By Dalcon DeMaranville
Geneseo Current
PEORIA — The Maple Leafs had four runners among the state's Class 2A competitors Saturday, Nov. 7, as the IHSA cross country season wrapped up at Detweiller Park.
Junior Henley Bourne led the Leafs in the boys' three-mile race, finishing 21st with a time of 14:46.2. Greyson Claerhout, also a junior, completed the course in 15:43.4 to place 121st.
On the girls' side, senior Brooklyn Smith closed out her high school cross country career with a 33rd-place finish, clocking 18:19.3. Junior Evie DeBaene finished 150th in 19:48.9.
All four Geneseo athletes qualified individually for the state meet, with neither the boys' nor girls' team competing for a team title.
Morris senior Cuyler Swanson claimed the boys' Class 2A championship in 14:11.0, followed by Carson Kaiser of Kaneland (14:17.0) and Liam Bettis of Taylorville (14:18.4).
The girls' championship came down to one-tenth of a second. Wheaton St. Francis senior Elena Mamminga crossed the line in 17:05.8, just ahead of Chatham Glenwood's Ali Londrigan at 17:05.9. Erin Hinsdale of Wheaton St. Francis took third in 17:08.0.
The meet marked the final high school cross country appearance for Smith, while Bourne, Claerhout and DeBaene are juniors eligible to return next fall.
