Gene jones invite

Eureka girls shock Class 2A powers at Gene Jones Invite

By Randy Sharer

For Ittspeedlab.com

For complete results visit: Gene Jones Runnin’ Red Invitational – Oct. 11, 2025 | River City Race Management

METAMORA – Like a physician charged to do no harm, Eureka cross country coach Olivia Morris doesn’t believe pitting her Class 1A program against a slew of Class 2A state powerhouses can hurt the Hornets.

In fact, she went into the 28th Gene Jones Runnin’ Red Invitational at Black Partridge Park on Saturday (Oct. 11) counting on killer competition to ready Eureka’s girls and boys for the season’s final four weeks.

The Hornet girls came through in a one-point thriller, topping a 20-team field which included nine state-ranked 2A programs and two ranked 1A teams. Ranked No. 3 in 1A by IlMileSplit.com, Eureka scored a 104-105 triumph over 2A No. 7 Mahomet-Seymour. Peoria Notre Dame, ranked No. 12 in 2A, took third (123) while 2A No. 13 Bloomington ran fourth (128).

In the 25-team boys race, fourth-place Eureka, ranked No. 1 in 1A, scored 149 points to trail a trio of 2A heavyweights in No. 7 Mahomet-Seymour (99), No. 12 Peoria Notre Dame (101), and No. 17 University High (129).

When asked why she entered such a tough meet, Morris said, “It’s good for us.”

In particular, she believes the traffic jams caused by 216 girls and 301 boys on Saturday’s narrow course will prepare the Hornets for the congestion they’ll encounter in the Nov. 8 state meet at Peoria.

“On this course, you could get boxed in,” she said. “You have to pay attention to the tactics of the race. We don’t really have to do that in a smaller race.”

Coming up big individually on the 2.94-mile course in 61-degree conditions Saturday were Peoria Notre Dame freshman Lillian Chaddock, who won in 17 minutes, 23.2 seconds, while defending boys champion Thomas Jochum of Glenbard South prevailed in 14:26.1.

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

Eureka’s girls were led by Sierra Herrmann, who clocked a personal best of 18:22.0 in 12th. Other Hornet scorers were Ava Otto (16th, 18:38.8), Adeline Hubert (22nd, 18:54.5), Sophia Watson (25th, 19:07.9), and Bre Lehman (33rd, 19:37.9).

“We’ve gone through a couple injuries, but this is the first race we’ve had everyone,” Herrmann said. “It’s been pretty awesome and uplifting.”

Leading area girls was Lorelei Hulsing of BHS, who finished 11th overall and second among freshmen in 18:05.4. She had to hurry so she could join the Purple Raider volleyball team at a tournament.

“I always start off pretty fast,” said Hulsing, who led the first 100 yards. “I don’t know if that’s good or not.”

Overall, BHS coach Veronica Grundman saw more good than bad.

“Our No. 4, Alison Huffaker, ran amazing (in 32nd at 19:36.0),” said Grundman, whose other scorers were Josie Skeate (17th, 18:39.9), Alex Noonan (27th, 19:15.3), and Kylie Huffaker (48th, 20:00.3). “We were right there with Peoria Notre Dame.”

Another notable area finisher was Lincoln’s Taylor Short, who was 13th overall and third among freshmen in 18:23.7, a personal best by 20 seconds.

“I kind of just went to go out fast my first two miles and tried to hold on the last one,” said Short, who passed one mile in 5:40 and two in 12:15.

BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

The area’s top boys were U High sophomore Andrew Aldeman and senior Sean Kaeb, who ran fifth (14:50.4) and seventh (15:06.4), respectively. Aldeman beat everyone except four juniors despite developing a leg cramp mid-race.

“From there, it was just a grind to the finish,” he said. “It’s really great having (Kaeb) there with me.”

Kaeb had no complaints.

“I feel our team definitely ran great today, which is what we needed,” he said, “especially going into the postseason.”

Also fitting into U High’s five-man finishing split of 66 seconds by sweeping places 38 through 40 were Aaden Richards (15:55.1), Lucas Layman (15:55.7), and Greyson Ince (15:56.5).

“It’s definitely progress,” said U High coach Lester Hampton, whose team was coming off a Nike XC Town Twilight victory in the 41-team Open Blue No. 2 division at Terre Haute, Ind., on Oct. 4.

“Last week was a huge step, not just from the standpoint that we were very competitive, but they just had so much fun. You need a break in your season where you just have fun. You know the postseason is just around the corner and things are going to ratchet up.”

Eureka seems ready for a late season push thanks to guys like Gavin Stalter, who finished eighth in 15:08.4, a personal best by 16 seconds.

“I told myself I didn’t want to go out too hard, but I still ended up at 5:00 (the first mile),” he said. “It felt easy so that really helped set me up. It made me excited to go up against these big 2A schools.”

Other Hornet scorers were Davin Dingledine (25th, 15:38.0), Landon Wurmnest (27th, 15:40.7), Timothy Rogers (35th, 15:51.2), and Eli Scott (54th, 16:14.8).

For the first season in Eureka history, some Hornets have raced in training flats instead of spikes, a strategy designed to provide a boost psychologically and physically when they “spike up” for late-season races.

“It’s more psychological, I think,” said Morris. “At this point in the season, you’ve been trying to run the same thing every weekend for the last eight weekends and it gets hard.”

Other top area finishers were Lincoln junior Preston Short (16th, 15:17.4) and Southern Illinois–Edwardsville recruit AJ Ince of Normal Community (18th, 15:18.9).

Leading University High School's boys cross country team to a third-place finish in the Gene Jones Invitational at Metamora on Saturday (Oct. 11) was sophomore Andrew Aldeman, who placed fifth on the 2.94-mile course in 14 minutes, 50.4 seconds. (Photo by Randy Sharer)