2025 IHSA XC State Previews: 1A Girls

The stage is set for the IHSA Girls 1A State Cross Country Championship, taking place this Saturday at the legendary Detweiller Park. Every stride, surge, and finish line lean this fall has led to this moment, where the best small-school programs in Illinois will battle for supremacy on the state’s most storied course. With powerhouse programs returning and several upstart teams peaking at the perfect time, the 1A field promises intense racing, breakout performances, and a finish that could come down to mere seconds.

1A State Preview Podcast

Team Projections -

Team Preview -

The team race at this year’s 1A State Meet looks to be an instant classic, with as many as six teams capable of bringing home a state trophy. Winnebago has returned to title contention after a few years away from the podium. The Indians’ last state trophy came in 2021, and they’re in great position to earn another here. Leading the charge is Molly Webb, who has made incredible strides since the start of the season and could find herself inside the top 15 in this loaded field. Senior Morgan Capriola, the lone upperclassman on this young squad, has been a steady presence throughout her career and will be chasing her first all-state finish in cross country. Ella Carlson and Svea Glidden have both come on strong in recent weeks, while Avery Dimke’s breakout race at sectionals could prove to be the X-factor that helps Winnebago secure the championship. Shelbyville held the top ranking in 1A for several weeks this season and remains a serious threat when at their best. Tessa Bowers has been unstoppable lately, running a stunning 16:49 at the Patriot Invite at Detweiller and putting herself firmly in the mix for a top-five individual finish. Leah Shoaff, the team’s No. 2 runner, has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled in a few recent meets. If she returns to early-season form, a top-20 finish is well within reach. Natalie Nohren and Tessa Tomblin provide consistency in the middle of the lineup, while keeping Laynie Lockart or Kylie Wright within 2:40 of Bowers will be crucial to Shelbyville’s title hopes. Anna-Jonesboro has been one of the hottest teams in the class and is chasing its first state title in program history. Jadyn Gerardi has rediscovered her all-state form and will need to finish inside the top 20 for the Wildcats to stay in contention. The pack of Kylee Myers, Kenzie Miller, Melaina Bundren, and Sophia Hill must keep their times under 19:00 to make a championship run possible. It won’t be easy, but this team has the talent to make it happen. El Paso-Gridley enters with momentum after topping Eureka at sectionals, even though Eureka holds more head-to-head wins this season. The Titans have never earned a state trophy in girls cross country, but they have an excellent opportunity to make history here. Their success hinges on keeping their 1–5 split under 50 seconds. Kiley Knapp will lead the team with Caroline Wettstein and Haven Miller close behind, while Sophie Hinthorne and Verity Nowark round out a well-balanced scoring group. Eureka brings one of the most experienced lineups in the field, made up mostly of juniors and seniors. Sierra Herrmann leads the Hornets and has looked like an all-state contender for much of the year. Ava Otto will need to be close behind as their No. 2, ideally finishing in the top 50. The key for this team will be keeping Sophia Watson, Adeline Hubert, and Amanda Gonzalez within 10 seconds of each other to contend for their first girls trophy since 2021. Elmwood has surged into the mix after beating Eureka at sectionals. Mya Hill is a legitimate all-state candidate, with Bristol Schmidgall providing a strong No. 2 presence. If Madalyn Ori, Riley Kelly, and Taylor Forney can tighten their gap to within 10 seconds, Elmwood could find themselves on the podium. Beyond those six, expect programs like St. Joseph-Ogden, Marshall, Delavan, Cambridge, Althoff Catholic, Byron, and Stark County to battle for top-10 finishes in what should be one of the deepest 1A girls fields in recent memory.

Individual Projections -

Individual Preview -

A lot of hype has surrounded the 1A Girls Individual race and rightfully so with an absolutely star studded field of runners. Without a doubt, this could be the strongest top 10 in 1A history. The battle up front will feature two titans clashing for the first time this season. Sunny Weber of Sandwich, the defending 2A State Champion, steps into the 1A classification for the first time. Weber has been an absolute juggernaut this year, remaining undefeated with marquee wins at the First to the Finish and Naperville Twilight Invites. Perhaps her most impressive performance came at the Seneca Regional, where she ran 16:40 on a challenging course. Her main competition will be the also undefeated Isabella Keller of St. Anthony, who has been unstoppable this year and looks even sharper than in 2023, when she captured the 1A State title and placed 8th at Nike Cross Nationals. Keller has claimed victories at the Cow Chip Classic, Richard Spring Invite, Spartan Classic, and Nike XC Town Twilight, some of the most prestigious meets in the Midwest. This matchup between two of the state’s all time greats could threaten the state record of 15:53. For Keller, the key to victory will be creating separation from Weber before the final 800 meters. Kate Foltz of Tuscola, last year’s 1A State Champion, has been somewhat overlooked amid the hype, but she’s a proven championship racer who won’t go down easily. At the First to the Finish Invite, Foltz actually broke away from Weber late in the race before Weber surged past her near the finish. Expect Foltz to be right in the lead pack and possibly play spoiler again. To repeat as champion, she’ll likely need to better her 15:59.4 mark from last year. Tessa Bowers of Shelbyville has been on fire in recent weeks, notching wins at her conference meet and regional, then posting a blazing 16:49 at the Patriot Invite. She’s been improving steadily since September and could very well finish inside the top five. Kyla Babb of Westmont, last year’s 3rd place finisher, hasn’t faced much elite competition this fall but remains a major contender. A 10:23 performer on the track, she’s capable of running in the 16:10 to 16:20 range and pushing the top three. Klaire Eighner of Maroa Forsyth enters with serious momentum after placing 14th at the Nike XC Town Twilight and running 17:57 at LaVern Gibson. Expect her to be under 17:00 and in contention for a top five finish. Aubrey Denning of St. Anthony, Keller’s teammate, has broken 17:00 four times this year and should be a fixture in the chase pack. Abagail Baumann of Rockford Lutheran has been steadily improving all season and looks primed to dip under 17:00 after consistent performances near that mark. Veteran Molly Farrell of Marshall will compete in her final IHSA State Meet, aiming to cap off a stellar career that includes 5th, 4th, and 7th place finishes. She’s a strong bet to be in the top five once again. Lastly, Klarke Goranson of Manteno shouldn’t be overlooked. Despite limited head to head competition this season, the 4:50 1600m runner has the speed and strength to mix it up in the chase pack and make noise late in the race.