Submitted by Tayloran Atwell

On Saturday, the Geneseo cross country teams traveled to Black Partridge Park in Metamora for the IHSA Class 2A Sectional. The 2.94-mile course is one of the flatter courses athletes compete on throughout the season and is slightly shorter than the traditional three-mile high school race. With a trip to the IHSA State Finals on the line, competition was fierce as runners from across the sectional battled for one of the coveted spots at State.

In the IHSA Class 2A postseason, 12 regionals are divided among four sectionals. At the sectional level, the top seven teams automatically advance to the IHSA State Finals, along with the next 10 individual runners who are not members of a qualifying team. For Geneseo, Saturday's competition resulted in four individual state qualifiers who will represent the Maple Leafs at Detweiller Park next weekend!

The Varsity Girls were the first to hit the course, starting at 10:30 a.m. with their sights set on advancing to the State Finals. Brooklyn Smith led the way for the Lady Leafs, crossing the finish line 16th overall with an impressive time of 18:46.2. Evy DeBaene was the second Leaf to cross the line, finishing 32nd in 19:23.5. Alivia Brown battled her way to a 59th-place finish in 20:12.1, with Charlize Wachtel right behind in 67th place with a time of 20:25.9.

Senior Ayla Schultz rounded out the top five scorers for the Lady Leafs, finishing 70th in 20:28.6 and bringing her four-year cross country career as a Geneseo Maple Leaf to a close. Freshman Zania Sefton finished her first season as a Varsity Lady Leaf in 79th place with a time of 20:45.9. Lucy Wachtel rounded out the top seven finishers, placing 86th in 20:57.7 and also completing her cross country career at Geneseo.

The Lady Leafs finished eighth overall with 226 points, just six points behind Joliet Catholic Academy, which claimed the seventh and final qualifying team spot with 220 points. Peoria Notre Dame captured the sectional championship with 65 points.

Although the team narrowly missed qualifying, Brooklyn Smith and Evy DeBaene both secured individual spots at the IHSA Class 2A Girls State Finals! Their performances earned them the opportunity to continue their seasons and represent Geneseo on the biggest stage in Illinois high school cross country.

The Varsity Boys closed out the day with an 11:30 a.m. start. The race featured some of the strongest runners in Illinois, with the top three finishers all breaking the previous course record. Cuyler Swanson from Morris, who captured the Geneseo Regional championship the previous weekend, won the sectional with a time of 14:14.1.

Henley Bourne led the Leafs with an outstanding 12th-place finish in 14:54.7, earning an individual trip to the IHSA State Finals. Greyson Claerhout was the next Leaf across the line, finishing 31st in 15:26.4.

Freshman Will Ehlert finished 62nd in 15:59.6, followed by fellow freshmen Henry Woodward in 80th place (16:38.3) and Ephraim Mueller in 81st place (16:39.9). All three freshmen wrapped up their first seasons competing with the Varsity Leafs. Kael McCord finished 99th in 17:12.0, followed closely by Rylan Carlson in 105th place with a time of 17:37.8.

The Varsity Leafs finished 11th overall as a team with 245 points. Henley Bourne and Greyson Claerhout both earned individual state qualifying spots with their performances, giving Geneseo two qualifiers on the boys' side and four individual qualifiers overall.

Next Stop: Detweiller Park!

Brooklyn Smith and Evy DeBaene will be back in action next weekend as they represent the Lady Leafs at the IHSA Class 2A Girls State Finals on Saturday, November 7, at 11:00 a.m. Henley Bourne and Greyson Claerhout will follow, representing the Leafs in the IHSA Class 2A Boys State Finals at 12:00 p.m.

Both races will take place at Detweiller Park in Peoria, where these four athletes will have one more opportunity to compete against the best in the state.

Congratulations to all of our runners on their hard work and efforts throughout the postseason. Best of luck to Brooklyn, Evy, Henley, and Greyson as they prepare to represent the Geneseo Maple Leafs at the

IHSA State Finals!

Four athletes. One team. One more opportunity to compete on the biggest stage of the season. Go Leafs!

IHSA Regional @ Geneseo

Varsity Lady Leafs:

● Brooklyn Smith - 16th - 18:46.2 - Individual Qualifier

● Evy DeBaene - 32nd - 19:23.5 - Individual Qualifier

● Alivia Brown - 59th - 20:12.1

● Charlize Wachtel - 67th - 20:25.9

● Ayla Schultz - 70th - 20:28.6

● Zania Sefton - 79th - 20:45.9

● Lucy Wachtel - 86th - 20:57.7

Varsity Leafs:

● Henley Bourne - 12th - 14:54.7 - Individual Qualifier

● Greyson Claerhout - 31st - 15:26.4 - Individual Qualifier

● Will Ehlert - 62nd - 15:59.6

● Henry Woodward - 80th - 16:38.3

● Ephraim Mueller - 81st - 16:39.9

● Kael McCord - 99th - 17:12.0

● Rylan Carlson - 105th - 17:37.8