Peoria Invite
BHS Girls Make School History with Runner-Up Outing at Peoria
By Randy Sharer
For Ittspeedlab.com
For complete results visit the Peoria High School Invitational – Meet Info – Cross Country Meet
PEORIA – With conference meets two weeks away and the postseason series starting in three, cross country runners in the 70th Peoria Invitational at Detweiller Park on Saturday (Oct. 4) were eager to make a statement.
The Bloomington girls’ performance positively shouted that they will be a force to reckon with after finishing second among 29 schools in the Class 1A–2A division, marking the best finish in school history.
The Purple Raiders, ranked No. 24 in Class 2A by IlMileSplit.com, scored 140 points, trailing only the 47 tallied by No. 1 Chatham Glenwood.
Glenwood’s Ali Londrigan won the 3-mile race in 17:00.15, ahead of runner-up Renee Warren (17:40.2), who helped Normal West place sixth with 189 points.
BHS Highlights
The first freshman was Lorelei Hulsing of BHS, a former volleyball player who clocked 18:30.83 (8th place) to lead five Raiders into the top 62.
“I ran a lot more this summer than I did last summer,” said Hulsing, who placed sixth in the IESA Class 4A state track meet 800-meter run last spring in 2:21.86.
Prior to the race, BHS coach Veronica Grundman motivated her runners by saying:
“You guys right now can be the third team to ever make it to state in Bloomington history. It has to start today.”
It did — thanks to a roster at full strength. No. 5 runner Kylie Huffaker, a travel soccer player, isn’t always available, but she placed 62nd (20:30.41) in the field of 218.
“Today they were all there together,” beamed Grundman. “I’m so excited because the best finish we’ve had here as a girls team was like ninth.”
Also scoring for BHS:
Josie Skeate – 15th (19:00.94)
Alex Noonan – 18th (19:06.55)
Alison Huffaker – 50th (19:56.03)
Normal West and Area Standouts
Despite the dusty, 80-degree conditions, West’s Renee Warren came within five seconds of her best time from the 2024 3A state meet.
“I haven’t really been hitting the results I wanted,” Warren said. “I worked hard this summer, and I wasn’t really seeing it happen, but today really boosted my confidence.”
Other Wildcats near the front:
Julie Bach – 9th (18:32.25)
Amanda Warren – 12th (18:47.76)
Bach took a bold pace out of the gate:
“This is one of those races where you really don’t have much to lose,” she said. “My coach said, ‘be a little bold,’ and I tried my best.”
No. 4 runner Rachel Russell returned from injury to place 65th (20:34.6).
“The girls were impressive today,” said Coach Greg Rogers, whose team is ranked No. 16 in 2A. “Getting Rachel Russell back today and her running a PR was huge for our crew.”
Other Top Area Finishers
Lowpoint-Washburn-Roanoke-Benson senior Ellison Heineke ran 10th (18:34.43), breaking her own school record of 18:52.12 from the 2023 1A state meet.
“I am pumped,” Heineke said. “I haven’t had a PR since sophomore season. The placing … I did not expect that at all.”
Class 3A Boys
Normal Community’s AJ Ince, a Southern Illinois–Edwardsville recruit, led local runners with a 14th-place finish (15:19.5) after steady mile splits of 4:55.5, 5:11.2, and 5:12.8.
“I was really trying to stay consistent throughout,” Ince said. “I think I passed four or five people up that hill (the last 800 yards).”
NCHS placed 17th (501) among 38 teams. Winners were Alex Rodriguez of Berwyn-Cicero Morton (14:44.2) and Elmhurst York (86 points).
Class 1A–2A Boys
Normal West led area teams with a 16th-place finish (478) among 37 schools. Dixon won with 58.
Top area individual: BHS freshman Eli Hartman, 45th (16:06.19) — third among ninth graders.
Winner: Max Weber (Bethalto Civic Memorial) – 14:37.45.
Class 3A Girls
Normal Community High School (NCHS), led by Emma Pollit (56th, 19:55.6), finished 17th among 28 teams with 408 points.
The race was won by freshman Lennox Szymonik (Algonquin Jacobs) in 16:57.57, while Huntley claimed the team title with 99 points.
Normal Community's AJ Ince (1676) covered Detweiller Park's dusty 3-mile course in 15 minutes, 19.5 seconds in the 70th Peoria Invitational cross country meet on Saturday (Oct. 4) to finish 14th in a 256-man field. (Photo by Randy Sharer)
The Bloomington High School girls cross country team finished a school-best second in the Class 1A-2A division of the 70th Peoria Invitational at Detweiller Park on Saturday. Lorelei Hulsing (971) placed eighth for the Purple Raiders while Josie Skeate (974) finished 15th and Alex Noonan (973) 18th in a field of 218. (Photo by Randy Sharer)
First to the Finish invite
By Randy Sharer
PEORIA – As they stepped to the starting line for the 38th First to the Finish Invitational cross country meet on Saturday (Sept. 13) at Detweiller Park, the Eureka High School boys had 61 foes standing between themselves and victory.
