Above Photo: Yorkville starts their quest for a 5^th straight 2A title at their own regional meet Saturday morning (Photo Credit: Ben Draper)

 

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

 

The road to Peoria starts this weekend with some great competition at 15 regional sites. The Marist Regional at Midlothian Meadows could be the best of the Girls Regionals with 7 teams (5 ranked) trying to get one of the six qualifying spots. One good team will end their season on Saturday. There are no Boys regional meets that jump out. If you are near Peoria, try to hit the East Peoria Regional at Illinois College. 3 teams in the top 10 led by #1 Mahomet-Seymour will be in action.

 

Here is a brief look at each of the meets that will take place. The top 6 teams in each regional will qualify for one of five sectional meets that will take place next weekend. The top five individuals not on a qualifying team will also make it to the following weekend.

 

Good luck to all athletes competing this weekend, their coaches & parents, along with the fans that will be cheering for them!

 

Chicago University Sectional

 

Chicago DeLaSalle Regional

 

Girls – 2:00 PM

We could see Chicago U-High take the first 5 spots in the individual race as they should easily win the team competition. Noble Street Charter-Muchin should be ahead of the group behind U-High. The individual race should come down to U-High’s Isabella Khan and Elsa Erling challenging for the win.

 

Boys – 3:00 PM

It should be the same story in the Boys race as U-High is the clear favorite in this meet. Urban Prep Engelwood and Noble Street Charter-Muchin will be the next teams. Jacob Meyer (Chicago University HS) is the big favorite in this race.

 

Bensenville Fenton Regional

Fenton Campus XC Course, Bensenville

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

This should be a highly competitive race with Deerfield, Saint Viator, and Mather the top teams in this 10 team field. Kelly Osborn (Deerfield HS) and Yarely Robledo (Mather HS, Chicago) will be the individuals to watch in this meet.

 

Boys – 11:00 AM

Deerfield, Fenton, and Mather are 3 of the top 5 teams in this sectional. They will race for the team championship. Deerfield had a good race finishing 6^th at the CSL championship last week. Fenton was close to ranked Wheaton Academy in finishing 2^nd at the MSC-West Meet. The Bison are peaking at the right time. Mather placed 6^th in the Chicago City championships. They will need to get their split down in order to win this meet. Mather’s Robel Yemane and Fenton’s Jose Vazquez-Perez should race for the individual regional championship.

 

Elmwood Park Regional

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

Payton showed that they could be on the verge of making the top 25 rankings after they finished 3^rd in the Chicago City championships last Saturday. The top ranked team in the Sectional should be challenged by ISL champion Latin School for the regional title. Elmwood Park should be the next team to qualify. Payton’s Molly Crotteau should be challenged by Laura Katunas (Latin School) for the individual championship.

 

Boys – 11:00 AM

#12 Fenwick is the big team favorite in this meet coming off of a strong 3^rd place finish at the CCL Championships. The Friars are the only ranked team in this sectional complex. Elmwood Park and Latin School should push for 2^nd in the team meet. Alex Marks and Jack Darrow lead Fenwick and could go 1-2 in this race. Simon Ricci (Latin School HS) could be the Fenwick duo’s chief competition.

 

Decatur MacArhur Sectional

 

Highland Regional

Alhambra Fireman’s Park

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

#21 Highland has been coming on strong the past two weeks. They had a close call at the MVC Championships as they nipped Triad 42-47 for the conference title. Highland will be the favorite in this meet. With 6 schools ranked in the top 11 in this sectional, Highland could have a rough time in the toughest regional in this sectional complex. Highland ran a 1 minute split on 5 led by Allison Zobrist and Sarah Beth Wiegman. Triad countered with a 1-3 finish by Abigail Richter and Maddie Keller. Triad will need to lower their split to under 2 minutes to challenge the host school. Mt. Vernon and Carbondale were separated by 2 points at the South 7 Conference Meet. They should qualify as well. Mascoutah and Waterloo finished 3^rd and 4^th at the MVC and should also make it out of this regional. Richter and Jenna Schwartz (Waterloo HS) finished 1-2 at their conference meet and should challenge each other for the regional championship on Saturday.

 

Boys – 10:45 AM

Mascoutah ran a 65 second split to easily win the MVC Championship last week. They will be the favorites in this meet. Ethan Price leads this team that is looking to getting to Peoria but their concentration is on Saturday first. Mt. Vernon and Carbondale were only separated by 1 point in the South 7 Conference Meet. They will be Mascoutah’s chief competition. Alantis Green and Micah Cherry (Carbondale HS) are the top runners in this regional race.

