Submitted by Tayloran Atwell
On Thursday night, the Geneseo cross country teams returned to Empire Park in Hampton for the Western Big Six Conference Meet, hosted by Moline. Despite rain moving through earlier in the day and continuing during the boys’ race, the course held up well and provided a challenging setting for the conference championship.
Brooklyn Smith. Submitted Photo
The Lady Leafs were the first to take the course, led by an outstanding performance from Brooklyn Smith. Smith finished runner-up in 18:12.0, earning First Team All-Conference honors. Ayla Schultz was the second Leaf to cross the line, finishing 22nd in 20:57.0. Alivia Brown returned to competition following an injury and placed 30th in 21:26.7, followed closely by Zania Sefton in 32nd (21:44.7) and Lucy Wachtel in 33rd (22:01.3). Stella Allison finished 38th in 22:24.7, while Sofia Encabo-Alonso rounded out the top seven in 44th place with a time of 22:53.0.
Submitted Photo
Also competing for the Lady Leafs were Genevieve Talley (47th, 23:28.6), Hanna Pirog (58th, 24:21.3), Baylen Poffenberger (75th, 29:04.8), Keely Henry (76th, 29:24.5), and Tiffany Helton (82nd, 31:17.1).
As a team, the Lady Leafs finished fifth overall with 103 points. Quincy claimed the conference title with 32 points, followed by Rock Island (78), Sterling (92), Moline (101), and Geneseo (103).
The Varsity Leafs closed out the evening with the rain falling during their race. Henley Bourne led Geneseo with a runner-up finish in 15:42.5, earning First Team All-Conference honors. Greyson Claerhout followed with an impressive sixth-place finish in 16:07.4, also earning First Team All-Conference recognition.
Submitted Photo
Will Ehlert made his Western Big Six Conference Meet debut a memorable one, finishing 13th in 16:38.8 to earn Second Team All-Conference honors. Henry Woodward placed 23rd in 17:03.4, followed just three-tenths of a second later by Kael McCord in 24th place (17:03.7). Ephraim Mueller finished 32nd in 17:29.2, and Rylan Carlson rounded out the top seven Leafs in 37th place with a time of 17:48.6.
Also competing for Geneseo were Fritz Bolme (51st, 18:30.1), Kellan Courtright (63rd, 18:58.7), Jacob Berry (86th, 20:39.4), Hunter Olson (87th, 20:43.2), Connor Runty (98th, 21:46.7), James Mackenzie (103rd, 22:01.3), Ian McCord (106th, 22:29.8), Cole Henson (108th, 23:14.2), Adler VanOpdorp (109th, 23:22.4), and Phoenix Sottos (115th, 25:35.8).
The Varsity Leafs turned in a strong team performance, finishing as conference runners-up with 68 points. Quincy captured the Western Big Six championship with 54 points.
With the conference meet behind them, the Leafs now shift their focus to the postseason. The JV Leafs will travel to Hoover Park in Sterling for the JV Last Chance Invite on Monday, October 19. The Varsity Leafs will then prepare for the IHSA Regional at Richmond Hill in Geneseo on Saturday, October 24, as they begin their pursuit of a spot in the IHSA State Finals
Western Big Six Conference - Empire Park
Varsity Lady Leafs:
Brooklyn Smith - 2nd - 18:11.4 - Medalist - 1st Team All Conference
Ayla Schultz - 22nd - 20:56.1
Alivia Brown - 30th - 21:26.7
Zania Sefton - 32nd - 21:44.7
Lucy Wachtel - 33rd - 22:01.3
Stella Allison - 38th - 22:24.7
Sofia Encabo-Alonso - 44th - 22:53.0
Genevieve Talley - 47th - 23:28.6
Hanna Pirog - 58th - 24:21.3
Baylen Poffenberger - 75th - 29:04.8
Keely Henry - 76th - 29:24.5
Tiffany Helton - 82nd - 31:17.1
Varsity Girls Team Scores:
1st - Quincy - 32 points
2nd - Rock Island - 78 points
3rd - Sterling - 92 points
|4th - Moline - 101 points
5th - Geneseo - 103 points
6th - United Township - 122 points
7th - Rock Island Alleman - 183 points
Varsity Leafs:
Henley Bourne - 2nd - 15:42.5 - Medalist - 1st Team All Conference
Greyson Claerhout - 6th - 16:07.4 - Medalist - 1st Team All Conference
Will Ehlert - 13th - 16:38.8 - 2nd Team All Conference
Henry Woodward - 23rd - 17:03.4
Kael McCord - 24th - 17:03.7
Ephraim Mueller - 32nd - 17:29.2
Rylan Carlson - 37th - 17:48.6
Fritz Bolme - 51st - 18:30.1
Kellan Courtright - 63rd - 18:58.7
Jacob Berry - 86th - 20:39.4
Hunter Olson - 87th - 20:43.2
Connor Runty - 98th - 21:46.7
James Mackenize - 103rd - 22:10.3
Ian McCord - 106th - 22:29.8
Cole Henson - 108th - 23:14.2
Adler VanOpdorp - 109th - 23:22.4
Phoenix Sottos - 115th - 25:35.8
Varsity Boys Team Scores:
1st - Quincy - 54 points
2nd - Geneseo - 68 points
3rd - Moline - 77 points
4th - Rock Island - 84 points
5th - United Township - 117 points
6th - Rock Island Alleman - 145 points
7th - Sterling - 176 points
8th - Galesburg - 207 points
