2025 Cross Country Previews: 1A Girls Unranked

We kick off our high school team rankings coverage with the 1A Girls "Unranked" list. This article highlights teams that did not make our top 25 but had coaches submit information about their squads. Only teams whose coaches submitted a questionnaire with more than five runners are included in this article.

Gillespie

Coaches: Jay Weber / Jack Burns

Last Year's Finish: 6th @ 1A Shelbyville Regional

Key Returners: Nevaeh Thomas (Sr.), Lyla Drewel (So.), Madisyn Thomas (So.), Wrigley Bruhn (Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Paige Swank (Fr.), Caley Head (Fr.), Giana Kapp (Fr.)

Coach Weber's Outlook: The Gillespie High School Girls look to have a much improved season led by Senior Captain Nevaeh Thomas and Freshman Paige Swank. A strong, consistent summer of training combined with a first rate culture has the girls feeling confident and supportive of each other as they look to compete in the South Central Conference and through the Postseason. The following pack of Lyla Drewel, Caley Head, Giana Kapp, Madisyn Thomas, and Wrigley Bruhn figure to improve significantly to push for a strong team finish. This looks to be the strongest Girls team since Cross Country returned to Gillespie just four years ago.

Belleville (Althoff Catholic)

Coaches: Tom Fischer / Braden Voss

Last Year's Finish: 30th @ 1A State Meet

Key Returners: Briegh Desmond (Jr.), Grace Jansen (So.), Ava Lock, (Jr.) Bethany Kee (Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Claire Skaff (Fr.), Faith Jansen (Fr.), Marlena Youngmeyer (Fr.), Mackenzie Hobson (Jr.)

Coach Fischer's Outlook: Althoff Girls Cross Country team has a strong outlook for our 2025 season.  The team is looking to add to the two straight seasons of the team qualifying to the state finals.  Key returners of Briegh Desmond, Grace Jansen, Ava Lock and Bethany Kee.  This team will have a lot of experience. New faces of Claire Skaff, Faith Jansen, Marlena Youngmen and Mackenzie Hobson will make an immediate impact on our team's overall strength. Summer work has been going very well as mileage has increased, long runs have progress, workouts nailed and hills completed.

Lisle

Coaches: Derek Miller

Last Year's Finish: 14th @ 1A Lisle Sectional

Key Returners: Jennifer Duban (So.), Dani Erickson (Jr.), Anya Kutkowski (Sr.), Molly Martin (Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Madi Madsen (Fr.), Rose Helderle (So.)

Coach Miller's Outlook: The Lisle girls are looking to qualify for State for only the second time in the team's history. They have been working hard over the summer showing up at 6:30 to get runs in before work and are showing signs that they have the potential to make State. The team qualified for Sectionals last season, but wasn't close to qualifying for State. Jennifer Duban (Sophomore), Dani Erickson (Junior), and Anya Kutkoski (Senior) have all been at or under 20 minutes, but didn't have anyone last season running with them. Molly Martin (Junior) had a fantastic track season and can hopefully get close to or with those top three. Incoming freshman Madi Madsen didn't run cross country in 8th grade, but has looked strong so far this summer and has the potential to run with Molly. Sophomore Rose Helderle ran cross country in junior high, but focused on dance during her freshman year. She is doing both this fall and could find her way in our top five.

Clinton

Coaches: Leann Sosamon and Rachel Lyons / Payne Turney

Last Year's Finish: 8th @ 1A Elmwood Sectional

Key Returners: Aubrey Peterson (So.), Kacy Koritz (So.), Jozlin Velez-Noble (Jr.), Ava Hood (So.), Audrey Toohill (Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Averie Fatheree (Jr.), Ava Cothern (Fr.), Grace Klein (Fr.)

