Kane County Chronicle 2024 Girls Cross Country All-Area Team

First Team

Madeline Cassidy, junior, Batavia

A now two-time All-Area team recipient, Cassidy established herself as one of the best No. 2 runners in the state after finishing 21st in the Class 3A race in 17:16.50 for all-state honors. Her postseason also included a runner-up finish (18:03.7) in the Harlem Regional and a fourth-place finish (17:22.2) in the Lake Park Sectional. Cassidy finished all but two races inside the top-15 this season.

Avery Hacker, sophomore, Batavia

The 2024 Kane County Chronicle Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year, Hacker made a major jump her sophomore season. She finished with four total victories, including at the DuKane Conference championships, and never finished outside of the top 10 in any race on Illinois soil. She finished off her season with a win in the Harlem Regional (17:58.3), second place in the Lake Park Sectional (17:13.3) and an eighth-place finish in the Class 3A race to earn all-state honors, while also becoming just the third-ever Batavia girl to drop under 17 minutes in a three-mile race, running a 16:52.4 to lead the Bulldogs to a fifth-place finish.

Cecilia Hilby, junior, Aurora Central Catholic

After a strong sophomore season, Hilby continued her success on the course in her junior season. Hilby accumulated 12 top-five finishes on the season along with three wins, including in the McNamara Regional. She finished off her season with a personal-best time of 17:44.8 for 20th place in the Class 1A state race, earning all-state honors for the second straight season.

Erin Hinsdale, sophomore, St. Francis

Hinsdale formed one half of a dynamic duo the Spartans sported this season. The sophomore was a top-five finisher in eight of her races, including a win in the Hinsdale South Regional after finishing the 2.9-mile race in 17.16.2. At the Class 2A state race, Hinsdale set the school record in the three-mile race, crossing the line in 17:01.1, a 59-second improvement from her state performance last season, for fourth place and all-state honors.

Gwendolyn Krodel, sophomore, Batavia

Krodel played a key role in the Bulldogs’ success throughout the season as their No. 3 runner. Krodel finished with five top-10 finishes on the season, including a fifth-place finish in the DuKane Conference Championships (18:00.7), fourth place in the Harlem Regional (18:12.3) and seventh in the Lake Park Sectional (17:33.8). She finished her season with a 39th-place finish in the Class 3A race in 17:38.2 to help the Bulldogs to a fifth-place finish as a team.

Elena Mamminga, sophomore, St. Francis

The other half of the dynamic duo, Mamminga also saw plenty of success her sophomore season. She finished all 11 of her races inside the top 10, with nine of them being top-five finishes. Mamminga finished out her season with back-to-back second-place finishes at both the Hinsdale South Regional (17:16.7) and Sectional (16:50.4) before earning a fifth-place finish in the Class 2A state race in 17:02.9 for all-state honors and the second-fastest time in St. Francis history.

Julia Rodney, sophomore, St. Charles North

In her first cross country season, Rodney emerged as one of the newest young talents to come from the North Stars. In her debut season, Rodney finished third (17:41.9) in the DuKane Conference, fifth (17:32.7) in the Glenbard West Regional and sixth (17:30.4) in the Lake Park Sectional. She capped off her debut season with a 33rd-place finish in the Class 3A state race in Peoria, finishing in 17:36.3.

Second Team

Margret Andrzejewski, junior, St. Francis

Sofia Borter, junior, Geneva

Abigail Burke, senior, Burlington Central

Claire Deppe, sophomore, Batavia

Gwen Hobson, sophomore, St. Charles North

Chiara Surtz, senior, Rosary

Adley Wilson, freshman, St. Charles East

Honorable Mention

Caroline Goettsch, sophomore, Rosary

Chloe Kammes, junior, Batavia

Leah Sutherland, freshman, St. Charles East