Girls cross country: Banner day for Batavia at state
PEORIA - Batavia's girls cross country team was looking to take a small step forward this season after finishing in 11th place at last year's Class 3A state meet.
The Bulldogs ended up taking a giant leap forward.
Batavia earned it first state trophy on a sunny crisp day by taking third place at the Class 3A state meet with 175 points at Detweiller Park.
Minooka won the Class 3A title with 132 points, with defending Class 3A champion Naperville North taking second with 148 points.
Naperville North senior Judy Pendergast set a state record in winning the Class 3A individual title, crossing the finish line in 15:54. The Huskies' senior was first girl to go under the 16- minute mark in state history.
Batavia opened more than a few eyes by taking second at the First to the Finish Invitational in early September at Detweiller Park, and the Bulldogs used that momentum all the way to the state podium on Saturday.
"Entering the season I though we could take a few steps forward," said Batavia coach Chad Hillman of his young team that quickly changed his plan. "Then after the First to the Finish Invite we went from thinking we could take a few steps to taking a lot of steps forward."
Sophomore Emma Stephens (16:54) once again pushed the Bulldogs' attack earning her first state medal with a 13th place finish.
Stephens, like her young team arrived ahead of schedule, pushing the first mile and then holding tight in the final two miles.
"We definitely gained a lot of confidence early in the season," said Stephens, whose team also won the Upstate Eight River title and a regional title before finishing second at the West Aurora sectional. "We definitely started to believe and entering the state meet we had the trophy in our sights."
Senior Dakota Roman (17:26) kept things rolling with a 30th place finish, followed by sophomore Daphne Kolody (17:39) and sophomore Marygrace Golden (17:42), who finished 48th and 54th respectively.
Sophomore Anna Malay (18:03) completed the scoring for the Bulldogs with an 84th place finish cementing the trophy drive.
"It feels really good," said Roman of the Bulldogs' performance. "We didn't know how good we could be entering the season, but the First to the Finish Invite showed us how good we could be and we came into this race very excited."
Geneva also had a quite a day.
Senior McKenzie Altmayer finished 11th in Class 3A last season and the Viking senior moved up on Saturday.
Altmayer (16:46) hung tight with the chase pack in securing a seventh place finish in pushing the Vikings' to ninth place with 288 points.
"I tried to make my move in the final two miles," said Altmayer, who used her experience from last year to find her position on Saturday. "It's a great way to go out."
Geneva junior Emma Ehrhardt (17:04) came back from an early season stress fracture in October to capture her first state medal with a 22nd place finish.
"I had no idea I would make all-state," said Ehrhardt, whose sister Tess earned a pair of state medals for the Vikings in 2008 and 2010. "I felt like I was flying through the race, it just felt really good."
St. Charles North sophomore Audrey Ernst (16:49) earned her second state medal with an eighth place finish for the North Stars.
"I knew coming into the race it was some tough competition, I'm just so grateful for the opportunity to be able to run with these girls," said Ernst, who finished 13th last year. "I knew it would go out fast and I just wanted to put everything on the line in the last mile."
Class 2A: Senior Brianna Bower (17:35) captured her first state medal with a ninth place finish pushing Kaneland to a 10th place finish in Class 2A with 329 points.
"Everyone was pumped up for the race and everyone had a bunch of adrenaline flowing," said Bower of her fast start. "I just wanted to keep a positive attitude and keep mentally strong."
Rosary senior Madison Ronzone (17:42) finished in 14th place leading the Royals to 15th place finish with 381 points.
Aurora Central Catholic junior Abby Fioresi (17:50) secured her first state medal finishing in 19th place.
"I worked really hard for this all season," said Fioresi, who grinded out the final mile. "I knew I had to stay with the pack and I wanted all-state so bad."
Burlington Central junior Megan Safranski (17:49) secured a state medal with her 20th place finish, setting a school record with her time.
Yorkville won the Class 2A title with 58 points, followed by Belvidere North (122 points) and Vernon Hills (143 points).
Peoria Notre Dame senior Maryjeanne Gilbert won the Class 2A individual title crossing the line in 16:24.
Class 1A: Harvest Christian sophomore Nygia Pollard started slow but finished fast.
Pollard (17:54) was a bit off pace in the first mile, but the Lion sophomore worked the final two miles to secure her first state medal with a 10th place finish.
"It was hard but I stayed with it," said Pollard, who helped her team to an 18th place team finish with 425 points. "In the last mile I focused on my form to get myself to the finish."
St. Edward junior Megan Kremer finished 80th.
Tolono won the Class 1A title with 130 points, followed by Urbana (157 points) and St. Joe-Ogdon (158 points).
Effingham St. Anthony Anna Sophi Keller won the individual Class 1A title breaking the line in 16:21.