2026 XC State Previews: 2A

Girls Individual Rankings

Girls Individual Preview

The IHSA Class 2A Girls Cross Country State Championship is shaping up to feature one of the most intriguing individual battles of the weekend, with Emaline Foster of Prairie Ridge and Ali Londrigan of Glenwood entering as the two leading contenders for the individual crown. Foster returns to Detweiller Park looking to finish the job after a heartbreaking runner-up performance a year ago, while Londrigan has been nearly unbeatable this fall, with her only loss coming against Foster earlier in the season. Behind the two favorites, a talented group of returning All-State runners, sectional champions, and emerging underclassmen will battle for podium positions. With several athletes capable of finishing inside the top five, the race for All-State honors could be just as entertaining as the championship showdown.

There may not be a more compelling redemption story entering this year's State Meet than that of Emaline Foster (Jr., Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge). A year ago, Foster appeared to be on her way to an individual state championship before collapsing with just 100 meters remaining while leading the race. She ultimately finished second, and now the Prairie Ridge junior returns to Detweiller Park as the favorite to capture the title that narrowly escaped her. Foster has put together an outstanding junior campaign, highlighted by victories at the First to the Finish Invitational, Fox Valley Conference Championships, Lake Forest Regional, and Woodstock North Sectional. Her fifth-place finish at the prestigious Palatine Meet of Champions further demonstrated her ability to compete against some of the best runners in Illinois. Foster also brings valuable track experience after placing ninth in the 1600m and fifth in the 3200m at the 2025 State Championships. With multiple major victories already on her résumé this season, Foster enters Saturday with the opportunity to complete one of the most memorable comeback stories in recent Illinois cross country history.

If anyone is capable of preventing Foster from capturing the championship, it is Ali Londrigan (Sr., Chatham Glenwood). The Glenwood senior has been nearly perfect throughout the fall, with her only defeat coming against Foster at the First to the Finish Invitational, where she finished runner-up. Since then, Londrigan has continued to establish herself as one of the state's premier distance runners, collecting victories at the Granite City Robinson/Lang Invitational, Springfield Invitational, Peoria Invitational, Lakes Sunset Invitational, Central State Eight Conference Championships, Jacksonville Regional, and Carbondale Sectional. Londrigan is no stranger to competing on the biggest stage, having finished seventh at the Cross Country State Championships in both 2023 and last year. She also brings impressive track credentials, including personal bests of 4:51 in the 1600m and 10:40 in the 3200m. Her résumé includes fifth-place finishes in both events at the 2025 Class 3A State Championships. With an undefeated record against everyone except Foster this season, Londrigan has every reason to believe she can reverse their earlier result and close out her high school cross country career with an individual state championship.

While Foster and Londrigan appear to be the clear favorites, the battle for third place could be one of the most competitive storylines of the afternoon. Lyla Plaisier (So., Elmhurst Timothy Christian) has made an impressive transition into Class 2A after finishing 11th at last year's Class 1A State Championships. The Timothy Christian sophomore has continued to improve throughout the fall, finishing third at the Larry Eddington Invitational and second at both the Lisle Mane Event and Chicagoland Christian Conference Championships. Plaisier has saved some of her best racing for the postseason, capturing individual titles at both the Kaneland Regional and Kaneland Sectional. Those back-to-back championship performances have established her as one of the leading contenders to finish third behind the two favorites.

Another athlete who has positioned herself for a potential top-three finish is Nora Wedwick (Jr., Rockford Boylan). The Boylan junior has enjoyed a breakthrough season after finishing 22nd at last year's State Championships. Wedwick opened the fall with a runner-up performance at the NIC-10 Conference Preview before finishing third at both the First to the Finish Invitational and Lakes Sunset Invitational. Since then, she has taken her racing to another level, winning the NIC-10 Conference Championships, Belvidere Regional, and Woodstock North Sectional. Wedwick also brings championship experience from the track, where she helped Boylan finish fifth in the 4x800m and ninth in the 4x400m at last year's State Meet. With three consecutive postseason victories, Wedwick enters Detweiller Park with plenty of momentum and a legitimate opportunity to challenge for a top three finish.

