2020 IHSA Class 2A Sectional Highlights

By Michael Newman

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Instead of ending this season at Detweiller Park, four sectional meets closed down October and this crazy 2020 cross country season. When you look back at what Saturday had to offer, we were blessed. Great races at all four locations.

Here is a look at each of the fours sectionals and the highlights from those races.

Benet does it again in win over Latin School; Parekh sets new course record at Lincoln Park

It was everything that was expected in the Latin School Sectional Saturday morning at Chicago’s Lincoln Park. It started with Ava Parekh of Latin School torching the field in winning the sectional individual race. Parekh ran 16:44 to set a new course record by 11 seconds set last week by Josephine Welin. (Later in the day in the 3A Sectional race, Welin broke Parekh’s running 16:33). Then came her teammates Marianne Mihas (17:42) and Olivia Syftestad (17:44) that finished first and second in their wave race. Their top three finish was not enough to stop defending Class 2A champion Benet Academy. The Redwings took the next four spots behind the Latin School trio and put six runners in before Latin School could put their fourth runner across the line. Benet scored 32 points to win with Latin School scoring 40 points to finish second. Louisa Diamond started the Benet foursome running 17:52 to finish fourth. Kelly Andrews (18:07), Elisabeth Camic (18:14), and Joy Jackson (18:22) followed with a 30 second split on the group. Amelia Parisi was 15 seconds back in 10 as the team’s fifth runner. Meaghan Andrews was the team’s sixth runner in 13th place. Latin School’s McKenna Fellows (17th) and Bea Parr (19th) were the team’s fourth and fifth runners.

St. Ignatius Prep led the teams behind these two powerhouses scoring 116 points to finish third behind the 11th place finish from Lexi Affolter. Collette Kinsella finished ninth to help Nazareth Academy to finish fourth (157 points). Payton Prep (159 points), St. Francis (164 points), and Fenwick (168 points) rounded out the top seven in the team standings.

A tight pack gives St. Ignatius Prep the sectional team victory, Julian Watson leaves Lincoln Park with the sectional win

Julian Watson of Hinsdale South has not been running in cross country for too long. It was hard to tell that in Saturday’s race at Lincoln Park in Chicago. Watson ran the perfect race to win the individual race at the Latin School Sectional. Watson had the strong finish in winning in 15:21by seven seconds ahead of Niklas Anderson of Benet Academy. Yasir Hirsi of Mather (15:35) and Michael Schumacher of St. Viator (15:43) finished third and fourth. Zach and Nick Kiley had a 5-7 finish to help St. Ignatius Prep win the team sectional title with 62 points. The Wolfpack placed five runners in the top 19 with Brian Moore (13th), Henry Gilbert (18th), and Theo Conroy (19th) rounded out the pack. The split on those five runners was 27 seconds.

St. Francis finished second (89 points) using a top 10 finish from Luke Orwig who finished sixth. St. Francis placed five runners in the top 30 with 50 seconds separating the top five. Benet Academy was next (130 points) led by Anderson’s runner-up finish. Fenwick (113 points) and Glenbard South (116 points) were separated by three points for fourth and fifth. St. Viator (180 points) and Mather (183 points) placed in the top seven.

Stromsland wins on final time on home course, Crystal Lake South no surprise in Lakes Sectional win

There would be no question halfway through the race that Brooke Stromsland of Lakes Community was not going to lose this race. The 2018 Class 2A State Champion was in control in her final race on her home course. Stromsland ran 17:22 to win by 30 seconds ahead of Grayslake Central freshman Bella Domier (17:52).

This sectional is one of the roughest Girls Sectional races in the state. This proved true again on Saturday as the first four teams were only separated by 20 points. Crystal Lake South used a third-place finish from Bella Gonzalez and ninth-place finish from Abby Machesky to win the team title with 71 points. The Gators placed five runners in the first 28 to help with the win as Addie Frisch (11th), Emma Murphy (20th), and Chelsea Greene (28th) made up that group. The split from Machesky to Greene was only 62 seconds. Vernon Hills had a 5-6-7 finish from Reina Hill, Rose Sheridan, and Anna Todd that helped them score 85 points to finish second. Jadyn Parker (24th) and Emma Wakefield (43rd) were the team’s fourth and fifth runners. Dixon was only a point back placing fourth (91 points) led by Jade Miller’s 10th place finish.

Lakes Community scored 103 points to place fifth. Grayslake Central was sixth (118 points) followed by Crystal Lake Central (181 points) placing seventh.

Walsdorf rolls to big win at Lakes; Crystal Lake Central edges Kaneland for team title

Just as Brooke Stromsland destroyed the field in the Girls race earlier in the day, so did Peter Walsdorf of Marian Central Catholic in his race in the afternoon. Walsdorf was the race favorite and did not disappoint. His time of 15:15 gave him his first sectional win by 39 seconds ahead of Bryan Vale of Grayslake Central and another second ahead of Armani Diaz of Grayslake North. Another five seconds went by until Karson Hollander of Crystal Lake Central and Trey Sato of Grayslake Central crossed the line in 16:00.

Crystal Lake Central has been on fire at the end of the year first winning the Fox Valley Conference then this sectional meet with 92 points. It was close as defending Class 2A champion Kaneland finished second with 100 points. The Tigers did not have the pack with five runners in the top 45. Austin May (14th) and Daniel Hamill (16th) gave their team the edge. Kaneland needed a seventh- place finish from Isaiah Dallal and five runners in the top 32 to secure second-place. Burlington Central, led by a ninth-place finish from Robert Perry, scored 117 points. The Rockets were just three points ahead of Hampshire (120 points) that had Isai Morales (11th) leading them. Marmion Academy finished fifth with Anthony Standish finishing 10th as their top runner. Vernon Hills and Grayslake Central tied for sixth both scoring 176 points.