 

Jacksonville Regional

Community Park, Jacksonville

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

#4 Rochester leads 2 other top 25 ranked teams into this meet on Jacksonville’s 2.9 mile Community Park course. Katherine Petty has put herself on the map as 1 of the top individuals in the 2A state only as a freshman. She leads a tough Rochester team that ran a 33 second 2 to 5 split last Saturday. The team could be tougher if the pack is within 50 seconds of Petty. #8 Chatham-Glenwood was within 16 points of Rochester at the Central State 8 Meet last week with 4 freshmen in their top 7. Could they be closer to the Rockets in this meet? #18 Springfield has a strong trio up front led by Ally Goff. Their split on their top 5 is almost 3 minutes making it tough for the Senators to catch the two top teams. Petty and Goff should be the favorites in the individual race.

 

Boys – 11:00 AM

#7 Springfield and #11 Chatham-Glenwood should again battle for the regional championship after finishing 1-2 last week at the Central State 8 Meet. The Senators ran a 51 second split on 5 led by the 1-3 finish of Heath Warren and Logan Besalke. Chatham-Glenwood ran a 62 second split off of the 2^nd place finish of Landon Skelly. The split on their #2 to #5 runners in that race was only 24 seconds. If the pack can get to within 25 seconds of Skelly with the same split on 5, the team outcome could change. Jerseyville and Sacred Heart-Griffin should be the teams battling for the 3^rd spot. The individual race should be a good one with Ben Flowers (Jerseyville HS) battling Heath Warren and Landon Skelly for the regional title.

 

Taylorville Regional

Christian County Fairgrounds

 

Girls – 11:00 AM

#17 Decatur St. Teresa ran a 75 second split on their top 5 last week in winning the CIC Meet. They should be the big favorite in this meet. The top 2 teams in the Apollo Conference Effingham and Charleston should challenge for the second spot behind St. Teresa. Lauren Evelti (St. Teresa HS, Decatur) should be the individual favorite in this race.

 

Boys – 12:00 PM

#24 Charleston edged Taylorville by 9 points in last week’s Apollo Conference Meet. The two teams should challenge for the regional team championship on Saturday. Mattoon was close to these 2 teams in these meets and could also be a factor. Luke Sloan (Taylorville HS) should challenge Charleston’s Colton Bell and Ross Osterday for the individual title.

 

Normal University Sectional

 

Crete-Monee Regional

 

Girls – 1:30 PM

Lincoln-Way West, Morris, and LaSalle-Peru will challenge for the regional championship in which it could these teams could be within 12 points of each other. Rachel Hickey (LaSalle-Peru HS) should be the individual favorite in this meet.

 

Boys – 2:30 PM

#22 Lincoln-Way West finished 2^nd in the SWSC-Red Conference Meet. They will be the favorite in this race. La-Salle Peru finished 6^th at the NIB-12 Meet and should be the chief challenger. Evan Mitchell ran 15:24 to win the individual race for Lincoln-Way West and should be the favorite in this race.

 

East Peoria Regional

Illinois College, East Peoria

 

Girls – 11:00 AM

#13 Mahomet-Seymour defeated #14 Normal University 43-53 at last week’s Corn Belt Conference Meet. The 2 teams should challenge for the team title but could have company up top. #19 Metamora and #22 Morton also have the talent to get close to the two Corn Belt conference teams. Danville, Bloomington, and Normal West will battle for the final two spots. Lauren Whitehouse (Mahomet-Seymour HS) should be the individual favorite in this race. Megan Moreno (Morton HS) and Kari Lalumandier (Metamora HS) will also challenge for the top spot.

 

Boys – 12:00 PM

This race is loaded with 5 ranked teams in the field. Top ranked Mahomet-Seymour beat #5 Normal University 20-39 in what amounted to a dual meet at the Corn Belt Conference Meet. With more talent in this meet, the numbers could be a little higher. The Bulldogs dominated the race putting 5 runners in the top 7. #8 Metamora ran a 60 second split to win the Mid Illini Conference. That will need to get lower if they want to get past U-High. #15 Danville has flown under the radar this year but has the talent to pull a surprise especially in this meet. They need to get their split under 60 seconds to achieve that. #25 Normal West has gone through some injuries but still finished 3^rd at the Big 12 meet behind Danville’s 2^nd place finish. Bloomington, East Peoria, and Morton will fight for the final team qualifying spot. Alex Keeble (Mahomet-Seymour HS) is the big favorite in this race, Jake Gillum (Metamora HS), Jack Franklin (Normal University HS), and Carl Way (Danville HS) will be among the runners among the front pack.