Experience could play a major role in the battle for third, and Elena Mamminga (Sr., Wheaton St. Francis) has plenty of it. The St. Francis senior has been one of the most consistent distance runners in Class 2A throughout her high school career, finishing fifth at the 2024 Cross Country State Championships and eighth last year. Mamminga also owns an impressive track résumé, including a 3200m personal best of 10:46, a fifth-place finish in the event at last year's State Meet, and a sixth-place finish in 2025. She has also been part of two state championship 4x800m relay teams. This fall, Mamminga finished third at the Lisle Mane Event, eighth at Lakes Sunset, and third at the CCL/GCAC Conference Championships before taking runner-up honors at both the Kaneland Regional and Sectional. Although she has not collected a major individual victory this season, Mamminga's proven ability to perform at Detweiller Park makes her one of the strongest candidates to challenge for third.

The competition for a top-five finish will extend well beyond those three athletes, with Paityn Brady (Jr., Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin) looking to build upon an already impressive State Meet résumé. After finishing 12th at the 2024 State Championships, Brady made a significant jump last season, placing fifth overall. The Sacred Heart-Griffin junior has remained competitive this fall, finishing third at the Dan Moy Invitational, fourth at the Gene Jones Invitational, and second at the Carbondale Sectional. Brady also brings experience from the State Track and Field Championships, having been part of eighth-place 4x800m relay performances in consecutive seasons. With two strong State Cross Country Meet performances already behind her, Brady will be looking to secure another top-five finish.

Prairie Ridge could have two athletes battling near the front of the race if Anneke Dam (Jr., Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge) returns to the lineup as expected. Dam did not compete at the sectional meet but is anticipated to race at State, giving Prairie Ridge another legitimate top-five contender alongside Foster. The junior finished 12th at last year's Cross Country State Championships and was the runner-up in the 800m at the State Track and Field Championships. This fall, Dam finished 11th at both the Palatine Meet of Champions and Lakes Sunset Invitational while also placing second at the Fox Valley Conference Championships. Her combination of speed and championship experience makes her a dangerous competitor, particularly if the race remains tightly packed entering the final stretch.

While Londrigan will attract much of the attention at the front, Glenwood senior Sophie Rentmiester (Sr., Chatham Glenwood) could be right behind her. Rentmiester enters the weekend as one of the top returning finishers after placing fourth at last year's State Championships, a significant improvement from her 24th-place performance in 2023. Her senior season has featured remarkable consistency against high-level competition, including a third-place finish at the Granite City Robinson/Lang Invitational, fifth at First to the Finish, a victory at the Dunlap Invitational, and runner-up finishes at both the Springfield and Peoria Invitationals. She also finished fifth at Lakes Sunset before taking second at the Central State Eight Conference Championships and Jacksonville Regional. A fourth-place finish at the Carbondale Sectional wrapped up her postseason preparation. With track credentials of 2:13 in the 800m and 4:58 in the 1600m, Rentmiester possesses the finishing speed to move through the field late and challenge for another top-five finish.

The battle for the remaining top-ten positions will be equally competitive, with Erin Hinsdale (Sr., Wheaton St. Francis) among the most accomplished athletes in the field. Hinsdale finished fourth at the 2024 Cross Country State Championships and 11th last season, giving her two years of experience competing near the front at Detweiller Park. She has also enjoyed considerable success on the track, including a runner-up finish in the 800m in 2024, a fourth-place finish in the same event in 2025, and fourth in the 1600m last year. Like teammate Mamminga, Hinsdale has been part of two state championship 4x800m relay teams. This fall, Hinsdale finished third at the Kane County Invitational, sixth at First to the Finish, fourth at the Lisle Mane Event, and ninth at Lakes Sunset. She followed those performances with fourth at the CCL/GCAC Conference Championships and third at both the Kaneland Regional and Sectional. Her consistency and championship experience make her a strong candidate to return to the top ten.