Coach Lyons' Outlook: This season will be a building year for the Clinton girls cross country team. We graduated an exceptionally strong senior class last season and have only one returning senior. We have four returning juniors and two new junior additions. We have four returning sophomores and one new sophomore addition in addition to three incoming freshman. We have a lot to learn but also a lot of room to grow which is always so fun to see!!! We have had so many girls surprise themselves at workouts this summer which is personally one of my favorite things as a coach We are excited to see this team develop!

Sullivan

Coaches: Isaiah Plank

Last Year's Finish: <5 @ 1A Shelbyville Regional

Key Returners: Julia Moody (Jr.), Miracle Wilson (Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Aaliyah Osborn (Fr.), Avery Renfro (So.), Kaylee Smith (Jr.)

Coach Plank's Outlook: Sullivan Cross Country is looking to improve on a season that a year ago brought the first sectional qualifier in several years. Adding three new runners to last years squad will round out the top five needed to place at meets. This team isn't looking to just score now, but is looking to be a top competitor in the area. After a successful summer that saw many runners showing up each and every week to get better and build a strong aerobic base, Sullivan is looking to be a strong competitor at many invites this year. Julia Moody is coming off a cross country season that saw her just missing out on state qualifying and she will be joined by an incoming freshman in Aaliyah Osborn that is looking to compete for the top finisher on the team. Avery Renfro is another that could make a push along with the top two as she is coming off a very successful freshman track season. Miracle Wilson and Kaylee Smith are two others that will round out the top five and looking to make their mark as well and running some very fast times as well. 

Tuscola

Coaches: Drew Sterkel

Last Year's Finish: 16th @ 1A Cumberland Sectional

Key Returners: Kate Foltz (Sr.), Sami Walker (So.), Bella Dueker (Jr.), Hanna Carswell (Jr.), Bailey Ritter (Sr.), Tessa Neuner (So.), Morgan Callow (So.)

Key Newcomers: Amelia Manus (Fr.)

Coach Sterkel's Outlook: This year we are led by senior Kate Foltz once again as well as a strong junior class. Our sophomore class is building in numbers and see the wor it takes to be successful in cross country from our seniors, Kate Foltz and juniors as well. Amelia Manus our only freshman is a really hard worker and I look forward to to her working with our older girls to continue to improve.

Orion

Coaches: Amy Kayser / Morgan Schroeder, Nick Juenger, Aaron Kayser

Last Year's Finish: 11th @ 1A Riverdale Regional

Key Returners: Abi Kayser (Sr.), Maggie Dochterman (Sr.), Haylee Downing (Sr.), Lena Willett (Sr.), Elyse VanDuyne (Sr.), Macy Mullen (So.), Theresa Pettifer (So.)

Key Newcomers: Allison Thomas (Jr.)

Coach Kayser's Outlook: Orion Charger cross-country looks to have the best year they've had in quite some time.  With the boys having come off a huge Conference Championship in the TRAC this past Spring, and the girls sending a few to the state track meet, both teams are eager to showcase their hard work this season.  If everyone can stay healthy, we look to be competitors this season.  All of our runners will be vying for those top 7 spots, which should make us even more competitive, since they all want a piece of the action and hope to move to at least Sectionals together. 

Johnsburg

Coaches: Christopher Setzler / Noah Miller

Last Year's Finish: <5 @ 1A Harvest Christian Academy Regional

Key Returners: Clara Nicoline (So.), Maura Oeffling (So.), Deja Luckey (Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Kielie Dilulio (So.), Addy Klos (Fr.)

Coach Setzler's Outlook: We are returning a state qualifying runner in Clara Nicoline who is looking to shoot for a top 25 finish this season. The rest of our girls are working to improve over last year to earn a trip to the state meet. Our 5th girl will be our weak spot & we'll need to do some recruiting to give the team a chance to achieve their goals. 

Dieterich

Coaches: Ryan Wohltman / Rebekah Repking

Last Year's Finish: 17th @ 1A Cumberland Sectional

Key Returners: Lena Goebel (Jr.), Addison Miller (Sr.), Callie Faller (Sr.), Bailey Hewkin (Jr.), Allison Boerngen (So.), Avery Bohnhoff (So.), Lydia Fuesting (So.), Addi Huber (Sr.), Coraline Homann (So.)

