By Michael Newman

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Here is a look at each of the 1A regionals that will take place on Saturday. The top seven teams and then the next five individuals who are not on a qualifying team will qualify for the sectional meets next weekend.

 

Decatur St. Teresa Sectional

 

Carlinville Regional @ Loveless Park

 

Girls (10:00 AM) - #2 Decatur Teresa will be the favorite in this meet. #15 Shelbyville, #16 Litchfield, and #21 host Carlinville should be the next teams in line. Mt. Zion, Sullivan, and Heyworth should challenge for the next spots. Lauren Evelti & Bree Tschosik (St. Teresa HS, Decatur), Chloe Spain (Shelbyville HS), and Colleen Madden (Carlinville HS) should challenge for the individual championship.

 

Boys (11:00 AM) - #10 Shelbyville is the top ranked Boys team in this regional and should roll to the team championship. #16 Mt. Zion and #21 Carlinville will be the next teams in line. Clinton and Sullivan will battle for the next spots after that. This should be a great individual race. Cory Landon (Carlinville HS) will be on his home course and be one of the favorites. Curtis Reed & Mohammed Hosseini (Mt. Zion HS), and Marcus Skinner (Shelbyville HS) will be in the pack with Landon.

 

Champaign St. Thomas More Regional

 

Girls (10:00 AM) – This is perhaps the toughest 1A regional. The meet starts with loaded Girls Race. #1 Urbana University will start their march to Peoria as the favorite in this meet. It won’t be an easy road for the Illiniweks as #5 St. Joseph-Ogden, #8 Monticello, and #9 Tolono Unity will be U-High’s chief competition. The last time that U-High and SJO met, the Spartans won the 2 mile race at the Spartan Classic in St. Joseph. Arielle Summitt and Annemarie Michael (University HS, Urbana) will be big favorites in this meet. There should be a solid pack behind the two U-High runners including Nicole Bagwell and Taylor Renfroe (Unity HS, Tolono), Maddie Tutich (Monticello HS), and Faith Houston (St Joseph-Ogden HS).

 

Boys (11:00 AM) – This regional is tough especially when you have the top two teams in the state along with the top 2 1A runners duking it out in this race. Jon Davis (Oakwood HS, Fithian) starts his defense of his 1A state championship as the favorite in this race. Eric Ponder (Tuscola HS) will be up front with Davis. The two should push each other to some fast times. Matt Novell (Monticello HS), Andrew Warnes (Unity HS, Tolono), Nick Porter (Paxton-Buckley-Loda), and Brennan Guido (St. Joseph-Ogden HS) are among the top 15 1A individuals statewide. All these top runners together are ingredients of what should be an exciting race.

 

#1 Tolono Unity edged #2 Monticello last week at the Patriot Invitational. The week before, it was Monticello on top at the Okaw Valley Conference. It should be close again in this meet. #9 St. Joseph-Ogden, #15 Paxton-Buckley-Loda, and #18 Urbana University will challenge for the next spots.

 

Effingham St. Anthony Regional @ Mid-America Motorworks

 

Girls (10:00 AM) – There are no ranked teams in this Girls regional race. The feature attraction will be watching defending 1A state champion Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham) run. She will be the overwhelming favorite in this race. The team battle will be tight with host Effingham St. Anthony, Olney-East Richland, and Marshall challenging for the regional championship.

 

Boys (10:45 AM) - #14 Robinson is coming on strong. Last week, they won the Little Illini Conference ahead of then ranked Olney-Richland. They came back on Saturday to place sixth at the Peoria Heights Patriot Invitational. They should be the favorite in this meet. Olney-East Richland was only seven points behind Robinson and should challenge again for the team championship. Host Effingham St. Anthony and Teutopolis will be the next teams in line. Noah Tennison (Robinson HS) will be the individual favorite.

 

Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran Sectional

 

Benton Regional @ Benton City Park

 

Girls – Frankfort and Harrisburg will battle each other for the team championship. They were within three points of each other at last week’s SIRR Conference meet. Jacklynn Calvert (Frankfort HS, West Frankfort) should be the individual favorite.

 

Boys – Host Benton should be the team favorite in this meet after finishing second in the Ohio Division of the SIRR Conference. Benton’s Gavin Hartley should be the favorite individually.

 

Chester Regional @ Randolph County Conservation Area

 

Girls (10:30 AM) – This is the toughest of all three regionals in this sectional complex. Seven schools are ranked in the top ten of the DyeStat Illinois Sectional rankings. #17 Carterville and #22 Herrin have battled each other all season with Carterville having the edge in most of their matchups. The same should hold true in this meet. Red Bud, Sparta, Chester, and DuQuoin should be among the teams chasing those two. It should be a great individual race with Maura Farrell and Kara Martin (Herrin HS) challenging Keri Burmester and Deana Deterding (Red Bud HS) for the individual regional championship.

