Antioch's Poss looking for for big finish

Antioch senior Erin Poss has come a long way, but she still has some unfinished business headed into the Class 2A girls state cross country meet Saturday morning in Peoria.

Poss will line up for her third and final state meet at Detweiller Park beginning at 11 a.m. with 2A awards slated for 1 p.m.

After an all-state finish in the former Class AA state meet as a sophomore, Poss finished seventh in the Class 2A state meet last fall as a junior.

On Saturday, Poss has the potential to finish in the top five in her final race, but she will have to deal with the Woodstock duo of Kayla and Elise Beattie among others if she wants to reach the ultimate goal.

"Erin has the ability to be anywhere from one to five and I think that is the great thing about racing," said first-year Antioch coach Chris Bailey. "I think she is ready and if she is in there in the end she has as good a chance as anybody. She's a great kid, she's been our captain, and she's been a great leader to guide the younger girls along the way."

In the Class 3A girls meet, Stevenson freshman Mackenzie Levy will be hoping to make a big splash when the starting gun sounds at 1 p.m. 3A awards are at 3 p.m.

Levy was the fifth at-large qualifier to reach state with a 15th-place run at sectionals and she placed second in the NSC this fall.

Levy will be joined in Peoria by Libertyville senior Megan Janezic, who earned the final berth out of sectionals with a 22nd-place finish.

"She has been working hard all year and she's been our No. 1 runner all year," said first-year Libertyville coach Joe Roth. "She got out faster than she has all season (at sectionals), and that made a big difference."