 

Peoria Notre Dame Regional

Donovan GC, Peoria

 

Girls

The top 3 teams in the sectionals toe the line at Peoria Notre Dame’s new home course at Donovan Golf Course. #2 Dunlap looks to be the team to beat especially after their win at the Mid Illini Conference Meet. The Eagles ran a 41 second split on 5 led by the individual win by Frannie Verville with teammates Miranda Kruiswyk and Abby Johnson close behind. #9 Washington seemed to be a distant second in that race but still only scored 49 points. Kassidy Dexheimer and Josie Hermann lead a 57 second split on their first 5. Big 12 Champion does have the guarantee of a single number up front with Maryjeanne Gilbert leading the way. Notre Dame’s 86 second split on their 2 to 5 runners could prevent them from placing higher than 3^rd. #24 Rock Island Alleman, Geneseo, and Galesburg should be the other teams qualifying out of this sectional. Gilbert is the favorite in this race. The 16:14.7 that she ran at Detweiller Park last weekend shows that she could go under 16 in the state meet. She jogged an 18:31 on this course to easily win the Peoria City Championship at the beginning of the month. She should shatter that time in this meet.

 

Boys

Host #10 Peoria Notre Dame and #14 Rock Island Alleman are the teams to beat in this race. Notre Dame won the Big 12 title behind the 1-3 finish by Victor Fortin and Patrick Bruch. Alleman won the Western Big 6 title on a 6^th runner tiebreaker and a 41 second split on their top 4. Their split on 5 needs to get lower on #1 runner Aaron Golding if they want to surpass Notre Dame in this meet. Dunlap, Geneseo, and Bartonville Limestone should also punch their tickets to Normal for next week’s sectional race. Fortin should be the favorite in this race. Matt Carr (Limestone HS, Bartonville) and Joseph Stewart (Galesburg HS) along with Golding could also challenge for the top spot.

 

West Chicago Wheaton Academy Sectional

 

Chicago Marist Regional

Midlothian Meadows, Markham

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

This could be the roughest of all the 2A regional races. 4 ranked teams are in this field with 7 very good teams overall in this race. 1 team will not be making it out of this race. Wouldn’t it be interesting if it there was a tie for 6^th? It has happened before. #7 Lemont will rely on a tight pack led by Taylor Campos to advance. #11 Montini and #12 Rosary are coming off of great races at the GCAC and should make it out of Midlothian Meadows. #15 Marist continues to improve after finishing 2^nd in the ESCC Meet. They ran a 50 second 5 runner split in that meet and will need that kind of effort to make it out. Glenbard South and Aurora Central Catholic tied at the MSC-West last week and will need to run a great race this week to make it out. Wheaton Academy finished behind those two teams in that conference meet. A tighter pack this week for the Warriors could be the formula for them to advance to the sectional that they will be hosting. The individual race is great. Madison Ronzone (Rosary HS) heads a great field that includes Taykor Campos, Karina Liz and Abby Fioresi (Aurora Central Catholic HS), Emma Makowski and Giana Salzbrunn (Montini Catholic HS, Lombard), and Mary Clare Leonard (Marist HS, Chicago).

 

Boys – 11:00 AM

There should be a little less drama in this race as #4 Hinsdale South should be the favorite. #19 Wheaton Academy has a good pack led by Jacob Robleski. If they can get 4 runners in before South’s #3 runner Brett Haffner, Wheaton Academy will make it close. Glenbard South, Marist, Brother Rice, and St. Francis should be the other 4 teams to advance out of this sectional. Charlie Nodus and Roman Drabchuk led Hinsdale South to a 2^nd place finish at the WSC-Gold meet by running 14:45 to finish 1-2. They will be the favorites in this race.

 

Riverside-Brookfield Regional

Sundown Meadows Forest Preserve, Countryside

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

It should be a 3 team chase to the regional championship with Nazareth Academy, Riverside-Brookfield, and Solorio Academy the teams up front. Claire Ramsey (Nazareth Academy, LaGrange Park) and Hailey Jurgens (Riverside-Brookfield HS) should be the runners up front for the individual championship.

