Titletown? Geneva's in the running
PEORIA - Make no mistake: Geneva is the cross country capital of Illinois.
If the Vikings girls winning their second straight state title Saturday wasn't enough, the boys also brought home a state trophy with a third-place finish. No wonder Bob Thomson, the coach of both teams, was smiling from ear to ear.
"Last year didn't end the way we wanted to, but they just worked that much harder this year," Thomson said. "I'm excited for the boys, but I didn't really expect four all-staters. Not to take anything away from past teams, this team has been the best that the school's ever had looking at times and how they've finished."
Seeing the boys do so well also made the day more fun for the girls, said sophomore Tess Ehrhardt.
"I think it was more exciting this year because the boys did well also," Ehrhardt said.
Motivation often comes in many shapes and sizes, but after feeling the pressure of having targets on their backs all season, the Viking girls got a visit from someone of a large shape and size who offered them some sage advice.
"Santa came and visited the boys and the girls on Thursday, just like he did last year," Thomson said. "One inspiring thing he had to say was that the only place people are going to see the target is if they're behind you. So I think that was inspiring to the kids to recognize that."
As the team's lead runner all season, Kelly Whitley may have felt the target on her back more than anyone, but she indicated that she used that as motivation.
"We all knew that we were going to have huge targets on our backs this meet," Whitley said. "We just used that to our advantage and went out and ran hard."
Super Saints: St. Charles East's girls showed how strong the area is in cross country by backing up the Geneva's state title with a third-place finish.
After running at four state meets, Lizzy Hynes admitted she was thrilled having her teammates down with her this year. An All-Stater all four years, Hynes concluded her career taking xth.
"After we got the results I was ecstatic," Hynes said. "I can't believe that after not qualifying last year that we were able to get a trophy. I'm really happy to have led the team. Even if I didn't get an individual win, I'm really happy to be a part of something like that."
Boys notes: Senior Todd VanKerkhoff was St. Charles North's lead runner most of the year until he suffered a late season injury. VanKerkhoff lamented finishing as the North Stars' 7th runner Saturday in Peoria, but focused more on the effort turned in by his teammates.
"I'm really proud of my team," VanKerkhoff said. "I think we can all look each other in the eye and know that we gave it everything we had today. This wasn't the race I wanted to run, and at no point in the race did I give up, but it was just my body giving out."
Andrew Larson made an immediate impact in his first year at Marmion, taking eighth. Cadets coach Bob Rebenstorf credited Larson for coming to a new school and adapting so quickly.
"Last year he was 10th in the state in Class 2A," Rebenstorf said. "I think what I admire about him is that he came into a new environment and he's a competitive guy who really believed in his teammates. He really wanted the team to do better than he did. I was just thankful that he was able to compete with us and have such a great year."