Key Newcomers: Violet Iffert (Fr.), Allie Wright (Fr.)

Coach Wohltman's Outlook: A fantastic group of girls on and off the course. They will push each other and work hard for each other. We will consistently always have a full team, which honestly already puts us ahead of many girls teams. With the top 7 returning as well as 2 alternates and 2 really solid freshmen, we have high expectations. They have all been with the current coaching staff for at least a year and are familiar with the training and the goal of each workout. We will need to shorten the gap between #1 and #s 2-7. 

Petersburg (PORTA)

Coaches: Jacob Wooldridge / Rachel Chalmers, Sara Dever

Last Year's Finish: <5 @ 1A Elmwood Sectional

Key Returners: Maggie Zimmerman (Sr.), Alanna Sparks (Jr.), Addison Corum (Jr.), Haven Anderson (Jr.), Braelyn Sonnemaker (Jr.), Kinsley Heriford (Jr.), Savannah Gilliou (So.)

Key Newcomers: Emsley Johnson (Fr.)

Unexpected Losses: Maggie Wankle (Sr.), Maddie Appledorn (Jr.), Maya Claycomb (So.)

Coach Wooldridge's Outlook: Again, we will be a smaller team, and have a wide variety of talents and abilities between our 8 girls. I won't say that means we're going to be bad though. Success can look different year to year, not just a measure of meet wins or post season advancement. Our top girls can be in the mix to place very high at meets, and possible in the conversation for individual advancement to state. Maggie Zimmerman especially could be capable of some Senior Season magic. She is our one Senior and the unquestioned team captain. Maggie will be part of what I hope is a powerful one two punch as they were the two consistent bright spots for the girls team, constantly cutting time and going back and forth on who was the #1 finisher each race last season. Maggie kept that going with the great success she had on track as she qualified for the 3200 meter run and took 11th overall in the event with a time of 11:34. The funny thing is she likes Cross Country much better than track even though from a postseason perspective, she is better at track. Seeing it is her Senior year and that she’s been so close to making it as an individual her Sophomore and Junior years, she really wants to run at Detweiller in November.That would be such a fun thing to watch and help Coach her through as she ends her running career for PORTA Cross Country. On the flip side, success would be helping other girls like Savannah and Kinsely simply learn how to run high school Cross Country, get better and faster each week, and meaningful contributions in the team points race each week. As a runner who was at best only the #7 man on my own high school team, I get just as much pleasure and excitement seeing these types of runners figure it out and come to love this sport as I do watching highly talented teams win meets and trophies. So while August may be a little rough trying to make sure all 8 girls are in cross country shape for races, once we do get our legs underneath of us, I am excited to see how they all race, and grow as runners in general throughout the fall.

Amboy

Coaches: Michael Robinson / Kyler McNinch

Last Year's Finish: <5 @ 1A Seneca Regional

Key Returners: Samantha Nauman (Sr.), Grace Althaus (Sr.), Anna Carlson (Sr.), Karona Gall (So.)

Key Newcomers: Scarlet Payne (Fr.), Liah Dempsey (Fr.)

Coach Robinson's Outlook: We have a lot of dedicated athletes that want to achieve high goals they have set for themselves. We will continue to work and make sure those goals can be met. Our girls participate in a lot of things in school so a balance of time will be very crucial for the upcoming year and making sure they get the work in is important,

Newton

Coaches: Tim Bower

Last Year's Finish: 14th @ 1A Cumberland Sectional

Key Returners: Layna Marshall (Sr.), Avery Geier (So.), Lily Yager (Sr.) Shay Bennett (Sr.)

Key Newcomers: Heather Bergbower (Fr.), Brooke Gentry (Fr.), Josie Vogt (Fr.), Kim Bierman (Fr.), Alivia Bierman (Fr.), Nora Street (Fr.)

