2025 IESA Cross Country State Preview: 2A

The IESA State Cross Country Championships have arrived, bringing together the top middle school talent from across Illinois for one final showdown of the season. Months of training, countless early mornings, and miles upon miles all lead to this moment at the legendary course in Normal. With team titles, individual glory, and season-long bragging rights on the line, expect the intensity to be unmatched and the races to deliver the drama that only a state meet can provide.

Girls Team Projections

Girls Team Preview

This girls team race shapes up to be incredibly tight, with four teams all capable of bringing home the state title. Normal Metcalf, the 2A State Runner-Up in 2024, will be looking to claim the championship this year. They return Addison Richardson and Tess Kendall, both all-state performers last fall. Richardson projects as a potential top-five runner in the classification, while Kendall will run alongside teammate Lola Beverlin in the hunt for all-state honors. The key for Normal Metcalf will be keeping their fourth and fifth runners close to the 13:00 mark, if both can run under 13:10, this squad will be extremely tough to beat. St. Petronille has developed into a formidable team in recent weeks. They are headlined by Molly and Tessa Mocko, who should both finish in the top five individually. Their success will hinge on how their third through fifth runners perform. At Sectionals, those three were within 10 seconds of each other; if they can all run under 13:20, St. Petronille could walk away with the state title. Athens had an off day at Sectionals, posting a 1-5 split of 50 seconds. They have four runners with season-best times under 13:00 who will need to replicate those performances to contend. Corinn Hart looks capable of finishing in the top 15, and Emily Patton could also challenge for all-state honors. This is a dangerous and unpredictable team, returning everyone from last year’s third-place State Meet squad. St. Benedict finished second to St. Petronille at Sectionals by just a few points. They are led by Chloe Milton, a potential top-three finisher, while Maren Castelli, Kirsten Lyons, and Reese Massick will all look to run under 13:00. The key for this team will be keeping their fifth runner within 15 seconds of their fourth. Finally, Prairie Grove, the Sectional champions, will be led by Zoey Ko, who projects as an all-state runner. Their 2–5 pack had a 19-second split at Sectionals and will need to tighten that to around 10 seconds if they hope to earn a trophy.

Girls Individuals Projections

Girls Individuals Preview

This individual race features a clear favorite, with Molly Mocko of St. Petronille entering as the overwhelming frontrunner. Mocko has already claimed state titles in 2A as a sixth grader and 1A as a seventh grader, making her one of the most accomplished middle school runners in Illinois history. She also broke 5:00 in the 800 meters last track season as a seventh grader, becoming the first Illinois seventh grader ever to do so. With the fastest PRs in the field, Katrina Schlenker’s course record of 10:59 will likely be in serious jeopardy. Hazel Atkins of Shelbyville Moulton, the defending State Champion in this classification, enters with an undefeated season and a recent 11:27 on the fast Rochester course. While the gap to Mocko may be large, there’s a small chance Atkins could be near her in the final half mile. Even if not, Atkins is expected to run in the 11:30s, a mark that would win the 2A State Title in most years. Chloe Milton of St. Benedict is likely to be near Atkins down the stretch. Milton, fourth at the State Meet last fall, took second to Mocko at Sectionals and has posted big results this season, including a runner-up finish to Maddie Serur at the Troy Invite in 11:35 and wins at Loyola Flight Night and Harms Woods Stampede. She could also break into the 11:30s here. Other runners to watch include Haven Barwegen of Kankakee Bishop McNamara, sixth at last year’s State Meet and capable of dipping under 11:50, and sixth grader Tessa Mocko of St. Petronille, who looks to crack 12:00 for the first time this season. Addison Richardson of Metcalf, Charlize Chick of PORTA, and Emersyn Harms of El Paso-Gridley also have the potential to finish in the top five.

Boys Team Projections

Boys Team Preview

This team race shapes up to be another exciting battle, with five teams all capable of claiming the State Title. El Paso-Gridley has retooled remarkably after missing the State Meet last fall, returning as a strong contender. The 2023 State Champions are led by Braylen Hodel and Roman Hinthorne, both projected to finish in the top ten. Drew Kingdon could secure one of the final all-state spots, and if the team can keep their fourth and fifth runners within 15 seconds of Kingdon, El Paso-Gridley could capture its second State Title in three years. Springfield Christian began the season as favorites for the 2A title but have looked slightly sluggish recently. Their top duo, Jackson Elliott and Dayton Gamber, will aim for top-five finishes, while the success of the team will hinge on keeping the 3–5 pack under 12:00. Shelbyville Moulton ran impressively at Sectionals and is ready to emerge from the shadow of its girls program. Led by Tate Shoaff, Jasper Hardy, and Kolby Peters, all potential all-staters, the team will need their fourth and fifth runners under 12:00 to secure a trophy. Normal Metcalf relies heavily on pack running, with Andrew Bauchmoyer and Bowen Ince leading the way. Their 3–5 runners will need to finish under 12:00 if they hope to contend for a trophy. Finally, Sangamon Valley demonstrated excellent pack running at Sectionals, posting a 1–4 split of just six seconds. Their success this weekend will depend on the improvement of their fifth runner to help the team challenge for hardware.

Boys Individual Projections

Boys Individual Preview

This individual race comes down to essentially two athletes with a realistic shot at the state title. Camden Fisher of St. Joseph enters as the heavy favorite. He has been undefeated all season, breaking 11:00 four times, and owns the fastest PR in the class at 10:35. Fisher also won the highly competitive Parkside Invite in mid-September and could potentially run in the 10:20s this weekend. Jackson Elliott of Springfield Christian has also had a standout season, never finishing lower than second at any meet. He has broken 11:00 six times and could run in the 10:30s here. While both athletes are elite, Fisher’s resume gives him the edge heading into the State Meet. Charlie Sabens of Paris Mayo, the top returning runner in the field, has spent much of the season chasing Fisher but remains one of the top runners in the class and could finish in the top three this weekend. Other athletes capable of cracking the top five include Jimmy Roach of St. Michael, Dayton Gamber of Springfield Christian, Braylen Hodel and Roman Hinthorne of El Paso-Gridley, Dane Flesiher of Knoxville, Jackson Rupiper of Chillicothe, and Tate Shoaff of Moulton.