The IHSA Boys and Girls Cross Country Sectionals were held over the weekend, with teams and individual runners across the area competing for a chance to advance to next weekend’s state meet.
The Mt. Vernon boys narrowly missed qualifying for the state meet, finishing eighth in the team standings at the Carbondale 2a Sectional. The top seven teams advanced, leaving the Rams just four points shy of the final qualifying spot. William Green led Mt. Vernon with an eighth-place finish, earning an individual berth to the state meet. Mahomet-Seymour captured the sectional championship and will advance to state along with Marion, Olney, Herrin, Mt. Zion, Waterloo and Civic Memorial.
Centralia senior Caden Lamb wrapped up his high school cross country career with a 74th-place finish in 17:17.06. Freshman teammate Kolton Cook placed 110th in 17:55.28.
In the girls race, Chatham-Glenwood claimed the sectional championship and will advance to state along with Mahomet-Seymour, Mascoutah, Carterville, Mt. Zion, Sacred Heart-Griffin and Highland.
Mt. Vernon’s Jordan Hayes led the Rams with a 30th-place finish. Centralia senior Charli Brammeier finished 82nd in 21:45.48, while fellow senior Madison Ramey placed 85th in 21:52.89.
Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School will be represented at the state meet by a pair of individual qualifiers. Carson Pigg finished 20th and Wyatt Gregory placed 22nd to extend their seasons another week at the Murphysboro 1a Sectional.
Roxana captured the boys team championship and will advance to state along with Murphysboro, Pinckneyville, Metro East Lutheran, DuQuoin and Maryville Christian.
In the girls competition, Breese Mater Dei finished second in the team standings, with Anna taking the individual title. Althoff, Father McGivney, Roxana and Metro East Lutheran also qualified for the state meet.
The state cross country meet will take place next weekend, bringing together the top teams and individual runners from across Illinois.
