Area Roundup: Kody Danko, Grace Carroll, Mason Stoeger run way to IHSA Cross Country State Finals

At the Class 2A Metamora Cross Country Sectional contested Saturday afternoon, a pair of area runners — one representing Ottawa High School, the other Streator High School — earned berths to next Saturday’s IHSA Class 2A Finals at Peoria’s Detweiller Park.

Ottawa’s Grace Carroll placed 34th in the girls event, earning an individual trip to IHSA State. Carroll posted a 19:51.36. As a team, Ottawa’s girls placed 12th of the 19 full teams present. Lainey Billings (74th, 21:14.92) and Gianna Corsolini (82nd, 21:27.86) were Ottawa’s next two finishers, with Eva Heimsoth (95th, 22:09.72), Addyson Miller (96th, 22:12.58) and Megan Smelko (99th, 22:21.91) also fininishing in the top 100 of the 135-runner field.

In the boys race, Streator’s Kody Danko ran his way to state with an 11th-place finish in the field of 137. Danko’s time was a 16:06.62.

L-P’s Ryan Hartman (14th, 16:16.42) came in close behind to lead the 14th-place Cavaliers team.

Fieldcrest’s Stoeger 2nd at Elmwood: At the Elmwood Class 1A Sectional contested Saturday, Fieldcrest ace Mason Stoeger scored a runner-up finish, finishing in 15:39.74, coming in only behind champion Miles Sheppard of West Hancock’s 15:06.71.

Fieldcrest’s boys placed 14th of 22 teams, with Pacey Mangan (79th, 18:30.27) and Caleb Krischel (86th, 18:37.80) also finishing in the top 100 of a 165-man field.

Football

Marquette set to take on Fulton: The Marquette Crusaders will host their second-round Class 1A playoff game, welcoming old conference rival Fulton to Gould Stadium.

The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.