PEORIA – The Minooka girls and Plainfield South boys led area teams on Saturday at the IHSA Cross Country State Finals at Detweiler Park on a perfect day for running.
The Indians claimed fourth place in the 3A girls’ race, scoring 204 points, just seven points behind third-place finisher Hinsdale Central as York won the title with 62 points.
Gabriella McCollom led Minooka with a 37th-place finish (17:35), with Jocelyn Host (44th), Gabrielle Kics (47th), Audrey Boles (56th) and Kathryn Cichon (112th) rounded out the top five.
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“This senior class has been incredible and I’m so proud of them and this team’s effort today,” Minooka coach Kevin Gummerson said. “I wanted so bad [for] them to be up on that podium [top three], but when they look back, they are going to be very proud of themselves. I’m excited for what lies ahead for the seniors and our younger runners coming back.”
In the girl’s race among other area team finishes, Plainfield North was 26th, Lockport 27th and Lincoln-Way West 28th.
South led a strong contingent of Southwest Prairie conference schools, as the Cougars placed seventh in the team race. The SPC also had Oswego in fifth, Plainfield North 11th, Minooka 13th and Plainfield Central 25th. Lincoln-Way East, from the Southwest Suburban Conference, finished 27th.
South sophomore Camyn Viger led a group of four area All-State performers (top 25) as he placed seventh in 14:31. Caden Simone from Lincoln-Way Central was ninth (14:37), Oliver Burns from Plainfield North was 13th (14:43) and Minooka’s Zach Balzer finished 18th (14:47).
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“I really felt I could have went faster and been up there a little,” Viger said. “It was so fast at the start and I let up a little, and I should’ve just kept going. But I was rewarded with an All-State medal and I learned a lot today.”
“My start was a little rocky and I made a big move that really helped me at about a mile and a half,” Burns said. “But overall I’m happy as it was the highest finish and best time in school history.”
South coach Jason Crowe was all smiles as he greeted each of his runners after the race.
“This is the hardest working group of kids we have ever had at South and they were rewarded today,” Crowe said. “We just kept getting better each week at the end of the season when it mattered. We were only third in the conference (SPC) and really came on the last three weeks.
“Camryn [Viger] is disappointed, but he is just a sophomore and today he proved to be the best runner in school history and I’m so happy for him and everyone on this team.”
In Class 2A girls, Morris finished 26th as a team in their first-ever appearance at the finals. They were led by Danica Martin (18:45, 56th).
“I’m so proud of this team and we have everyone back, so this weekend we just wanted to experience everything and take it all in,” Morris coach Joe Blumberg said.
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Joliet Catholic made school history as they placed 10th in the 1A girls race. The Angels were led by Ella Farris in 28th (18:35), Claire Blotnick 41st (18:53) and Ella Dwyer 67th (19:13).
“It’s very emotional right now, and I’m so proud of this team,” Farris said. “To finish 10th in the state is amazing, and anyone who runs should be able to experience, not only the race, but this entire weekend.”
Seneca placed 23rd as a team and received a 44th-place finish from Evelyn O’Connor (18:55).
“It was a tough race and it went so fast,” O’Connor said. “But it was well worth it, and it’s great experience for the future.”