2024 Sauk Valley Media girls cross country preview capsules

Bureau Valley

Coach: Bob Benck

Returning runner: Leah House, so.

Key newcomer: Gemma Moore, so.

Worth noting: House was 35th (26:04.47) in last year’s Three Rivers Conference Meet and 48th in the Bureau Valley Regional with a time of 25:41.20.

Dixon

Coach: Simon Thorpe (fifth season)

Key returners: Daniela Lovett, jr.; Olivia Arduini, jr.; Kate Boss, jr.;

Worth noting: Dixon was second at the regional and ninth at the sectional last season; Lovett was 42nd at the sectional in 20:23. … Junior Kamryn Rogers led the team with a fifth-place finish in 20:13 at the Sycamore invite on Tuesday.

Eastland

Coach: Kim Haverland

Varsity runners: Leslie Mayne, jr.; Deyanise Nieves, jr.; Violet Diehl, jr.; Arianna Bush, jr.;

Key varsity newcomers: Adelle Wilkinson, fr.; Harper Urish, fr.; Kensley Bashaw, fr.

Worth noting: Mayne (24:39) and Nieves (24:47) finished 28th and 29th at the Rock Falls invite on Aug. 28. … All four returners ran at the sectional last season.

Erie-Prophetstown

Coach: Elizabeth Green (12th season)

Returning varsity: Chloe Slock, sr.; Alana Little, so.; Sarah Link, so.; Jessie DeNeve, so.; Taylor Robshaw, so.

Key varsity newcomers: Gracelyn Abell, sr.; Jennica Norman, fr.

Worth noting: Last season was either school’s first time sending a team to state in cross country. Link was the team’s top runner and placed 59th (18:55.91). She also owns the school record.

Forreston-Polo

Coach: Tony Hardin (fifth season)

Returning varsity: Ramsie Grenoble, sr.; Regan Grenoble, sr.; Courtney Davis, sr.; Avalyn Henry, jr.; Olivia Loppnow, jr.

Key varsity newcomers: Hayden Harvey, jr.; Ella Gonzalez, fr.; Aubrey Herndon, fr.; Zandra Vock, fr.

Worth noting: The team placed second at the NUIC meet. “Our strength will come in our pack,” Hardin said. “If they can stick together, they will get stronger and stronger.”

Morrison

Coach: Chad Brackemeyer (ninth season)

Returning varsity: Emma Christin, jr.

Key varsity newcomers: Sidney Fuller, so.

Worth noting: “I’m excited to see the athletes put in the hard work and chase after their goals,” Brackemeyer said

Oregon

Coach: Gabe Poser (4th season)

Returning varsity: Ella Dannhorn, sr.; Lorelai Dannhorn, soph.; Abbie Ludwig, jr.; Arianna Chapa, soph.; Val Davis, sr.

Key varsity newcomers: Christine Ramirez, fr.; Jillian Hammer, fr.; and Madeline Rogers, fr.; Melanie Carrillo, fr.

Worth noting: “I think if we have the right training, everyone stays healthy, and we maintain the right attitudes, our girls might have a chance of qualifying to state as a team for the first time since 2011,” Poser said.

Rock Falls

Coach: Mark Truesdell (21st season)

Varsity runners: Brenna Burlack, jr.; Abby Cochran, so.; Ariel Hernandez, sr.; Emma Peterson, jr.; Gracie Peterson, jr.; Kat Scott, jr.; Amy Finney, fr; Lyndsey Hollowell, fr.

Worth noting: Hernandez is a returning state qualifier. ... Scott led the team with a 20:32 and finished seventh at the Rocket Run.

Sterling

Coach: Megan Grady (fourth season)

Returning varsity: Delia Block, jr.; Laney Zuithoff, jr.; Jaz’Mya Castaneda, so.

Key varsity newcomers: Lillian Hauck, fr.

Worth noting: Sterling won a regional title and qualified for state for the first time since 2003 last season, finishing 24th in Class 2A. Block, Castaneda and Zuithoff ran at state. Coach Grady said the team has a large group of freshmen. “We had a consistent turnout for summer conditioning, and the team has been working hard in practice,” she said. “I am excited to see who will fill in the gaps of those we have graduated.”

West Carroll

Coach: Chris McDermott (third season)

Returning varsity: Elise Legel, sr.

Key varsity newcomers: Charley Turnbaugh, fr.

Worth noting: “[Legel’s] practices have really shown an increase in speed,” coach McDermott said. “I feel that she could potentially start off with a [personal record].”