By the time the post-race dust had settled (and there a considerable amount on the bone dry course), no opponent proved better than the defending champion Hornets.
Coach Olivia Morris’ boys, ranked No. 1 in Class 1A by MileSplit.com, scored 172 points to best runner-up Rockford Christian, ranked No. 3, by 12. Clinton took fifth (295) and El Paso-Gridley sixth (296).
The Eureka girls, who came in ranked second, tallied 148 points in third to trail only Winnebago (110) and Anna-Jonesboro (145). El Paso-Gridley was fifth (203) in the 42-team field.
Highlighting Central Illinois efforts in Class 2A were the Normal University High boys, who finished sixth (321) among 64 teams, and the Normal West girls, who were 10th (401) among 54 teams.
Class 1A boys
Pacing the Eureka boys was Gavin Stalter, who placed 23rd after touring the 3-mile course in 15 minutes, 40.3 seconds. Other Hornet scorers were Timothy Rogers (27th, 15:45.6), Davin Dingledine (36th, 15:52.7), Connell Roth (56th, 16:10.6), and Landon Wurmnest (60th, 16:15.0).
“It’s good to set the tone and now, the next seven weeks, we’ve got to work and hope we come back (for the state series) the same or better,” Morris said.
Winning individually was reigning state champion Chaz Oberkfell of Gillespie, third here a year ago in 15:13.7, who clocked 14:56.4. DuQuoin’s Caiden Cook was second in 15:01.0.
The top Central Illinois finisher was Delavan junior Corie Green, the reigning Class 1A state 800-meter run champion, who took third in a personal best of 15:08.5.
Clinton’s Cayden Bostic was ninth overall and second among sophomores in a school record 15:20.5. He broke the record set by 1991 all-stater Joe Alexander.
Also cracking the top 25 were Prairie Central’s Holden Gerdes (17th, 15:37.9) and EPG’s Drew Cooper (25th, 15:42.7).
Class 1A girls
The Eureka girls were led by Sierra Herrmann, who ran 18:51.7 in 23rd, one place ahead of teammate Ava Otto (18:52.1).
Other Hornet scorers were Sophia Watson (35th, 19:23.3), Adeline Hubert (37th, 19:30.9), and Bre Leman (62nd, 20:02.5).
“We have had a No. 5 position open,” said Morris, whose team finished third here last year. “We had a girl (Leman) step up. We said before the race, ‘you’ve got to have your eyes on your teammates.’ That’s the goal.”
The individual winner was Sundara Weber of Sandwich, the 2024 Class 2A state champion now in 1A, who sped 16:18.7 to best reigning 1A state champion Kate Foltz of Tuscola by 10 seconds.
The top Central Illinois finisher was Delavan senior Annabelle LaFary in 20th (18:31.7).
Class 2A boys
The U High boys, whose first string was making its season debut, had five finishers within 54 seconds of each other, but they wanted to be closer to the front.
“I think it could have been better,” said Pioneer coach Lester Hampton, whose team was fifth here a year ago. “It was not what we were looking for.”
Sophomore Andrew Aldeman led U High in 33rd (15:44.0).
Peoria Notre Dame (190) won the team title while the individual crown went to Kaneland sophomore Caron Kaiser (14:28.3).
Class 2A girls
For the 2A girls, only team champion Chatham Glenwood (134) and fourth-place Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge (249) had a stronger top three than Normal West’s Renee Warren (8th, 18:07.6), Julie Bach (14th, 18:22.5), and Amanda Warren (25th, 18:51.8).
U High, which placed 13th with 452 points, was led by freshman Chloe Layman in 19:05.9.
Class 3A winners
Plainfield North won the 3A girls title with 94 points. Individually, Lennox Szymonik of Algonquin Jacobs won in 17:03.2.
Downers Grove North’s boys, led by individual champion Philip Cupial (14:27.3), topped Plainfield North for the 3A crown, 62-98.
Eureka High School defended its Class 1A boys title in the 38th First to the Finish Invitational cross country meet at Peoria's Detweiller Park on Saturday (Sept. 13). Leading the green-clad Hornets were (from left) Davin Dingledine (1891), Gavin Stalter (1927), Timothy Rogers (1918), Landon Wurmnest (1937), and Eli Scott (1924). (Photo by Randy Sharer)
Clinton High School sophomore Cayden Bostic covered the 3-mile Detweiller Park course in a school record 15 minutes, 20.5 seconds in the First to the Finish Invitational cross country meet at Peoria on Saturday (Sept. 13). Bostic (1166) placed ninth to help Clinton place fifth in the 62-team meet. (Photo by Randy Sharer)
Normal West High School's Renee Warren placed eighth in the First to the Finish Invitational cross country meet at Peoria's Detweiller Park on Saturday (Sept. 13). Warren covered the 3-mile course in 18 minutes, 7.6 seconds to help her team place 10th in the 54-team Class 2A field. (Photo by Randy Sharer)
UHIGH Invite
U High Girls Sweep Top 9, Boys Win Without Starters
By Randy Sharer
NORMAL – Typical of a mid-week high school cross country meet, the 59th University High Invitational had the pre-race vibes of a low-key, steppingstone sort of event on Tuesday (Sept. 9). But some high notes were nevertheless struck.