 

Boys (11:00 AM) – Sparta edged Nashville by five points at last week’s SIRR Mississippi Division Met. The two teams should face off for the individual title. Murphysboro, Pinckneyville, and Red Bud will also be up front. Harrison Thomas (Carterville HS) will be the individual favorite.

 

Freeburg Regional @ Smithton City Park

 

Girls (10:00 AM) - #7 Freeburg is the big favorite in their regional. New Athens, Edwardsville Metro-East Lutheran, and Roxana will challenge for the next spots. Freeburg’s Kayla Whitworth and Emily Marler should battle for the regional individual championship.

 

Boys (11:00 AM) - #7 Freeburg should also roll in this meet. East Alton – Wood River would be the one team that could push the hosts in this meet. Jonathan Kraus (Freeburg HS) should be the favorite in this race.

 

Elmwood-Brimfield Sectional

 

Farmington Regional

 

Girls (10:00 AM) – This should be a good team battle. #4 Eureka finished third last week at the Corn Belt Conference Meet and improving every week. I would watch for them as the team favorite. #12 Elmwood-Brimfield and #14 Rock Island Alleman should challenge for the next positions. Also keep an eye on Canton, Stanford Olympia, and Deer Creek Mackinaw to qualify also. The individual race should be exciting with Nicole Beebe (Canton HS), Quincy McSweeney (Eureka HS), and Cassie Mundekis (Midwest Central HS, Manito) battling for the regional crown.

 

Boys (10:45 AM) – Watch for #5 Elmwood-Brimfield to bounce back from their fifth place finish at the Patriot Invitational. They should be the favorite in this regional. #13 Tremont, #18 Stanford Olympia, and #23 El Paso-Gridley will challenge also for top spots. It will be close up front individually with Matt Osmulski (Elmwood-Brimfield HS), Hunter Cobbley (El Paso-Gridley HS), Connor Stine (Olympia HS, Stanford), and Wilson Pflederer (Tremont HS) all battling for the top spot.

 

Macomb Regional @ Spring Lake Park

 

Girls (1:00 PM) – Host #24 Macomb will be the slight favorite in this meet with Monmouth-Roseville and Carthage Illini West being their chief competition. It should be tight up front with Carly Garnett (Illini West HS, Carthage), Ryan Block (Knoxville HS), Karla Mendoza (Macomb HS), and Erika Hibser (Lewistown HS) battling for the individual championship.

 

Boys (1:50 PM) -  #24 Macomb and #25 Monmouth-Roseville will challenge in what should be a close fight for the regional championship. Aledo Mercer County could be a surprise in the team race. Keep an eye on Mercer County’s Austin Jackson as one of the favorites in the individual race.

 

Quincy Notre Dame Regional @ South Park

 

Girls (10:15 AM) – It should be a great individual matchup between #3 Petersburg PORTA and #6 Rochester for the team championship. The key will be whether Rochester can get all five of their runners in before PORTA’s fourth runner crosses the finish line. Liberty, Williamsville, and Auburn should challenge for the third spot. PORTA’s Maria and Adrienne Brauer will be the runners to watch up front in the individual race.

 

Boys (11:00 AM) - #11 Rochester and #12 Pleasant Plains will battle for the team title with Liberty, Athens, Williamsville, and Auburn battling for the next qualifying spots. The individual race should also be good with Tyler Johnson (Pleasant Plains HS) challenging Michael Gleason (Rochester HS) for the individual race.

 

Lisle Sectional

 

Aurora Christian Regional @ Oakhurst Forest Preserve

 

Girls (10:00 AM) – It could be a  close battle up front in the team race with five of the top eight ranked teams in the sectional challenging for the regional championship. Chicago Christian is coming off of a Metro Suburban East championship last week and should be the favorite in this race challenged by perennial power Westmont. Harvest Christian Academy, Timothy Christian, and Aurora Christian will be among the teams in the next three spots. Becca Wert (Aurora Christian HS), Allie Boss and Cassidy Vandekamp (Chicago Christian HS, Palos Heights), and Imogene Asa (Westmont HS) should be among the runners up front.

 

Boys (10:45 AM) - #20 Westmont should be the favorite in the team race with Montini Catholic, Timothy Christian, Harvest Christian Academy, Walther Christian, and Joliet Catholic all battling for the next spots. Tanner Chada (Aurora Christian HS) is among the top 1A runners in the state. He should be the big favorite in this race.

