While it wasn’t the storybook ending The Christ Our Rock Silver Stallions Boys team had hoped for, it was a heck of a season with a lot of positives and Sr. Elijah Gregory and Sr. Lady Stallion Sarah Mckowen are both headed to the IHSA State Cross Country Meet in Peoria, IL next Saturday!
The conditions were terrible, cold, pouring rain, mud and everything you’d expect for cross country this time of year in Southern Illinois.
The CORLHS Silver Stallions boy’s season came to an end this morning at The Benton Class 1A Sectional XC Meet as the Stallions finished 10th out of 22 total teams. Sr. Elijah Gregory was 12th place overall (15:57) and the 4th qualifying individual not on a team. He is headed back to Peoria for the IHSA State meet. Joining him will be Lady Stallions Sr. Sarah McKowen who also was the 4th qualifying individual finishing 15th overall (18:27) in the girls race. She will be making her 3rd trip in 3 years to Detwiller Park!
Her teammate Jr. Rylee Brammeier came up just short of qualifying, finishing 32nd (20:18) as the last qualifying individual spot was claimed at 27th place.
The Stallion boys had a tremendous season but just did not fair well today in sloppy race conditions. Jr. Zerek Koch had a strong race and pushed himself, but came up just short as well for the boys finishing 44th place(17:01) as the last individual qualifying spot for State was 31st (16:36)….Fr. Carson Pigg was 81st (18:19), Jr. Isaiah Lyons finished 88th (18:32), and Fr. Wyatt Gregory rounded out the scoring in 94th (18:53). Fr. Anderson Engele and So. Liagel Lyons were 120th and 150th respectively out of the 162 runner field.
CORLHS Coach Tim Coach told WJBD/WSIQ, “When I was asked if felt like today was a failure or if I was disappointed in today, my reply was this…
I put my faith in God and his son Jesus and if it wasn’t in his plans today, then I trust his plan for my team and runners! There is no failure! This team accomplished many great things this season and it’s a process to get to the State Meet! A lot of people don’t understand how hard it is to make it to the IHSA State Meet at the high school level in cross country or any sport for that matter! I’ve got 2 seniors moving on to run at State again this season, who are both leaders and great kids! I don’t believe in failure, today is just another step in the process! These kids gave all they had and ran their hearts out in awful conditions today! Nobody can ask more of them than that and I’m darn proud to coach every one of them!”