Another athlete who could make a significant impact on the top ten is Anniston Huff (Sr., Mahomet-Seymour). The senior has enjoyed a strong final cross country season, winning the Charleston Invitational, Apollo Conference Championships, and Mattoon Regional. She also finished fifth at the Clinton Light It Up Invitational, 11th at the Richard Spring Invitational, fourth at the Peoria Invitational, and third at the Carbondale Sectional. Huff's track background could prove especially valuable in a tightly contested race. She finished ninth in the 800m at last year's State Championships while helping Mahomet-Seymour take second in the 4x400m. She was also part of top-six finishes in the 4x200m and 4x400m at the 2024 State Meet. With her combination of middle-distance speed and strong cross country performances, Huff has the potential to make a significant impact on Saturday.

One of the more exciting young distance runners in Class 2A is Lillian Chaddock (So., Peoria Notre Dame), who has taken a significant step forward after finishing 23rd at last year's State Championships. Chaddock finished fourth at the First to the Finish Invitational before testing herself against national-level competition at Nike XC Town Twilight, where she placed 28th. She followed that performance with runner-up finishes at the Big 12 Conference Championships and Peoria Notre Dame Regional before delivering one of her best races of the season at the Metamora Sectional, where she captured the individual championship. That victory gives Chaddock considerable momentum heading into Saturday as she looks to secure her first top-ten State Meet finish.

Timothy Christian will also have another athlete capable of making noise near the front in Kaitlyn Pergande (Fr., Elmhurst Timothy Christian). The freshman has quickly established herself as a legitimate contender in Class 2A despite having no previous high school State Meet experience. Pergande finished third at the Chicagoland Christian Conference Championships before taking sixth at the Kaneland Regional and fourth at the Kaneland Sectional. With teammate Plaisier expected to contend near the front, Pergande could benefit from having a familiar competitor to work alongside throughout the race. A top-ten finish would be an impressive conclusion to her debut high school cross country season.

For Vivianna Tryfonopoulos (Sr., Chicago Kennedy), Saturday represents an opportunity to accomplish something that has eluded her throughout her high school career: earning All-State honors. The Kennedy senior has enjoyed an impressive final season, winning the DePaul Ram Invitational and finishing second at the Latin Prep Classic. She also placed fifth at the Chicago Public Schools City Championships before capturing the Wheaton Academy Regional title. Tryfonopoulos followed that victory with a fifth-place finish at the Kaneland Sectional. Having never previously earned All-State recognition, she enters the weekend with an opportunity to finish her cross country career on the biggest stage with a breakthrough performance.

One athlete who could be particularly dangerous if the race comes down to a fast finish is Taylor Short (So., Lincoln). The sophomore has already established herself as one of the state's better middle-distance runners, having placed fourth in the 800m at last year's State Track and Field Championships with a personal best of 2:13. Short has carried that success into cross country, finishing fourth at the Dunlap Invitational, winning the Dan Moy Invitational, placing sixth at the Gene Jones Invitational, and taking third at the Central State Eight Conference Championships. She has been especially impressive during the postseason, winning the Peoria Notre Dame Regional before finishing second at the Metamora Sectional. With her speed and recent success, Short has the potential to move into the top ten and become one of the breakout performers of the weekend.

Few athletes in the field have collected as many individual victories this fall as Elayna Harker (Jr., Taylorville). The junior has put together an outstanding season, winning the Rochester Invitational, Lee Halberg Lanphier Invitational, Broadway Bolt Invitational, and Delavan Invitational. She also finished fifth at the Peoria Invitational and second at the Apollo Conference Championships before placing third at the Jacksonville Regional and fifth at the Carbondale Sectional. Harker finished 13th at last year's Cross Country State Championships and followed that with a sixth-place finish in the 3200m at the State Track and Field Championships. Her ability to consistently win races throughout the regular season, combined with her previous State Meet success, makes her a strong candidate to improve upon last year's finish and break into the top ten.