Girls Dominate with a Perfect Score
The U High girls swept the top nine places, scoring a perfect 15 points in near-perfect, windless weather to defend their title.
Ranked No. 14 in Class 2A by MileSplit.com, the Pioneers topped runner-up Pontiac by 43 points. Fairbury Prairie Central placed third (67), while Springfield Lanphier was fourth (102).
U High freshman Chloe Layman led the way, covering 3 miles at Maxwell Park in 19:33.63 for the individual win.
Top Finishers
1st – Chloe Layman, 19:33
2nd – Harper Funk, 19:59
3rd – Lana Alcorn, 20:03
4th – Nora Bloebaum, 20:26
5th – Eva Stalets, 21:02=
Also finishing in the top nine: Eva Barke (21:01), Tessa Ritter (21:05), Leya Alcorn (21:11), and Jocelyn Lewis (21:13).
Coach Jill Burroughs credited her team’s summer training:
“They put in the miles over the summer. They are a fun, hard-working, amazing group of girls.”
The first non-Pioneer finisher was Prairie Central’s Layne Schaffer in 10th (21:44).
Boys Win Despite Resting Starters
The U High boys defended their title with 17 points, even while resting their top seven runners, who are ranked No. 6 in Class 2A. That first string will debut at the First to the Finish Invitational in Peoria on Sept. 13.
Only two other full boys teams scored Tuesday: Pontiac (59) and Bloomington Cornerstone (61).
Boys Individual Champion
Prairie Central junior Holden Gerdes took the individual crown in 16:14.09, earning his fourth career victory. He finished 27 seconds ahead of U High runner-up Greyson Ince.
Gerdes, who logged about 400 miles over the summer, expects to chase his PR of 16:11 at Peoria’s Detweiller Park this weekend.
U High’s Boys Pack
Coach Lester Hampton, in his 38th year, praised his team’s depth as five Pioneers finished within 47 seconds:
2nd – Greyson Ince, 16:41
3rd – Spencer Boesdorfer, 16:51
4th – Austin Hartman, 16:52
6th – Max Vanallen, 17:27
7th – Kingston Navarez, 17:28
Also placing in the top 11 for U High: Peyton Beebe of Pontiac (5th, 17:16) and Cornerstone’s Connor Christopulos (8th, 17:30).
Hampton said the strategy of resting the varsity squad was intentional:
“If we didn’t run any early meets, we could just stick to our training plan. Hopefully, our legs will still be fresh when it matters.”
Light it up Invite
CLINTON – Light It Up Invitational Recap: randy sharer
Cross country fans hoping the sixth annual Light It Up Invitational would shed some light on which teams and individuals will shine this season in Central Illinois and beyond got a few clues on Saturday night (Aug. 30) at Clinton High School.
The 42-school, mostly Class 1A meet saw Mahomet-Seymour, ranked No. 8 in Class 2A by Runnerspace.com, score 51 points after sundown to best 30 full squads, while Class 1A’s No. 20 Shelbyville girls tallied 104 points to top a 25-team field.
Meet Background
The meet was founded in 2020 by Clinton athletic director Matt Koeppel when football was moved to the spring by the pandemic. To provide an alternate nighttime event in the fall, he created this meet, which has more than doubled in size since 2024 with 735 runners.
Boys Highlights
Reigning Class 1A state champion Chaz Oberkfell of Gillespie, fourth here a year ago, covered 3 miles in a course record 14:41.24, besting the 14:42.76 run by sophomore Quaid Berger of Olney Richland County. “I tried to push it on the third mile and stay in front the whole time,” Oberkfell said.
Berger admitted he surprised himself. “I didn’t know how I was staying with the 1A state champion. It’s a real confidence booster.”
The previous course record of 15:20.92 was set last year by Will Fuson of Cerro Gordo-Bement.
Other top finishers included Delavan junior Corie Green (6th, 15:15.92), the reigning Class 1A state 800-meter champion.
Rounding out the top five boys teams:
Clinton (106)
Olney Richland County (195)
Monticello (208)
Moline (215)
Girls Highlights
Maroa-Forsyth senior Klaire Eighner won in 17:07.74, narrowly missing the course record of 17:05 set in 2022 by Normal U High’s Natalie Bierbaum. “I felt really good through the first mile, so I decided to surge and pull away a little bit — and it worked,” Eighner said.
Defending champion Tessa Bowers of Shelbyville was second in 17:35.51, followed by teammate Leah Shoaff in third (17:48.58). “There is still plenty of season left. I’m determined to go after it later,” Bowers said.
Other notable finishers:
Annabelle LaFary (Delavan, 6th – 18:07.35)
Adelin Bruce (Tri-Valley, 7th – 18:16.77)
The top six girls teams were Shelbyville, Mahomet-Seymour, Rochester, U High, Pleasant Plains, and Delavan.