the 4-5 runners that can outlean others in the big pack that comprises the main field. East Dubuque is also a sleeper pick for a trophy. This is going to be such an interesting race for the team title.
My top 10 team choices: 1
Eureka, 2
Elmwood, 3
El Paso (E.P. - Gridley), 4
Rockford Christian, 5
St. Joseph - Ogden, 6
Glasford (Illini Bluffs), 7
East Dubuque, 8
Georgetown (De La Salette), 9
Tolono (Unity), 10
Clinton
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The individual race may not be as hyped as the girls. Still, it should be intriguing, with Chaz Oberkfell (Sr., Gillespie), the defending state champion, running well lately and positioning himself as the overwhelming favorite, based on a sizzling sectional performance at Lakeland College. Ironically, Oberkfell ran almost as fast as 2A favorite Max Weber of Civic Memorial, who ran on the same course an hour later. How fast can he run? That question will be answered around 10:15am.
Caiden Cook (Jr., Duquoin) has also rolled through the competition in the postseason and could be poised to challenge Oberkfell. Evan Knobloch (So., Stark County), Grady Smith (So., Johnsburg), Coriell Green (Jr., Delavan), and Elijah Teefey (Sr., Pleasant Plains) are poised to pull an upset if either of the top two falter. Oberkfell has been here before and has the experience, looking to peak at the right time.