Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
BENTON — Numerous cross country teams and individual runners from the region will be headed to Detweiller Park in Peoria this weekend having earned trips to the State Cross Country Finals. Several have an opportunity to medal or perhaps bring home the big trophy.
That list starts with the Anna-Jonesboro Lady Wildcats, who finished second in 1A a year ago. A-J put five runners in the top 13 and all seven in the top 25 to run away with the Benton 1A Sectional championship.
Murphysboro’s Miah Gilmore took home the individual medalist honors, beating Lady Wildcats sophomore Jadyn Gerardi by more than 25 seconds. Gilmore finished with a time of 16:58.70. Pinckneyville’s Vanessa Teel, Okawville’s Caroline Tepe, and Father McGivney’s Elena Rybak rounded out the top five.
Gilmore’s Red Devils team also qualified for state with a third place finish. Father McGivney, Pinckneyville, Breese Mater Dei and Althoff are also headed to state as teams.
Tepe, Gianna Stassi (Roxana), Maggie Kellerman (Du Quoin), Rylee Brammeier (Christ Our Rock Lutheran), Adi Wilson (Nashville), Colleen King (Vienna), Emma Mathews (Benton), Isabella Phillips (Du Quoin), Bailey Schallenbergd-Decker (Roxana), and Sidney Charles (Okawville) all qualified as individuals.
Fairfield’s girls qualified as a team out of the Cumberland Sectional.
The Benton Rangers, who finished second at the 1A Boys State a year ago, had three of the top five finishers at the sectional, led by a 1-2 finish by seniors Gabe McLain and Cole Buchanan.
McLain pulled away for a 24 second victory, finishing with a time of 14:09.50
After Pinckneyville’s Landen Boman and Du Quoin’s Caiden Cook finished third and fourth, Benton’s Seager Sanchez rounded out the top five.
The Rangers wound up third as a team to qualify for state.
Consistency was key for Murphysboro to edge Pinckneyville for the team title as the Red Devils placing their five best times in the top 30, led by Hunter Douglas’ ninth place finish. Roxana, Metro-East Lutheran and Father McGivney also will advance to state as teams.
Cook, Cole Dachsteiner (New Athens), Hayden Swiney (Du Quoin), Jaydon Miller (Massac Co.), Ayden Fox (Nashville), Evan Eberhart (Nashville), Carson Pigg (Christ Our Rock Lutheran), Liam Roberts (Eldorado), Tilman Dallas (Anna-Jonesboro) all qualified as individuals.
Fairfield’s Grant Jeanette also qualified for the 1A state meet out of the Cumberland Sectional.
In 2A, the Marion Wildcats will be back in Peoria to defend their state title after a third place finish at the Olney Sectional, where Highland won the team title. Mt. Vernon and Herrin also advance as teams.
Carterville, Waterloo, and Mascoutah all advanced as teams from the Olney Girls Sectional with Kara Odum (Marion), Ellary Blakey (Herrin), and Sophia Krupa (Carbondale) all advancing as individuals.
The State Finals will be Saturday in Peoria.
