Girls cross country: Ehrhardt leads Geneva to 7th place at state
PEORIA - Geneva senior Emma Ehrhardt didn't know what to expect heading into the Class 3A state girls cross country meet on Saturday at Detweiller Park.
But on a sun-splashed fall afternoon, the Viking senior exceeded expectations.
Ehrhardt used a hard start and then grinded out the final two miles in securing 10th place entering the chute in 17:03.
It was a big drop in time for Ehrhardt and it could not have come at a better time.
"Every state competition something comes alive," said Ehrhardt, who finished 22nd in Class 3A last season. "I wasn't running the times coming in so I ran by feel."
And it worked out fine for Viking senior who helped her team secure a seventh-place team finish.
"That is the same thing she did last year," said Geneva coach Bob Thompson of his senior star. "The goal is always to get better and she did that today."
Ehrhardt was a bit concerned after fast first mile, but the Viking senior grinded out the final two miles holding steady down the stretch.
"I tried my hardest to hang in there the second and third mile," Ehrhardt of her finish.
"She is a gamer," added Thompson. "She had to be careful the first turn and choose her spot, but other than that you can't get too crazy, and I thought she ran under control."
Glenbard West freshman Katelynne Hart won the Class 3A title crossing the line in 16:31. She was followed by her junior teammate Lindsay Payne (16:34).
Naperville North had three runners in the top 19 in securing the Class 3A title with 111 points followed by Yorkville (130 points) and defending Class 3A champion Minooka (134 points).
Junior Marygrace Golden (17:57) finished 62nd leading Batavia to an 18th place team finish.
Class 2A: Burlington Central senior Megan Safranski had a fine run on Saturday at Detweiller Park for the Rockets.
Safranski established her position early running to an eighth-place finish entering the chute in 17:28.
"I wanted to get in the top 10, so it was great to accomplish my goal," said Safranski, who earned her second consecutive state medal after finishing 20th last season. "The final mile is the hardest because you know you have to put everything into it. I was just focusing on the girl ahead of me."
Freshman Rachel Richtman (17:39) also had quite a run securing 18th place and powering Kaneland to a ninth-place team finish.
"I just wanted to go out and have fun," said Richtman of her first state race. "My sister Becca has been a big help all season. It felt great, I was smiling throughout the whole race."
Aurora Central Catholic senior Abby Fioresi (17:48) picked up her second consecutive state medal securing 19th place.
Rosary junior Claire Hengesbaugh (18:21) finished in 50th place helping the Royals secure a 20th place team finish.
Senior Jenna Lutzow (16:35) ran to the Class 2A title powering Belvidere North to the team title with 61 points. Dunlap took second with 79 points, followed by Vernon Hills (95 points).
Class 1A: Harvest Christian Academy junior Nygia Pollard (17:53) ran to a ninth-place finish in Class 1A securing her second consecutive state medal for the Lions.
Pollard established her position early and finished strong in breaking the Top 10 for the second consecutive year.
"I wanted to go out with the front pack and stick with it as long as I could," said Pollard. "The last half mile was probably the hardest. There was probably a bit more pressure than last year, because I wanted to get out hard and then hang on."
Effingham St. Anthony senior Anna Sophia Keller ran to her fourth consecutive state Class 1A title crossing the line in 16:32.
St. Joe Ogden secured the Class 1A title with 100 points followed by Tolono (161 points) and Liberty (174 points).