Sterling junior Dale Johnson placed second in the Class 2A boys race at the IHSA Cross Country State Finals on Saturday at Detweiller Park in Peoria, highlighting a solid showing by the large contingent of Sauk Valley area runners.

Runners earn berths for the state meet next weekend.

The Newman boys and Rock Falls girls cross country teams both ran well at Saturday's Class 1A Oregon Sectional, and earned berths for the state meet next weekend. There are also several runners who qualified for state as individuals.

Sterling junior Dale Johnson cruised to the win in the boys race at the Class 2A Kaneland Sectional on Saturday, while the Dixon girls took third as a team to earn berth at next weekend's state meet at Detweiller Park.

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Sterling hosted a cross country regional Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 at Hoover Park.

The Rock Falls girls cross country team rolled to the team title at the Class 1A Rock Falls Regional on Saturday morning at Centennial Park, while Oregon, Erie-Prophetstown and Newman also advanced to sectionals. The Rock Falls, Newman and Amboy boys moved on as well.

There’s nothing like a Saturday morning run through your own backyard. It certainly was fun for both Dale Johnson and the Dixon girls at the 2A Sterling Regional. Johnson ran to victory in the boys race, and the Duchesses dominated their race on the way to the team title.

Dixon’s Leah Kuehl and Grace Ferguson claimed the doubles championship at the Class 1A Rochelle Sectional on Saturday.

The Dixon girls landed seven runners in the top 15 to secure the team title, while the Dixon boys earned three top-11 finishes on their way to a runner-up team finish at the Big Northern Conference Championships on Saturday at Sauk Valley Community College.