Girls Team Rankings

Girls Team Preview

The battle for the IHSA Class 2A Girls Cross Country State Championship is shaping up to be one of the most exciting team races of the weekend, with defending state champion Chatham Glenwood and Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge entering Detweiller Park as the co-favorites to capture the title. Glenwood has dominated throughout the 2026 season, winning nearly every major invitational it has entered while featuring one of the strongest front-running groups in the state. Prairie Ridge, meanwhile, has put together an outstanding season of its own and enters the weekend looking to improve upon its third-place finish at the 2025 State Championships. Behind the two favorites, Wheaton St. Francis, Mahomet-Seymour, and Peoria Notre Dame will battle for the third-place trophy, with all three programs demonstrating the ability to compete against strong competition throughout the fall. With several teams featuring talented front runners and tightly packed scoring groups, the championship could ultimately come down to the performances of the fourth and fifth runners.

Chatham Glenwood enters Saturday with an opportunity to defend its Class 2A State Championship after putting together one of the most impressive seasons of any team in Illinois. The Titans have been nearly unstoppable throughout the fall, opening with a runner-up finish at the Granite City Robinson/Lang Invitational before capturing championships at the First to the Finish Invitational, Dunlap Invitational, Springfield Invitational, Peoria Invitational, and Lakes Sunset Invitational. Glenwood continued its dominance during the championship portion of the season, winning the Central State Eight Conference Championships, Jacksonville Regional, and Carbondale Sectional. Leading the charge is Ali Londrigan, one of the favorites to capture the individual state championship, alongside Sophie Rentmeister, who finished fourth individually at the 2025 State Meet. The Titans also feature another outstanding front runner in Ali Broaddus, giving Glenwood one of the most dangerous top-three combinations in the classification. Behind that trio, Brenna Sloman and Addie Hamrick will play critical roles in determining whether Glenwood can repeat as state champions. The Titans' biggest advantage is their ability to place multiple runners near the front of the field, potentially building a significant scoring advantage before their fourth and fifth runners cross the finish line. With a defending championship, an impressive collection of invitational victories, and one of the strongest lineups in Class 2A, Glenwood has all the pieces needed to bring home another state title.

Standing directly in Glenwood's path is Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge, which has emerged as the Titans' biggest challenger for the Class 2A crown. After finishing third at the 2025 State Championships, the Wolves have continued to improve and now find themselves in position to compete for the team championship. Prairie Ridge has enjoyed an outstanding 2026 campaign, winning the McHenry County Invitational before finishing third at the highly competitive Lakes Sunset Invitational. The Wolves followed those performances with victories at the Fox Valley Conference Championships, Lake Forest Regional, and Woodstock North Sectional, building considerable momentum entering the State Meet. Prairie Ridge is led by Emaline Foster, the individual state championship favorite, who gives the Wolves an opportunity to score very few points at the front of the race. Alongside Foster is Anneke Dam, another talented runner capable of finishing near the front if she returns to the lineup as expected after missing the sectional meet. Behind those two, Maia Lancaster provides a strong third runner, while Emily LaPorte and Genevieve Torgerson round out the projected scoring lineup. Prairie Ridge's championship hopes could depend heavily on the performances of its fourth and fifth runners, particularly against a Glenwood squad that features an outstanding front three. If Foster and Dam deliver strong performances near the front and the Wolves can limit the gap to their remaining scorers, Prairie Ridge has a legitimate opportunity to capture the state championship.