Unexpected Losses: Kate Bierman (So.)

Coach Bower's Outlook: With such a young team I'm holding off on predictions or anything but right now we are all about team bonding and getting to know each other and having fun.

Minonk (Fieldcrest)

Coaches: Chad Kuehnl

Last Year's Finish: 6th @ 1A Seneca Regional

Key Returners: Macy Gochanour (Sr.), Emma Martyn (Sr.), Torgun Hovey (So.)

Key Newcomers: Emry Conroy (Sr.)

Unexpected Losses: TeriLynn Timmerman (Jr.), Khloe Nussbaum (Fr.), Taylor Brauch (Fr)

Coach Kuehnl's Outlook: The Fieldcrest Lady Knights will be aiming for a second straight appearance at Sectionals this season. While the squad has several underclassman runners and first year runners, they have shown this summer that they have the grit to improve their abilities and finishing times, the bonds to work as a team, and the ‘Front Row Seat Effort’ needed to attempt to advance past Regionals. Veteran seniors Emma Martyn and Macy Gochanour, along with senior newcomer Emry Conroy, plan to lead and support Torgun Hovey (Soph.), Khloe Nussbaum (Fr.) and Taylor Brauch (Fr.) as they develop their skill sets and showcase their competitive nature throughout the season. The ladies are excited to showcase their hard work when the season begins at the Morris Early Bird Invite on August 27th. Fieldcrest XC will also be making their inaugural appearances at the U-High Invite and Normal West JV Invite later in the season.

Downs (Tri-Valley)

Coaches: Kenneth Albin / Holly-Rae Van Hoof

Last Year's Finish: 12th @ 1A Elmwood Sectional

Key Returners: Adelin Bruce (Sr.), Gracie Van Hoof (So.), Amelia Masters (So.), Maddie Gentry (Jr.), Izzy Brunning (So.), Adelina Baummann (Sr.), Joslyn Baughman (So.)

Key Newcomers: Hannah Rodgers (Fr.), Tenley Brian (Fr.), Finley Rebenszki (Fr.)

Coach Albin's Outlook: We have a very young team. Only 2 seniors total. There are a few freshmen that are completely new to cross country, and a few sophomores that only started last year, so we are building a program. It looks like we will have a strong team and have the ability to get trophies at some of the invites we attend which is moving the program forward. We are looking to have one of the largest girls teams we have had in years.

Canton

Coaches: Chancy Whittington / Claire Ludlum

Last Year's Finish: <5 @ 2A Dunlap Regional

Key Returners: Ella Bruketta (Sr.), Mackenzie Hand (Sr.), Olivia Knowles (Sr.),

Key Newcomers: Claire Fournier (Fr.), Mary Haschemeyer (Fr.), Paisley Krause (Fr.), Aneliese Hodges (Sr.), Macie Maxwell (Sr.), Mara Maxwell (Sr.), Juniper McFerren (Fr.), Ellie Theobald (Fr.), Ashley Wroblewski (Sr.)

Coach Whittington's Outlook: This team is an interesting mix with 7 seniors and 5 freshmen. Throughout the season we will see how the senior leadership mixes with the freshman inexperience at the high school level. Olivia Knowles is our top returning runner and she qualified for 2A state as a freshman. Mary and Claire will be pushing her for that top spot. Then it will be who works the hardest for the next four spots.

East Dubuque

Coaches: Michael Eyres

Last Year's Finish: 11th @ 2A Belvidere North Regional

Key Returners: Monserrat Solano (So.), Aubrie Tritz (Sr.), Sydney Schoenhard (Sr.), Tessa Gempler (Jr.), Mareli Cuellar (Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Kendall Ziegler (Fr.), Ell Law (), Natalie Heiar (Fr.)

