Prairie Ridge sophomore Emaline Foster fell with 200 meters left in the IHSA Class 2A Girls Cross Country State Meet but still recovered to place runner-up. Jacobs freshman Lennox Szymonik was 10th in 3A, and more results from Saturday's state races in Peoria.

The IHSA Boys and Girls Cross Country State Meet begins Saturday morning at Detweiller Park in Peoria, with many McHenry County area teams and individuals set to compete across Class 1A, 2A and 3A.

Freshman Lennox Szymonik placed fourth individually and led Jacobs to a state berth with a sixth-place finish Saturday at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates Sectional.

Area high school runners compete in the Fox Valley Conference Cross Country Meet on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake.

Amana Omale led the Crystal Lake Central boys to victory, while Huntley won the girls title and Prairie Ridge's Emaline Foster claimed victory in the girls race during Saturday's Fox Valley Conference Cross Country Championship meet at McHenry County College.

Woodstock's Ellery Shutt placed second at the Crystal Lake South Rich Eschman Invite at Veteran Acres Park last week for the area’s best finish. Shutt is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Cary-Grove's Jameson Tenopir enjoyed a blazing start to the 2025 boys cross country season with a first-place finish at the McHenry County Meet at Emricson Park in Woodstock. Tenopir is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

The 2025 boys cross country season is underway. Check out our team-by-team previews with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team in the Northwest Herald area.

Here are five runners to watch for boys cross country in the Northwest Herald coverage area in 2025.

Area high school runners compete in the McHenry County Cross Country Meet on Saturday, August 30, 2025. at Emricson park in Woodstock.

Huntley senior Tommy Nitz ran a personal-best time in his final high school race, earning Class 3A All-State honors, and is the Northwest Herald Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year for the third year in a row.

Meet the 2024 Northwest Herald All-Area boys cross country team.

Huntley's Tommy Nitz, Jacobs' Max Sudrzynski, Woodstock's Ellery Shutt and Johnsburg's Grady Smith all placed in the top-25 to medal Saturday at the IHSA Cross Country State Meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

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.

Gallery

Local runners compete in the Fox Valley Conference Cross Country meet on Saturday, Oct. 19,2024 at Hickory Nut Grove Preserve in Cary.

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.

Check out our team-by-team boys cross country preview with top returners, key newcomers and information on every Northwest Herald area team for the 2024 season.