 

Chicago Luther North Regional @ LaBagh Woods Forest Preserve

 

Girls (1:30 PM) – Willows Academy will be the slight favorite for the regional team championship. North Shore Country Day was within three points of Willows Academy at the ISL Meet last week and could also walk away with their regional championship. Maeve Dunaway (Willows Academy, Des Plaines) will be pushed by Isabella Wolke (Christian Liberty Academy, Arlington Heights) in the individual race.

 

Boys (2:15 PM) – The sixth place finish by DePaul Prep at last Saturday’s Chicago Catholic League Championships makes them one of the favorites in this meet. North Shore Country Day and Northridge Prep will also challenge for the regional championship. Peter Conroy (Northridge Prep, Niles) should be the individual favorite in this meet.

 

Kankakee McNamara Regional

 

Girls (10:00 AM) – Prairie Central, Beecher, and Herscher should challenge for the regional team championship. Daly Galloway (Gardner South Wilmington HS) is one of the top 1A Girls runners in the state and should be the overwhelming favorite in the individual race.

 

Boys (11:00 AM) – Cullom Tri-Point, Beecher, and Prairie Central are among the top teams in this regional. Brandon Wilkerson (Tri-Point HS, Cullom) will be the runner to watch in the individual race.

 

Oregon Sectional

 

Peru St. Bede Regional

 

Girls (10:00 AM) - Three of the top four ranked sectional teams will make this regional meet exciting to watch. #10 Henry-Senachwine is coming off of a strong performance at the Patriot Invitational and will be among the top teams. #13 Seneca, #18 Illinois Valley Central, and #25 Minonk Fieldcrest will also be up towards the top. Henry-Senachwine’s Ronna Pettis and Jillian Monier should be challenged by Eva Bruno (Seneca HS), Dani Aurit (Marquette Academy, Ottawa), and Demi Johnson (Illinois Valley Central HS, Chillicothe) for the regional individual title.

 

Boys (11:00 AM) – Illinois Valley Central, Henry-Senachwine, and Ottawa Marquette will battle for the team regional championship. Al Baldonado (Hall HS, Spring Valley) should be the big favorite in this race. Trevor Wiley (Henry-Senachwine HS) and Cory Bugelholl (Marquette Academy, Ottawa) will be among the front runners.

 

Rock Falls Regional @ Centennial Park

 

Girls (10:00 AM) - #11 Annawan-Wethersfield will be the favorite in the Girls Meet. #20 Erie-Prophetstown, Sterling Newman, Bureau Valley, and Amboy will challenge for the next spots. Kirstie Ramsey (Wethersfield HS, Annawan) will be the favorite in the individual race. Megan Grady (Amboy HS), Corie Reiley (Erie-Prophetstown HS), and Haley Weidner (Bureau Valley HS, Manlius) will also be up front.

 

Boys (10:45 AM) - #8 Sterling Newman is coming off of a big week with good performances at Amboy and Peoria Heights. They are team to watch in this regional. #19 Rock Falls, #22 Mid County, Bureau Valley, and Kewanee-Wethersfield will challenge for the next positions. It should be a dynamite race for the individual title. Keep an eye on Brayden Hamblen and Seth Williams (Rock Falls HS), Bryson Reyes and Chris Ahers (Newman Catholic HS, Sterling), Rolando Aguilar (Kewanee HS), and Ethan Stanley (Mid County HS, Galva) up front. Michael Cook (Wethersfield HS, Annawan) has missed most of the season with a stress fracture. Last year’s third place finisher in the 1A state meet is slated to run in this race.

 

Winnebago Regional @ Fuller Forest Preserve

 

Girls (10:00 AM) -  #19 Winnebago and #22 Byron will be the top teams in this regional. Harvard, Woodstock Marian, and Johnsburg will be next in line. Jordan Peterson (Harvard HS), Abigail Jones (Marian Central, Woodstock) Michaela Heit (Rockford Lutheran HS), and Hannah Insko (Winnebago HS) will be the front runners in the race.

 

Boys (11:00 AM) – It should be a repeat of last week’s Big Northern Conference Meet with #3 Rockford Christian, #4 Winnebago, and #6 Johnsburg challenging for the regional championship. Harvard and Woodstock Marian should also qualify out. Nick Monkemeyer (Rockford Christian HS) will be challenged by Nathan Smith & Nathan Ambrose (Winnebago HS), and Matt Stelmasek (Johnsburg HS) in the individual championship race.