On November 2, the S.H.S. Cross Country (XC) teams traveled to Kaneland to compete in the IHSA Class 2A XC Sectional. The top seven girls from the team and seniors Aalin Schmidt and Parker Blakeslee participated in this race. The girls’ team placed 15th with a score of 359. Schmidt placed 32nd and Blakeslee placed 63rd.
Freshman Lillian Hauck and sophomore returner Jaz’Mya Castaneda have been the key members of the girls’ cross-country team. Hauck ran her personal best at the IHSA Class 2A XC Sectional with a 19:30.9 along with Castaneda running her personal best the same day with a 19:25.2.
Towards the beginning of the season, Hauck and Castaneda were running 20 and 21 minutes until October 5 when these two competed in the Peoria High School Invitational. They ran 19:30 for the first time in the season.
Hauck says, “My proudest moment this season happened in Peoria when me and Jaz ran together the entire time encouraging each other. I just remember feeling so happy after the race and proud when Grady called me so excited since she wasn’t at our meet.”
This season for the girls, there were a lot of incoming freshmen along with no seniors.
Coach Megan Grady states, “I am really proud of how the returners were able to welcome the freshmen into the team and the bond that they created over the course of the season. Every member was running not for themselves, but for their teammates.”
The boys’ team fell a little short at regionals by placing seventh but Schmidt and Blakeslee qualified individually to advance to sectionals. These two senior captains both had an amazing season.
Schmidt had a season record of 15:53.6 at the First to the Finish Invitational in Peoria.
As the boys’ team captain, Schmidt states, “This season went well for the team, but it could’ve gone better. Several runners faced adversity but with a good coach and good attitudes, we came together to show our strengths. I think the returning runners will do amazing next season, and I’m excited for track in the spring.”
Another senior captain Blakeslee got a personal record of 16:26.8 at the IHSA Class 2A Regional. This season, boys cross country got a new coach, Mark Johnson, who used to coach Sterling’s middle school cross country team. The team had to adjust to Johnson’s coaching.
Blakeslee states, “Coach Johnson helped push me to accomplish my goals this season because no matter how bad I would struggle in either a meet or at practice he always believed that I could be better.”
This season, the freshmen have adapted quickly to the upperclassmen and how high school cross country works. They have trained all summer and all season to be the best for the postseason. With being a young team, they have a bright future ahead of them. Congratulations and good luck for the seasons ahead!
