Three local cross country teams return to Detweiller Park in Peoria for the Class 3A State Finals this weekend, all looking to improve on last year's finishes.
Leading the pack is the girls' squad from St. Charles East, which finished third in the state last season and is making its fourth finals trip in the last five seasons.
(Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
(Curtis Clegg/For Sun-Times Media)
"We feel really good. We're excited to run on a course that isn't underwater," said East coach Denise Hefferin, referring to Leroy Oakes, the sight of the Saints' regional and sectional races.
The Saints are also getting over a flu bug, which was so widespread that the entire school was closed for three days last month.
"We had the flu thing before regionals and last week we just had some minor foul-ups," said Hefferin. "I'm not disappointed with how they've run, but I know they are capable of so much more. I'm just ready to get seven races on the same page."
Sophomore Mallory Abel has been East's leader for the entire season, and they will need another strong showing from her to take home another state medal.
Also returning are the girls from Bartlett, who placed 16th in the state last season. Three runners return from that squad, including junior standout Alyssa Schneider and sophomores Taylor Crawford and Janessa Baker.
St. Charles North's boys will also compete, led by senior Kyle Zankowki and junior Ryan Senci. The North Stars finished eighth last season.
Two North girls, Meghan Heuer and Erica Bauerbach, will race individually.
• Four individual runners highlight the local contingent at the Class 2A finals. The girls race will feature two top-20 finishers from last year's finals in Hampshire's Holly Plichta (9th) and Burlington Central's Maggie Gannon (19th).
Hampshire's Tanner Holman and Central's Clint Kliem will race on the boys' side.