Stedwill surprises at Detweiller Park; Top five finishes boost Morton to sectional title

It was somewhat of a surprise to see Maria Stedwell of Peoria Notre Dame win the sectional title on Saturday at Detweiller Park. The week before at the Metamora Regional, Stedwill finished 33 seconds behind regional winner Kaitlin Skeate of Bloomington. That flipped around in this race. The Notre Dame sophomore ran 17:49 to claim the sectional title ahead of Skeate (17:54) and Emma Skinner of Morton (18:06). The three runners were the only runners under 19-minutes on this day.

Morton needed top five finishes from Skinner and Arlie Akers (5th) to help them to the team title scoring 58 points. Sophie Krueger (17th), Anna Klopfenstein (21st), and Adeline Smith (22nd) were only separated by 13 seconds. Morton’s split from Akers to Smith was 39 seconds. Notre Dame scored 68 points to finish second behind Stedwill’s win and a 10-11 finish from Eileen Zopel and Caroline Williams. Washington was third (92 points) led by the sixth-place finish from Jadyn Jacobs. Metamora was only four points behind Washington in fourth-place (96 points). Metamora was led by a fourth-place finish from Katie Lalumandier. Dunlap (104 points) and Geneseo (106 points) finished fifth and sixth. Lemont scored 207 points to finish seventh.

Georges dominant in individual win; 6th runner tie-break gives Metamora sectional win

It was a two runner race for the third week in a row between Limestone’s Wilson Georges and Ian O’Laughlin of Metamora. Georges remained undefeated for the 2020 season as he ran 14:51 for the win Saturday afternoon at Detweiller Park. O’Laughlin was the only runner close to Georges as he ran 15:02 to finish second. There were no other runners within 27 seconds of O’Laughlin.

The closest sectional team battle was in this meet with Metamora and Morton both scoring 66 points. Morton had freshmen in the front with Josh Weeks and Yonas Wuthrich finishing four and fifth. Keegan Anderson (12th), Chase Sauder (20th), and Luke Kunz (32nd) were the team’s other scorers with a team 58 second split. Morton was without one of their top runners Luke Zobrist in this race.

Metamora was helped in front with a 2-3 finish from O’Laughlin and Hunter Roedell. Colton Barb also placed in the top ten finishing eighth. Nathan Haines (29th) and Cade Ward (33rd) were Metamora’s other scorers. To break the tie, scorers went to each team’s sixth runner to decide. Metamora had the edge as Carson Cowling finished 34th ahead of Morton’s Layton Knoop finishing 44th.

Peoria Notre Dame finished third (105 points) behind the ninth-place finish from Brennan Messmer. Normal University’s fourth-place finish was paced by the 13 place finish from freshman Sachit Munduli. The fifth to seventh-place teams were Geneseo (145 points) along with Lemont and HL Richards who both scored 161 points.

Chatham-Glenwood packs it up for team win at Olney; Zeibert’s individual win a close one

Rochester sophomore Colleen Zeibert has been a solo act all year winning races with ease, so it seemed. It was closer for Zeibert in Saturday’s race at Olney Central College. Zeibert had company throughout as Lincoln freshman Becca Heitzig stayed within reach. Zeibert went on for the win (18:14) with Heitzig just nine seconds back. Anna Kanyuck of Waterloo was 41 seconds back in third running 19:04. Hannah Meiser of Bethalto Civic Memorial was next (19:10) with Elizabeth Sims of Mahomet-Seymour in fifth (19:15).

It was all Chatham-Glenwood for the sectional team title. The Titans had five runners in the top 18 with a 43 second split to win with only 44 points. Ava Gorrie and Emma Leahy finished in sixth and seventh. Reagan Weichold (9th), Kiersten Patzia (12th), and Nia Gibson (18th) were the team’s other scorers. Mahomet-Seymour was a distant second-place scoring 134 points led by Sims’ top five finish. Monticello was just a point behind in third (135 points) with Amelia Martin their top runner finishing 15th. Mt. Zion was fourth (145 points) with Highland with 149 points in fifth. Waterloo (170 points) and Mt. Zion (173 points) finished sixth and seventh.

Mascoutah surprises Chatham-Glenwood for Olney team title; Partlow comeback complete with sectional win

It was hard to predict how Alex Partlow of Carbondale would run at the beginning of the season especially with the circumstances of the races this fall and the junior missing all of his sophomore season due to injury. It was thumbs up on Saturday at Olney Central College as Partlow finished his season with the sectional win. His winning time of 15:32 was 12 seconds ahead of Chris Cherry from Taylorville. Dylon Nalley, a freshman from Marion, ran 15:47 to finish third. Matt Herren of Rochester and Tucker Poshard of Carbondale both were timed in 15:52 finishing fourth and fifth.

One of the biggest team surprises of the day was Mascoutah’s team win 72 to 84 ahead of pre-race favorite Chatham-Glenwood. Mascoutah had five runners in the top 27 led by Lance Miller finishing sixth overall. Their next four runners were separated by only 23 seconds with Avery Cozzi (12th), Jordan Eddy (19th), Sam LaJoye (22nd), and Noah Jensen (27th). It is hard to explain what happened to Chatham-Glenwood who was considered one of the top teams in Class 2A. Their pack was too far back in this meet with Aidan Peterson leading the group in 10th. The Titans had four runners in the top 21 with their fifth runner Drew Verenski placing 40th. Their top five split was 43 seconds. Marion finished third (97 points) behind Nalley’s top 10 finish. Kyle Nofziger finished seventh to lead Mahomet-Seymour to fourth-place (146 points). Host Richland County placed fifth paced by Gavin Kirby’s eighth-place finish. Rochester (175 points) and Carbondale (201 points) finished sixth and seventh.