While Glenwood and Prairie Ridge appear to be the leading championship contenders, Wheaton St. Francis has the experience and talent to challenge for the third-place trophy. The Spartans enter Saturday looking to return to the podium after finishing runner-up at the 2025 State Championships. St. Francis has put together another strong season, finishing second at the John Kurtz Invitational and third at the First to the Finish Invitational before capturing the Lisle Mane Event championship. The Spartans also finished fourth at the Lakes Sunset Invitational before winning the CCL/GCAC Conference Championships, Kaneland Regional, and Kaneland Sectional. St. Francis features one of the strongest top-three combinations in Class 2A, led by Elena Mamminga and Erin Hinsdale, both of whom bring extensive State Meet experience and have demonstrated the ability to compete near the front at Detweiller Park. Alongside them is Abby Yarusso, who gives the Spartans another talented runner capable of contributing a strong team score. The biggest question for St. Francis will be the performances of Clara Hall and Audrey McCarty, who will need to deliver strong races to keep the Spartans in contention for a trophy. With a proven front three and considerable championship experience, St. Francis has the ability to make another appearance on the podium.

Another program capable of challenging for the third-place trophy is Mahomet-Seymour, which has made significant strides after finishing eighth at the 2025 State Championships. The Bulldogs have enjoyed an impressive 2026 season, finishing second at the Clinton Light It Up Invitational and Charleston Invitational before capturing the Lee Halberg Invitational championship. Mahomet-Seymour also finished runner-up at the Peoria Invitational before winning the Gene Jones Invitational, Apollo Conference Championships, and Mattoon Regional. The Bulldogs followed those performances with a runner-up finish behind Glenwood at the Carbondale Sectional, demonstrating their ability to compete against one of the championship favorites. Leading the way is Anniston Huff, who has established herself as one of the top individual runners in Class 2A. Behind Huff, Paige Jensen and Ashley Martin give Mahomet-Seymour a strong supporting group, while Cora Kasper and Ava Cvengros round out a balanced scoring lineup. One of the Bulldogs' biggest strengths is their depth, with a group capable of keeping the team score competitive even without multiple runners finishing among the top individuals. After finishing outside the top five a year ago, Mahomet-Seymour has an excellent opportunity to make a significant jump and challenge for a trophy.

Perhaps the most intriguing team in the battle for third is Peoria Notre Dame, which has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround after finishing 11th at the 2025 State Championships. The Irish have established themselves as one of the top programs in Class 2A this fall, opening with an impressive runner-up finish at the First to the Finish Invitational. Notre Dame has continued to build upon that early success, capturing the Big 12 Conference Championships before sweeping both the Peoria Notre Dame Regional and Metamora Sectional titles. Leading the charge is Lillian Chaddock, who has emerged as one of the top individual runners in the classification and enters the weekend with momentum following her sectional championship. Behind Chaddock, Notre Dame features a tightly packed group that includes Brigid Gould, Sloan Cranford, Charlotte Gould, and Audrey Shane. While the Irish may not have the same front-end strength as some of the other trophy contenders, their ability to keep their second through fifth runners close together could prove extremely valuable in the team standings. That depth has been a major reason for Notre Dame's success throughout the fall and could allow the Irish to outperform teams with stronger individual runners. After finishing 11th a year ago, a third-place trophy would represent a remarkable improvement and one of the biggest team success stories of the weekend.

Boys Individual Rankings

Boys Individual Preview

This could be the first time in state history where the 2A individual race is actually the deepest race in the state. There is an unreal amount of talent competing for a state title this year, and we should expect a ton of fast times from the best of the best. There is no clear favorite for the title this year, so we’re going to go down the list and take a look at who has the best chance to win the 2A boys state title.

