A look at the top boys cross country runners in the NewsTribune area during the 2024 season.

Fieldcrest senior Caleb Krischel was willing to push himself to develop as a runner, which helped him become a state qualifier and the 2024 NewsTribune Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Seneca's Natalie Misener, La Salle-Peru's Adam Kasperski ran to individual La Salle County XC Invitational titles on Saturday at The Eastwood Golf Course in Streator. The Ottawa girls claimed a fourth-straight team title and the Cavaliers boys won for the first time since 2021.

Sophomore Ruby Acker led the Princeton girls country team to a second-place finish in its own Gary Coates Invitational on Saturday, while Princeton's Tyler VandeVenter and Augustus Swanson placed fifth and sixth in the boys race.

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Boys and girls Cross Country teams from Mendota, La Salle-Peru, Princeton, Newman, Amboy, Morris, Hall and Fieldcrest all competed during the Gary Coates Invitational Cross Country meet on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at Zearing Park in Princeton.

Mendota senior Anthony Kelson won the Gary Coates Invitational for the second year in a row, while the La Salle-Peru boys took the team title. Host Princeton placed second in the girls team standings.

The cross country season is underway. Here are the team-by-team girls and boys previews with top returners, key newcomers and info on every The Times area squad for the 2024 season.

A look at the La Salle-Peru, St. Bede, Hall, Putnam County, Mendota, Princeton, Bureau Valley, Fieldcrest, Henry-Midland and Amboy co-op boys cross country teams for the 2024 season.

Ottawa's Alexander McCalmont will continue his cross country career at IVCC.