January 21, 2025
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Sauk Valley

Thorpe, Harkness hang with Thunder

By Brian Weidman

Sterling's Dylan Harkness leads the Sterling runners during Saturday's Class 2A Sterling Regional at Hoover Park. (David Rauch/drauch@saukvalley.com) (David Rauch)

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STERLING – Belvidere North was the team to watch at the Class 2A Sterling Cross Country Regional on Saturday, and the Blue Thunder had a pair of area runners to push them along.

Dixon’s Simon Thorpe and Sterling’s Dylan Harkness were third and sixth, respectively, to lead their teams to berths in the Belvidere Sectional on Saturday. The top seven teams and five individuals not on those squads moved on.

Belvidere North (21 points), Dixon (75), Rockford Boylan (88), Marengo (116), Sterling (119), Rochelle (122) and Belvidere (143) advanced as teams.

Thorpe finished with a time of 15 minutes, 27 seconds, behind Belvidere North’s Tyler Yunk (15:05) and Paxson Menard (15:09). Two more North runners, Garrett Lee (4th, 15:38) and Will Crocker (5th, 15:45), followed Thorpe across the line.

“My goal coming into the race was to get fifth, just a little bit above cruising,” Thorpe said. “I didn’t want to give it all-out this week, and just look forward to next week.”

Skylar Mitchell finished 10th for the Dukes in 16:12, but a key to the team’s success was the 14th-place finish turned in by Cody Sondgeroth. His time of 16:26 was a personal best on the course by 30 seconds.

“He had a huge day for us,” Dixon coach Evan Thorpe said.

Evan Grady (22nd, 16:58) and Austin Trevino (26th, 17:13) rounded out the top five for the Dukes.

“They’re so young,” coach Thorpe said. “Today our top five were four sophomores and a freshman. It shows if we can add a few puzzle pieces in a couple years, we’ll be right there up front.”

Harkness was sixth in 15:47, and he felt he has more left in the tank for next week’s sectional. His time was about two seconds off his course best.

“I feel like I haven’t peaked at all yet,” Harkness said. “The next meet at Belvidere is a slow course, so it’s all about place. Then when you get to state, it’s all about place, but time is a big factor there too.”

Rounding out Sterling’s top five were Joshua Landis (20th, 16:50), Ethan Rocha (29th, 17:28), Keaton Dir (31st, 17:32) and Zach Alston (34th, 17:40).

Top 3 teams

1. Belvidere North 21

2. Dixon 75

3. Boylan 88

Individual winner: Tyler Yunk (BN) 15:05