The front runner for the majority of the season has been Thomas Jochum of Glenbard South. Jochum came into the season as the top ranked individual, and kept his spot at #1 for about a third of the season. Jochum’s best race of the season has to go to his performance at the Roy Griak Invitational, where he threw down a 15:00 across 5k to take 5th in one of the fastest races in the country. His 14:20 at Black Partridge Park at the Gene Jones invitational stands as one of the fastest times in the course’s history, and he was the course record holder there for about 3 weeks. His ability to string out a race early and dominate from the front makes him a scary candidate to go against in a state meet setting. However, in terms of kick, there are several athletes that could outdo Jochum in the final 400 meters. The most dominant kicker in the field is Ben Gorsage of Washington, who has used his significant speed to run some of the fastest times we’ve seen all year. Gorsage is an 800 demon, with a PR of 1:48.60 from his junior year. He is one of the top returning 800 runners in the entire country, and his ability to kick down opponents in the final straightaway is likely the best in the country. Where Gorsage struggles is through the second mile, but lately, it hasn’t been an issue for him. Gorsage has taken second two weeks in a row, to another title contender, and most recently he put up an astounding 14:15 at Black Partridge Park, taking down Jochum’s course record. However, his 14:15 is not the course record, as that belongs to the title contender that’s been consistently beating Gorsage, Cuyler Swanson of Morris. Swanson ran 14:14 to take the sectional title over Gorsage in a 6 second course record, and he did the same thing the week prior, running 15:06 over Gorsage’s 15:08. Swanson was the 2A FTTF champion over several talented athletes, including the previously mentioned Thomas Jochum, and his only loss on the season has come from his identical twin, Everett Swanson. Everett Swanson has seen an unprecedented jump in aerobic power over the last 6 months, and he’s joined his brother as a front runner for the 2A state title. Everett has beaten his twin twice this year, once at the Vicky Piela Invite, and again at the Naperville Twilight invite, where they both set their PRs of 14:19 and 14:22. What makes the Swanson’s a special duo is their ability to kick regardless of 800 speed. Cuyler is the defending 2A 1600 state champ, and Everett is the returning runner up from the 2A 3200, where he closed the race in a 4:23 1600. Both runners have the ability to kick down runners in the final stretch, and neither one is relatively inclined towards the 800. While their raw speed capabilities might not match Gorsage’s, their drive to win has been made very clear over the last few months. These four athletes all have qualities that the rest of the state just can’t match, which makes them just a little more likely to take home the title.

While those four runners might have a slight edge over the rest of the field, there are still several athletes that will have their shot at taking home a state title. First up is the man on the hot streak, Liam Bettis of Taylorville. Bettis had about 3-4 consecutive weeks at the #1 individual spot where he threw down some of the most impressive performances that we saw all year. He took down one of the biggest 2A wins at the Peoria High invitational, where he ran 14:18 to take a 7 second win over several potential top ten athletes. His 14:02 performance from the Broadway Bolt might be just a tad overinflated due to the fact that it’s a road race, but it’s still 20 seconds faster than what he ran last year at the meet, and is not to be taken lightly. The only thing that’s currently holding Bettis back from being the outright favorite is his performance at the sectional meet, where he lost to three other title contenders, Quaid Berger of Olney Richland County, Raphael Greer of Marion and Gabriel Greer of Marion. Berger just returned from injury at the conference meet, and he has not lost a race since then. His 14:46 performance at the sectional meet was nothing short of dominant, as he won over the Greers by 10 seconds, and put 25 seconds between himself and Bettis. With Bettis being the athlete that he is, a 25 second win for Berger is a great confidence booster going into the state meet. Berger’s only question mark is how he will respond to guys that can outkick him, as his speed is not anywhere close to Gorsage or the Swansons. That being said, he won the 2A top times 3200 on a kick, so anything can happen when the stakes are high enough. The Greers are the other two runners that should be credited with a chance of a state title. Raphael was not in a condition to race at a high level at last year’s state meet, but Gabriel was the runner up at last year’s state meet with a blistering PR of 14:10. The Greers have an uncanny ability to sync up during a race and put an insane amount of space between themselves and the rest of their competition. They will definitely contend for a state title with the aerobic ability that they have, but the question remains if they can overpower runners like Jochum and Berger. 

