2021 NewsTribune Girls Cross Country All Area Team

Lauren Althaus, Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio: The senior was a strong No. 1 runner for the Clippers. She placed in the top 15 at the Rock Falls, Kewanee and Seneca invitationals. Althaus placed 30th in a personal-best time of 20:29 at the Peoria Heights Invitational. She was second in the area at the Class 1A St. Bede Regional, placing 10th in 19:53.1

Lexi Bohms, Princeton: The repeat NewsTribune Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year excelled in the postseason. She finished an area best seventh at the Class 1A St. Bede Regional (19:34) and 18th at the Oregon Sectional (20:59) to qualify for state, where she placed 72nd in 19:15. It was the ninth-best state finish for a PHS girl. She also took third at the Three Rivers Conference Meet and 12th at the Princeton invite.

Elly Jones, Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio: The sophomore had several strong runs throughout the season, placing in the top 20 at the Rock Falls, Seneca and Princeton invitationals. She ran a 3-mile personal best of 22:05 to place 36th at the Bureau Valley invitational. Jones finished 18th at the Class 1A St. Bede Regional and finished 55th at the Oregon Sectional.

Nakeita Kessling, Henry-Senachwine: Kessling ran cross country when she wasn’t playing volleyball and did well in several big meets. She placed 10th at the Kewanee invitational in a 3-mile, season-best time of 21:46 and she finished 18th at the Oregon invitational. Kessling placed 14th at the Class 1A St. Bede Regional and was 54th in the Oregon Sectional.

Mallely Ontiveros, La Salle-Peru: The senior led the way for the Cavaliers. She won an eight-team meet at Ottawa and a dual with St. Bede. She placed 13th in the La Salle County Meet and was in the top 25 at the Morris and Princeton invitationals. Ontiveros ran a personal best 21:48 at the Rock River Run. She capped her season with a 22:30 to finish 42nd at the Class 2A L-P Regional.

Claire Phillips, Fieldcrest: The sophomore had a solid season. She had top 10 finishes early on at the Twilight in the Woods Invitational (sixth, 18:35) and the Morris Early Bird Invite (eighth, 24:39). She finished 25th at the Heart of Illinois Conference Meet and ran her 3-mile personal best of 21:22 at the Class 1A Eureka Regional.

Hope Self, Henry-Senachwine: Self had double duty this fall, playing volleyball and running cross country. She placed 11th at the Kewanee Invitational (21:50) and 23rd at the Oregon Invitational (22:21). Self had the third-best finish at the Class 1A St. Bede Regional (12th, 20:06) and had the area’s second best finish at the Oregon Sectional (45th, 22:15).