 

Boys – 11:00 AM

#21 Lindblom Academy comes off of a good 3^rd place finish at the CPL Championships. They will be the team favorite in this meet only two steps away from their first state qualifying bid. Host Riverside-Brookfield will be the chief competition for Lindblom. Solorio Academy could also push for the 2^nd spot. Walmer Saavedra is the favorite in the individual race.

 

Yorkville Regional

Bristol Bay City Park, Yorkville

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

You can expect #1 Yorkville to rest some of their top runners in this meet. They could run their JV squad and still win. Even with some of their top runners in this meet, the Foxes could still score 15 points. Tinley Park should be the top team challenging for 2^nd in this meet.

 

Boys – 11:00 AM

#3 Yorkville should be able to work on their pack running. They should be the favorite in this meet. SSC-Blue champion Oak Forest and runner-up Bremen should challenge for the next spot. Trevor Wills could be one of the Yorkville runners up front winning in this meet.

 

Woodstock North Sectional

 

Antioch Regional

Fox River Park, Burlington WI

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

#16 Carmel Catholic, #20 Lakes, and Grayslake Central are the teams to watch up front in this meet. Aileen Hull led Carmel to a 55 second split on 5 when they finished 3^rd last week at the ESCC Meet. Lakes finished 5^th at the NSC Meet behind Kortney Schardt’s 9^th place finish and an 89 second split. Grayslake Central could also win this meet if they could lower their split on their top 5. Schardt should be the favorite in this race. Megan Girmscheid and Kate Jacobs (Woodstock HS) could be Schardt’s chief competition with Breanne Retherford (Richmond-Burton HS) close behind.

 

Boys – 10:50 AM

#2 Grayslake Central should be the big favorite for the regional team title. Richmond-Burton and Carmel Catholic should challenge for second. Jack Aho (Grayslake Central HS) ran 15:39 on the hills of Veteran Acres Park to win the FVC title, He will be the big favorite in this race.

 

Belvidere North Regional

Spencer Park, Belvidere

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

NIC-10 teams #5 Belvidere North and #23 Rockford Boylan are the top teams to watch in this meet with North the favorite to capture the regional team title. Dixon, Sterling, and Marengo should be the next three teams advancing. Boylan’s Delaney Appino defeated Jenna Lutzow (Belvidere North HS) by 7 seconds at last week’s conference meet. The two should challenge for the individual title in this meet.

 

Boys – 11:00 AM

NIC-10 champion #6 Belvidere  North will be challenged by the top Big Northern teams #16 Rockford Christian and #17 Dixon in what should be a good team race. Eryk Yunk and Eli Walker lead Belvidere North that has a 44 second split for their 3 to 5 runners. Rockford Christian only edged Dixon by 2 points at the BNC meet. The Royal Lions ran a 46 second top 5 split off of Nick Monkemeyer’s 4^th place finish. Dixon ran a 42 second split off of Collin Grady’s 6^th place finish. If Grady can finish ahead of Monkemeyer in this race and keep the same split, Dixon may edge ahead in this meet. It could be tough for both teams to catch Belvidere North in this meet. Sterling, DeKalb, and Marengo could be the other 3 teams among the top 6. The individual race should be a good one with Eryk Yunk the favorite with Nick Monkemeyer, Jon Landis & Jacob Gebhardt (Sterling HS), and Collin Grady in the next group up front.

 

Maple Park Kaneland Regional

Elburn Woods Forest Preserve

 

Girls – 10:00 AM

It will be the front running of #3 Vernon Hills against the pack of #6 Crystal Lake Central for the regional team championship. Host #25 Kaneland will lead the pack of teams behind these two with Hampshire, Prairie Ridge, and Sandwich close. Vivian Overbeck and Lauren Katz (Vernon Hills HS) lead the Cougars. FVC team champion Crystal Lake Central led by Janine Orvis will need a split under 75 seconds if they want to contend for the regional championships. Vivian Overbeck should be the favorite in this race. Brianna Bower (Kaneland HS, Maple Park) and Mega Sarfanski (Burlington Central HS) should also be challenging up front.

 

Boys – 11:00 AM

 

5 ranked teams are in this race with #9 Vernon Hills leading the pack. #13 Crystal Lake Central, #18 Kaneland, #20 Prairie Ridge, and #23 Sycamore are the ranked teams along with Vernon Hills in this race. The individual race should be good with Shane Williamson (Vernon Hills HS), Stephen Poorten (Sycamore HS), Cole Barkocy and Weston Sterchi (Crystal Lake Central), and Filip Pajak (Prairie Ridge HS, Crystal Lake) among the runners in the front pack