Hampshire's Kruse, BC's Kliem all-state

Hampshire junior Cassie Kruse secured her first state cross country medal for the Whip-Purs with an eighth-place finish Saturday at the Class 2A finals in Peoria.

Kruse ran the 3-mile course in 17:29 to earn all-state honors.

“I gained a lot of experience last year,” said Kruse who helped the Whip-Purs to a state title in the 3,200 relay and also took third in the 800 last track season.

“I just wanted to go out there and have fun. There was a lot of competition and I just wanted to rise to the occasion.”

Bartlett senior Alyssa Schneider finished 125th in a time of 18:31, while Crystal Lake South senior Marianne Collard was 67th in 17:57.

In the Class 2A race, Burlington Central senior Markelle Turk was 35th in a time of 18:12.

Schaumburg won the team championship in Class 3A while Ariel Michalek was the individual champion in 16:32.

In Class 2A, Woodstock senior Kayla Beattie won with a time of 16:22. Peoria Notre Dame, which also won the Class 2A boys soccer title Saturday, was the team champion.

Class 2A boys: Burlington Central junior Clint Kliem earned all-state honors with a 10th place finish in the Class 2A race. Kliem ran a 14:57. Decatur MacArthur junior Michael Clevenger was the race winner in a time of 14:35. Belvidere North won the team championship with a scant 28 points.