Coach Eyres' Outlook: We are back down to 1a and hope to compete well led by Freshman Kendall Ziegler and Sophomore Monseratt Solano. We look to win our conference meet again this year and hopefully advance through the state series. The potential to have a great season is there and the girls are excited to compete.

Murphysboro

Coaches: Cody Ellermeyer / Jeff Green, Lenny Tweedy, Andrea Letham

Last Year's Finish: 15th @ IHSA 1A State

Key Returners: Harper Ellermeyer (So.), Ava Stuemke (Sr.), Aniya Proctor (Sr.)

Key Newcomers: Naomi Staple (Fr.), Josselin Mateo (Sr.), Greta Snyder (Sr.), Bailey Goad (So.), Keelyn Martin (Fr.)

Coach Ellermeyer's Outlook: Harper Ellermeyer (SO) has had a great summer, coming off of a 12th place finishin in 2a Track State Championships in the 400 as a freshman.  She is hoping to crack into the top 25 at state this  year.  Ava Stuemke has looked very consistent, as well, with Aniya Proctor, Josselin Mateo, and Naomi Staple right on her heals.  I expected us to have a hard time this season after losing Miah Gilmore and Sydney Maynor.  However, I am pleasantly hopeful that we will be right back where we were last year as a time.

Edwardsville (Metro-East Lutheran)

Coaches: Kevin Reiseck / Scott Edwards

Last Year's Finish: <5 @ 1A Wesclin Regional

Key Returners: Lucy Doyle (So.), Marion Hemmer (So.), Lilly Walloch (So.)

Key Newcomers: Calista Stultz (Fr.), Abby Ayer (Fr.), Moira Krueger (Fr.), Emilia Malcomb (Fr.)

Coach Reiseck's Outlook: I believe our team this year will be much improved over our team last year.  The girls are excited for the year ahead and with all the work they have been putting in I can see us pushing for a state bid this fall as long as we stay healthy.  We have a very small (7 athletes) and young (all sophomores) team but they all get along and are very supportive of each which will take them a long way this year.

Gillespie

Coaches: Jay Weber / Jack Burns

Last Year's Finish: 6th @ 1A Shelbyville Regional

Key Returners: Nevaeh Thomas (Sr.), Lyla Drewel (So.), Madisyn Thomas (So.), Wrigley Bruhn (Jr.)

Key Newcomers: Paige Swank (Fr.), Caley Head (Fr.), Giana Kapp (Fr.)

Coach Weber's Outlook: The Gillespie High School Girls look to have a much improved season led by Senior Captain Nevaeh Thomas and Freshman Paige Swank. A strong, consistent summer of training combined with a first rate culture has the girls feeling confident and supportive of each other as they look to compete in the South Central Conference and through the Postseason. The following pack of Lyla Drewel, Caley Head, Giana Kapp, Madisyn Thomas, and Wrigley Bruhn figure to improve significantly to push for a strong team finish. This looks to be the strongest Girls team since Cross Country returned to Gillespie just four years ago.

Aledo (Mercer County)

Coaches: Peter Nelson

Last Year's Finish: 14th @ 2A Rock Island Sectional

Key Returners: Emalyn Millar (So.), Kathy Norton (So.), Jema Hajostek (So.), Lilli Dodge (So.), Lily Wieskamp (So.)

Key Newcomers: Helen Baldwin (So.), Jorgi Arnold (Jr.), Mahailey Hamilton (Fr.), Brookelyn Clark (Fr.)

Unexpected Losses: Addison Monson (Sr.)

Coach Nelson's Outlook: Our summer had very good attendance by the girls team. We hope to have Emma near the front of most races. The hope is to have Brookelyn and Helen continue to close the gap on Emma as they gain more experience at 3 miles. Lastly, we have lots of intriguing options for our #4-5. It could be anyone and it's nice having 4+ girls that look to earn that spot. The makeup is no seniors and either 1 year experience or none. We look to gain a lot of experience and help build a major contender here these next few years in the program.