There are a few other runners that deserve their flowers as runners that should also be contending for the top 5 to 10 positions. The first one is arguably the most talented runner in the class of 2028, Carson Kaiser of Kaneland. Kaiser has been in a similar situation to Berger where he’s been sidelined with injury until the conference meet. Kaiser took second at his season opener, taking down Everett Swanson of Morris in the process. He was third at the state meet last year with a ridiculous PR of 14:12, and if we see that version of Kaiser this weekend, we could see him go out and challenge for a state title. Judah Binger of Belvidere North has been doing a great job of racing for the win this year, and his sectional win at Emricson Park was nothing short of impressive. He was second at FTTF to Cuyler Swanson of Morris in 14:39 and he’s been tearing up 2A competition all season long. While he hasn’t gotten a win against some of the names listed above him, he is still an incredible competitor that should be looking for his spot in the top 10. Maxwell Kirby of Peoria Notre Dame cannot be overlooked in this either, as he is one of the top returners from last year’s state meet. Kirby was fourth at the Metamora Sectional behind the Swanson’s and Gorsage, and he ran his course best of 14:24 at Black Partridge Park to secure his spot. Kirby is a consistent state meet performer, and his 14:20 from last fall is a great showcase of how he shows up on the day. Kirby is another runner that has a dangerous kick up the straightaway that has nothing to do with 800 speed, so keep your eyes on him at the end. 

Boys Team Rankings

Boys Team Preview

It is certainly a strange year for the 2A boys team race. We are currently witnessing one of the most talented teams in 2A history, and they have almost locked away their state title this year. Behind them, is perhaps the second most talented team in 2A history, that has also basically locked away their second place trophy. Behind them, the race for the third place trophy has now been widened to a three team race, it’ll be very interesting to see who takes that final trophy home.

Dixon came into the season as the top ranked 2A team, and they have not relinquished their spot a single time. Coming off of a state title performance last year, they have developed their young runners into excellent runners, giving them the potential to put up 4 all-staters at Detweiller this weekend. Up front, Dixon has Dean Geiger and Averick Wiseman, who have been basically interchangeable throughout the year. Geiger and Wiseman are two returning all-staters with 3 mile PRs below 14:45, and they’ll be challenging for their position in the top ten this year. Ethan Carter and Alonzo Bautista have both slowly emerged as all-state hopefuls this year, and they are the main sparkplugs for this Dixon roster. Carter had his best race of the season at the state meet last year, running 15:04 on a mere 6 weeks of training. Bautista has taken his 3 mile PR from a 15:51 to the 14:55 that he put up at the sectional meet. Bautista is slightly more speed oriented than Carter, which will serve him well at Detweiller this weekend. However, their top four isn’t what puts them ahead of everyone else. it’s actually the dual option 5th runners that they have with Bentlee Lawrenz and Brody Hopper that set them apart. Lawrenz had a slow start to the season due to injury, but he has put himself in a position where it looks like he could go out there and challenge the 15 minute barrier as a freshman. Hopper has been the consistent 5th runner for this squad all year while simultaneously having one of the best senior year jumps that I have ever seen. Hopper took his 3 mile PR from 16:44 to 15:10 this year, all to ensure that his team scores their back-to-back state title. Having two options for a fifth man is what puts this team significantly above others, and it’ll be extremely difficult (but not impossible) for anyone else to sneak in.

