By Michael Newman

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Here are highlights from each of the 15 1A regionals that took place on October 21

Elmwood-Brimfield Sectional

Eureka Regional

#6 Deer Creek Mackinaw won their first Boys regional title in a close race with 52 points. #8 Monticello was just five points back in second. #15 El Paso-Gridley (115 points), #20 Tremont (117 points), Stanford Olympia (128 points), and #17 Eureka (164 points) were the next four teams in. Monticello was led by the 1-2 finish from Alex Helmuth and Garrett Dixon. Helmuth’s time of 14:58 was nine seconds faster than his teammate. Mackinaw put 5 runners in the first 14 (33 second split) behind Gary Cates and his sixth-place finish.

Eureka’s Emma Argo made a statement in winning the Girls race covering the 2.9-mile course in 17:24. Argo won by 51 seconds ahead of St. Teresa’s Veronica Hein. #5 Monticello put their top 5 in the first 18 to win the team title with 59 points behind Grace Talbert’s fourth-place finish. #7 Eureka (83 points), #13 Stanford Olympia (91 points), #25 Tremont (130 points), #24 El Paso-Gridley 131 points, and #11 St. Teresa were next in what was a loaded field.

Quincy Notre Dame Regional

Speaking of statements, Athens’ Wyatt McIntyre made a loud one readying himself for state title run. After finishing second to Logan Hall last week in Peoria, McIntyre rebounded to run 15:15 to win the Boys individual race 67 seconds ahead of Pittsfield’s Eli Ten Eyck. McIntyre’s teammates appear to be ready as well as #3 Athens placed 5 runners in the top 11 to win the team title with 26 points ahead of Williamsville (59 points) and Quincy Notre Dame (111 points). Athens had a 45 second split on their second through fifth pack.

5 runners in the first 16 were enough to give #9 Williamsville the Girls team win (47 points) ahead of #18 Liberty (75 points) and #21 Springfield Lutheran (81 points). Caroline Jachino of Pleasant Plains ran 19:15 to win the individual race 18 seconds ahead of Megan Adams of Mendon Unity. Petersburg PORTA and Athens both qualified for next week’s sectional by finishing tied for seventh both scoring 148 points.

Aledo Mercer County Regional

It was a sweep for Elmwood-Brimfield in both team races. #2 Elmwood Brimfield controlled the Boys race placing 5 runners in the first 13 scoring only 33 points ahead of Illini West (96 points). Jacob Bryan of Illini West ran 16:01 won the individual race winning by 14 seconds ahead of Elmwood’s Cooper Hoffmann and Trevor Dunkel. The five-runner split for the Trojans was 71 seconds.

Emily McCauley led #20 Elmwood with a fifth-place finish in the Girls race as her teammates had 5 runners in the first 18 to win the team title 49-79 ahead of Macomb. Delavan’s Katie Springer ran 19:26 to win by eight seconds ahead of Lewistown’s Mackenzie Goldring.

Carlinville Sectional

St. Thomas More Regional

The top two Girls teams in 1A are familiar with each other as Tolono Unity and St. Joseph-Ogden have faced each other in all but two weeks. The road to Peoria began for them as #1 Tolono Unity had the edge winning the team title with 39 points as they ran for the second week in a row without their top runner Jordan Harmon. The Rockets put 5 runners in the top 13 led by the third-place finish from Evelyn Adkins. #2 St. Joseph-Ogden (49 points) were led by Faith Houston’s fourth-place finish as well as having 5 runners in the top 14. #17 St. Thomas More finished third (57 points) had 3 runners in the top 10 led by the individual win from Fran Hendrickson (18:17).

#4 St. Joseph-Ogden continues to improve as they get closer to state. The Spartans placed 4 in the first 9 finishers as they scored 39 points for the team win. Wyatt Wolfersberer led his team with the individual win (16:16) 13 seconds ahead of Tolono Unity’s Cameron Woodard. The split on four for SJO was 43 seconds. It was 76 seconds on their top five. #16 Urbana University (51 points) and #19 Tuscola (86 points) finished second and third.

Shelbyville Regional

Logan Hall of Arthur-Lovington ran 14:57 to break the course record at Shelbyville formally held by Tuscola’s Trent Ponder who had run 15:04. Hall won by 69 seconds ahead of Shelbyville’s Ryan Skowronski. #10 Carlinville packed it up with 5 runners in the top 19 winning the team title with 56 points finishing ahead of #25 Cumberland (77 points) and Marshall 99 points).

Staunton is young as four of their top five runners are freshmen. That did not show in their Girls regional race as they scored 52 points for the team title finishing ahead of Neoga (67 points) and Litchfield (83 points). Staunton’s Lydia Roller led her team with the individual win (18:08) 15 seconds ahead of second-place Ailey Mitchell of Shelbyville.

Effingham St. Anthony Regional

Lukas Baird’s fourth-place finish led #7 Robinson to the Boys team win. The Maroons placed 3 runners in the top 10 as the team scored 43 points for the win. #13 Lawrenceville was next (76 points) followed by #22 Father McGivney (90 points) and St. Anthony (92 points). Hudsonville/Palestine’s Negus Bogard ran 15:43 to win the individual race by eight seconds ahead of Madison’s Javon Watkins.

Lawrenceville’s two through five pack was the difference as they won the regional title 49-56 ahead of #22 Teutopolis. St. Anthony’s Sarah Carr ran 19:28 to win by 10 seconds ahead of Lawrenceville’s Katie Moore. It was the 36 second split from their second through fifth runners that helped Lawrenceville for the win. Teutopolis had the power up front with 4 runners in the top 9 led by Kara Weichman’s fourth-place finish.

