2025 IHSA XC State Previews: 2A Girls

The stage is set for the IHSA Girls 2A State Cross Country Championship, taking place this Saturday at the legendary Detweiller Park. Every workout, meet, and mile of training this season has built toward this moment, where some of Illinois’ most competitive mid-sized programs will clash for state glory. With several perennial powers in top form and a handful of rising teams ready to make history, the 2A field is loaded with talent and intrigue, setting up what could be one of the most thrilling races of the weekend.

2A State Preview Podcast

Team Projections -

Team Preview -

The team race will be a heavyweight showdown between two powerhouses with remarkably similar team compositions. Chatham Glenwood enters as the favorite, boasting a deep and balanced lineup. The Titans will be led by Ali Londrigan, Sophie Rentmeister, and Ashlyn Chopra, all of whom have the potential to finish within the top 10. That front-end strength makes Glenwood an intimidating opponent. The key difference makers will be Ali Broaddus and Brenna Sloman, who have both performed well throughout the state series. As long as they maintain their current form, the Titans should be in excellent position to capture another state title. Wheaton St. Francis has also held the No. 1 ranking at points this season and remains Glenwood’s biggest challenger. For the Spartans to take home the championship, their big three of Erin Hinsdale, Elena Mamminga, and Margaret Andrzejewski must all secure all-state finishes, ideally placing two runners in the top 10 and one inside the top 15. Behind them, Abby Yarusso will need to be close to Glenwood’s fourth runner, while Ashley Spahn must finish well ahead of Glenwood’s fifth to seal the deal. Those are the critical ingredients for a St. Francis win. Prairie Ridge hasn’t claimed a state trophy since 2019 but has a strong chance to end that drought. The Wolves are fronted by potential individual champion Emaline Foster, who gives them one of the lowest sticks in the field. The team’s success hinges on Maia Lancaster and Anneke Dam staying in the all-state mix, while Genevieve Torgerson and Sophia Gibson must finish within 2:30 of Foster to secure a trophy position. Wheaton Academy will also be a contender in the trophy hunt. They’re led by Addie Painter, who has shown flashes of all-state potential this season. To remain competitive, Brylee Painter, Charlotte Brown, and Sydnie Becker will need to finish within 10 seconds of one another, with either Lucy Ruettiger or Adeline Farrell closing the gap as the fifth runner. A 1–5 split under 40 seconds would give them a real shot at hardware. St. Viator entered the trophy conversation early in the season and will look to reassert themselves here. While their path is challenging, it’s not impossible. Emily Walberg will need to finish in all-state territory, while Breanna Klokkenga and Jada Baer must both break 18:50. Behind them, Isabella Renguso and Caroline Hartman will have to run under 19:10 to keep the Lions in contention.

Meanwhile, Crystal Lake South is trending upward and could challenge Prairie Ridge for local bragging rights and a potential trophy. The Gators are led by Caroline Lucas, an all-state hopeful, and Laynie Ripley, who could also break into the top 25 with a strong race. Their key will be closing the gap between Annalee Aarseth, Lily Brooks, and Abigail Magadan to under 20 seconds which is a split that could earn CLS its first trophy since 2021. Other teams capable of cracking the top 10 include Mahomet-Seymour, Deerfield, Normal West, Bloomington, Normal University, Peoria Notre Dame, Rochester, Washington, and Cary-Grove.

Individual Projections -

Individual Projections -

This will be a thrilling individual race between several elite runners. Emaline Foster of Prairie Ridge enters as the favorite for many, but it won’t come easily for the talented sophomore. She has won every meet this season except for her two third place finishes at the Palatine Invite and Lakes Sunset Invite, and she claimed victory at the First to the Finish Invite against several of the same contenders she’ll face here. To win her first state title, she will likely need to dip into the 16:30s, especially after running 16:36 to win the Lakes Sectional last weekend. Sydney Gertsen of Montini will not go down without a fight. Her only two losses this season came at GCAC to Ally Shutler and at First to the Finish to Foster. She was significantly closer to Shutler at GCAC than Foster was to Shutler at Lakes, an intriguing comparison that helped her earn a higher spot in our final individual rankings. Ali Londrigan of Chatham Glenwood is another major threat. Aside from her performance at the Lakes Sunset Meet, she has looked outstanding in recent weeks and reportedly ran a 4:53 mile time trial the week of sectionals, signaling that she’s fit and ready to contend for the win. Her key will be staying in the front pack until 800 meters to go, as her kick might be the best in the field. Beyond those three, the battle for the remaining top five spots is wide open. Sophie Rentmeister of Chatham Glenwood has shown flashes of elite form, running a phenomenal 17:25 for second at the Taylorville Regional. Elena Mamminga of St. Francis, who placed fifth at last year’s state meet, has been runner up to Foster at both the regional and sectional and appears poised for another top five finish if she can get into the 17:20s. Lillian Chaddock of Peoria Notre Dame had an off day at sectionals, finishing fourth, but her consistency and 17:26 PR from Richard Spring Invite make her a serious top five contender. Renee Warren of Normal West has also proven capable of running with the best. She took second to Londrigan at the Peoria High Invite, beating strong competitors like Rentmeister and Ashlyn Chopra. Brooklyn Smith of Geneseo is another to watch after beating both Warren and Chaddock at her sectional on her home course. Smith caught fire late last season as well but will be looking for redemption after a disappointing state race last year. Ashlyn Chopra, the final member of Glenwood’s elite trio, could make history for the Titans. It’s not unrealistic to imagine Glenwood placing three runners in the top five, or at the very least, all inside the top ten. Chopra ran a massive PR of 17:00 at the Lakes Sunset Meet and will aim to cap off her outstanding high school career with another big performance. Other runners who could find themselves in the top ten include Elayna Harker of Taylorville, Paityn Brady of Sacred Heart Griffin, Daniela Lovett of Dixon, Caylie Ahten of Washington, Josslyn Wade of Fenton, Margaret Andrzejewski of St. Francis, and Francesca Mora of Latin.