You almost have to feel bad for Morton, as they are one of the fastest teams in 2A history and they might not win a state title. Morton has a top four that is pretty much on par with Dixon’s, but if they want to walk away with a win, they are going to need one heck of a day from their 5th runner. Maxwell Carter leads this squad up front as one of the strongest runners in the state, he’ll be pushing for a spot in the top 10 this year. Carter has one of the faster PRs in 2A this year, with a 14:33 from the Peoria High Invitational. His race at sectionals was a tad underwhelming, but he remained the #1 runner for Morton regardless. Keyston Beyer has been steadily improving throughout the season, his 14:51 performance at the sectional meet was easily his best race of the year so far. The returning all-stater will be looking for a return to the podium, and he’s put himself in a good position to do so. Abe Martin is the third returning all-stater on this squad, and he’ll be the wild card for Morton this year. Martin had a very concerning start to the year, but he’s turned it around very well in the last few weeks, with great performances at the conference and sectional meets. If Martin is able to climb back onto the podium again this year, he could very well influence an upset over Dixon. Duke Hendricks is the main reason Morton remains in contact with Dixon, as his 14:55 from the sectional meet says that he’s ready to join his teammates on the podium. With a fourth all-state option now on the board, Morton needs a big ask from their 5th runner, Owen Reisberg. Reisberg also had his best race of the season at the sectional meet, with a 15:22 PR. That is pretty far behind Dixon’s fifth runner, so Reisberg has his work cut out for him if he wants his team to win the title. The main reason you can’t totally rule this team out is because of Reisberg. If he goes out and drops 15-25 seconds to take down Hopper and Lawrenz, Morton wins a state title, and crazier things have happened than a 25 second drop at the state meet. This team is incredibly talented, and should they miss a first place trophy, they should still be able to lock up second.

After the sectional meets, the battle for the third place trophy has now widened to 3 teams. The front runners for this trophy are Crystal Lake Central, who are coming off their best team performance of the year at their sectional meet. Their front runner, Chase Teresi had his best race of the season, taking fourth behind Judah Binger, Cooper Summy, and Bryant Lester, three names that are all expected to challenge for top ten positions this year. Their pack of Finn Godlewski, Ethan McMahon, and Daniel Polston, has emerged as one of the strongest packs of three behind a lowstick in 2A, and they’ll be looking for the 15 minute barrier this weekend. Their fifth runner is the biggest hole in their roster, with Oliver Lavaty being the final option as of now. Lavaty has run 15:31 so far this season, and if CLC is to take home a trophy with a comfortable gap over fourth, he’ll probably have to be closer to 15:10. The runner up from the Woodstock sectional will be the next team to challenge for that third trophy, and that team is Deerfield. The Warriors have CLC covered in the lowstick department, with Andrew Calderon, Ethan Reich and Beckett Shifrin all aiming for an all-state position. While they haven’t had a race where all three of those runners are together and in good form yet, they consistently have a combination of the three ahead of CLC’s pack. Deerfield’s main focus will be to get Logan Luo back up into the fourth position, as they will absolutely need him if they are going to challenge for a trophy. Luo has been solid all year, with a PR of 15:12 from the CSL conference meet. However, the past two weeks, we’ve seen Luo assume the sixth position behind both Itai Gelber and Chris Bennie. While Gelber and Bennie have been doing a great job at picking up the slack from Luo, Deerfield will need Luo to get back into 15:10 form if they want to beat CLC. The final team that should challenge for a trophy is Normal University. Normal U has been up and down all season, but their sectional performance cemented their spot in the team race. Andrew Aldeman is one of the strongest runners in the state right now, and he’ll be looking for a spot in the top ten this year. Both Keaton North and Greyson Ince ran 15:00 at the sectional meet, which covers CLC’s group of three and could potentially cover Deerfield’s lowsticks as well. The reason they haven't been put into trophy conversation until now is because their 4th and 5th have been well far back, but the sectional meet put that on its head. Aedan Richards threw down a 15:29 at the sectional meet, and Lucas Layman posted a 15:40, which is good enough for Normal U to enter trophy talks. If Richards and Layman get any faster, this team is going to be in a great position to challenge for third, but the pressure does fall almost entirely on them. There isn’t much more that Aldeman, North and Ince can do, but if Richards and Layman or perhaps another step up for Normal U, it’s going to be rough for CLC or Deerfield to challenge them.