Here are five of the area’s top cross country runners to keep an eye on this fall on area courses:
Austin Aldridge, Seneca, jr.
The La Salle County Invitational and Tri-County Conference Meet runner-up also scored a Class 1A State Finals berth last season for the Fighting Irish.
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Grace Carroll, Ottawa, sr.
The ace for the Pirates, Carroll as a junior was third at the La Salle County Invitational and qualified for the Class 2A IHSA State Finals.
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Kody Danko, Streator, sr.
The Bulldogs ace was a Class 2A State Finals qualifier last season, also running to 11th at sectionals, fifth at regionals and third-place finishes in both the La Salle County Invitational and the Independents Meet.
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Wyatt Miller, Sandwich, sr.
The top Indians runner from a year ago returns after placing 37th at the Class 1A State Finals. Miller also ran to third in regionals.
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Evelyn O’Connor, Seneca-Newark, so.
The reigning Times Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2021 placed 44th at the Class 1A State Finals after being a sectional runner-up and champion at the regional, the La Salle County Invitational and the Tri-County Conference Meet.
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