Oregon Sectional

Winnebago Regional

Three runners in the top four led by Riley Wells’ individual win were enough to give #5 Rockford Christian the Boys team win with 50 points ahead of Marengo (97 points) and #24 Winnebago (103 points). Wells’ winning time of 14:33 on the 2.85-mile course was only four seconds faster than second-place Tim Bertulis of Johnsburg.

#16 Johnsburg were led by a third-place finish by Sam Schmitt but a 25 second split on their next four runners pushed the Skyhawks the regional title with 50 points. #12 Rockford Christian, led by Madison Franseen’s second-place finish, scored 64 points to finish second ahead of Winnebago (89 points).

Rock Falls Regional

Rock Falls had two individual wins on their home course. Bailee Fortney and Alex Gomez finished first and second as #2 Rock Falls won the Girls team title with 32 points. Fortney was only two seconds ahead of her teammate as she ran 18:16 for the win. #19 Kewanee-Wethersfield (86 points), #23 Amboy (88 points) and Bureau Valley (96 points) finished second through fourth.

Dawson Smith won the Boys race on his home course (15:43) finishing nine seconds ahead of Sterling Newman’s Spencer Mauch. Sterling Newman’s 52 points were enough to win the regional title ahead of Rock Falls (72 points) and Erie-Prophetstown (104 points).

Seneca Regional

#11 Illinois Valley Central had three runners in the top five to help them win the Boys regional championship with 55 points. Owen Habeger led his team with a second place-finish. #18 Seneca finished second (68 points) behind the individual win from Christopher Collet. His time of 16:25 gave him a 26 second gap between him and Habeger. Spring Valley Hall (111 points) finished third.

Stark County’s Brooke Rennick ran 20:40 to win the Girls individual race by 21 seconds ahead of Sorin Hilsabeck of Princeville. Prairie Central scored 66 points to win the team title ahead of Princeville (84 points) and Stark County (88 points).

Benton Sectional

New Athens Regional

#9 Freeburg’s Charlie Parrish and his second-place finish led 6 Freeburg runners in the top 16 on their way to the Boys regional title with 35 points. Breese Mater Dei (67 points) finished second ahead of Columbia (79 points) and #23 Trenton-Wesclin (102 points). This race could have been a sectional preview as Trenton-Wesclin freshman Justin Mumford ran 15:20 to win the individual title ahead of Freeburg’s Charlie Parrish (15:33) and Mater Dei’s Luke Goebel (15:57).

#10 Freeburg made it a school sweep in the Girls race as they scored 48 points for the win ahead of #15 Breese Mater Dei (56 points) and New Athens (97 points). Freeburg’s Breanna Chandler won the individual race (18:57) by 18 seconds ahead of Madelyn Tepe of Okawville.

Benton Regional

#21 Benton won the Boys team title (21 points) behind the individual win of Kyle Sneed. His time of 15:52 was seven seconds ahead of Carmi-White County’s Ty Barbre. Hamilton County (61 points) and Fairfield (101 points) finished second and third.

Amelia McLain looks to be the sectional individual favorite as she won the Girls regional race on her home course. The sophomore’s time of 18:50 was 58 seconds faster than second-place Rebeka Marlow of Webber. Carmi-White County won the Girls team title with 59 points.

Carterville Regional

One point separated Steeleville and Nashville in the Boys team race. Steeleville had a three-runner pack in the top ten led by Gavin Conway’s fifth-place finish gave them the edge 66-67 ahead of Nashville. #14 Pinckneyville finished third (102 points). Garrett Johnson of Pinckneyville ran 16:11 for the win 12 seconds ahead of Carterville’s Austin Knight.

Jaylyn Bower finished third as she led Nashville to the Girls team title with 51 points. Pinckneyville (62 points) and DuQuoin (85 points) finished second and third.

Lisle Sectional

Kankakee McNamara Regional

#11 Clifton Central won the Boys team title (53 points) behind Isaiah Ditta’s second place finish. Hoopeston Area’s Trey Houmes ran 15:54 for the in only four seconds ahead of Ditta. Paxton-Buckley-Loda (71 points) and Herscher (87 points) finished second and third.

Despite McNamara’s Faith Provost and Eden Rainbolt taking the first two places, #4 Herscher won the Girls team title (58 points). They were led by Josie Mendell’s fourth-place finish as well as 5 runners in the top 17. #9 McNamara scored 68 points to finish second ahead of #14 Beecher (110 points). Provost’s winning time of 18:37 was ten seconds ahead of her freshman teammate.

Harvest Christian Academy Regional

Jack McNabola of Francis W. Parker cruised to the win in the Boys race. His time of 16:10 on the five-kilometer course was 45 seconds ahead of Harvest Christian Academy’s Andrew Dobrescu. #1 HCA had 5 runners in the top 7 to win the team title with only 21 points. The split on their top five runners 62 seconds.

The story was the same in the Girls team race as #5 Harvest Christian Academy also won (18 points) with 5 runners in the top 7. HCA’s Nygia Pollard ran 19:23 for the win by 35 seconds ahead of teammate Carsen Forte.

Lisle Regional

It was Elmhurst 1A rivals that took the first two places in the Girls team race. The 2-3 finish from Hope Clark and Elise Tepstra helped Timothy Christian to the regional title with 29 points. IC Catholic Prep is a team to watch as they finished second with 42 points behind the individual win from Frankie Chaidez. The freshman ran 19:06 for the win 53 seconds ahead of Clark.

Walther Christian placed 5 runners in the top 16 with a 45 second on the group as they edged Timothy Christian 47-49 for the team win. Westmont’s Matt Gedraitis ran 16:38 for the individual win finishing 16 seconds ahead of Timothy Christian’s Clint Fincher.