The Morris Community High School cross country team left Morris Friday morning with a police escort on its way to the IHSA state championships for the second year in a row.

Maya Ledesma ran a Channahon Community Park course record, her 40-second win leading Minooka's girls to the Southwest Prairie Conference team championship. In the boys race, Plainfield South's Dylan Mahoney repeated as champion and Plainfield North edged South for the team title.

Downers Grove North's boys and girls teams took home the team title, with Philip Cupial and Gavin Schroeder leading the boys with a 1-2 finish, while Sandwich's Sunny Weber controlled the girls race to take the individual title.

Nathan Gabriel of Joliet Central took second place in the boys race, while Lemont's Hannah Farley finished second in the girls race at the 52nd annual Plainfield Central Wildcat Invitational on Saturday.

A look at the area girls cross country teams

Here are some of the interesting storylines for girls cross country in The Herald-News coverage area for the 2024 season.

Plainfield North's boys cross country team finished as the state-runner up in Class 3A, while Plainfield South took third. Both teams say their rivalry pushes them, but the district foes celebrated together at state.

Gallery

Check out photos from the Class 2A girls State Cross Country meet on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

Gallery

Check out photos from the Class 1A State Cross Country meet on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.