After finishing 18th at the Class 3A meet a season ago, Batavia, led by a core of sophomores and juniors, is hoping to achieve a top-five finish at state this time around. Plus, a look into other Kane County teams and individuals racing in Peoria on Saturday.

DeKalb's Jacob Barraza ran a personal record time in holding off Wheaton Warrenville South's Josiah Narayanan as boys champion, York swept the boys and girls team titles, York freshman Karlin Janowski won the girls race and Batavia boys and girls were second at Lake Park.

Carson Kaiser is wise beyond his years. The Kaneland freshman has fit in wonderfully at the Maple Park school and was a key reason why the Knights were able to hold off runner-up Dixon and the rest of the field during Saturday’s Class 2A Kaneland boys cross country sectional.

Lucas stayed in stride with senior teammate Olivia Pinta during Saturday’s Class 2A Kaneland sectional as the duo finished in the top 15 to lead the Gators to second place.

Led by wins from Avery Hacker and Francesco Benelli in the girls and boys races, Batavia came away with both team titles at the DuKane Conference meet on Saturday at Lake Park.

Downers Grove North's boys and girls teams took home the team title, with Philip Cupial and Gavin Schroeder leading the boys with a 1-2 finish, while Sandwich's Sunny Weber controlled the girls race to take the individual title.

Cary Grove junior Jameson Tenopir used a big surge in the final mile to win the boys race, St. Charles North boys win first home meet, and Shayne Dietzen's win in girls race paces Glenbard West to team win.

The cross country season has gotten off to a flying start. Here's a look at some of the girls teams across the area and where they stand heading into the 2024 season.

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Sycamore, DeKalb, Kaneland, Genoa-Kingston and Sandwich were among the many local teams taking part in the Sycamore Cross Country Invite Tuesday at Kishwaukee College in Malta.