Nick Hartz- Class A editor
2009 IHSA Cross Country State Finals
-Girls Recap-
 | Early action at the start of the Class A Girls race.
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It was an absolutely beautiful day to run. The sun was out and the temperature was perfect for running. As the participants lined up for the start, there was a group of five runners who had a realistic chance of becoming the state champion. Freeburg’s Kristen Busch, Bloomington Central Catholic’s Kelly Curran, Winnebago’s Tessa Hoefle, Bishop McNamara’s Aimee Sims, and Chicago Latin’s Julia Buford looked like the favorites at the start. Each runner had shown at their respective sectionals that they could take the state title.
As the gun sounded, each team’s top runners jockeyed for position and the lead pack contained the girls above and a few others who deemed themselves worthy of the state title. Kristen Busch took the early lead with Kelly Curran nipping at her heels. Tessa Hoefle had slowly moved up the pace to take a shot at the state championship also. As the lead group turned to the final stretch, Kelly Curran decided to make her final push to the finish. Kristen Busch quickly retook the lead, but this was a short lead as Kelly Curran outpaced Kristen to take the state title with a time of 17:46. Kristen took second by placing three seconds behind in 17:49. Tessa Hoefle of Winnebago finished in third (18:02) with Kristen’s twin sister, Caitlin, following closely in four place with a time of 18:07.
In the team race, Eureka looked like the early favorite with an impressive performance at the Elmwood Sectional. However, Winnebago, Elmwood-Brimfield, and Decatur St. Teresa all had realistic chances at the state title and were itching at the chance to take it. Both Elmwood-Brimfield and Decatur St. Teresa stuck to their packs and settled into their paces. Winnebago’s top two, Hoefle and Alex Palm, and Eureka’s Kalla Gold took to the lead packs to get their teams as few points as they could. Winnebago’s 3-4-5 all stuck to the plan and were able to put together a great race to take the state title. Decatur St. Teresa’s young team gained a great deal more experience and also a runner-up team trophy for their hardwork. Finally, Elmwood-Brimfield showed how they are the wily veterans by taking yet another trophy with their third place finish. It was an unbelievable finish with the top four places being decided by a total of 12 points, and the top three being decided by 6 points.
 |  | Bloomington Central Catholic's Kelly Curran closes in on Freeburg's Kristen Busch
| Winnebago accepts the first place trophy
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-Boys Recap-
 | Rockford Christian's Justin Rehfeldt on his way to victory
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After all the excitement in the girl’s race, the boy’s race looked as if it were going to follow suit with yet another great individual and team races. On the individual side, Rockford Christian’s Justin Rehfeldt, the two brothers from Beecher, Grant and Griffin Nykaza, Westmont’s Henry Arndt and Kevin Barnacle, Carlinville’s Danny Delaney and Austin Viano, and Sterling Newman Central Catholic’s Dylan Reyes had all ran great sectional races and looked to up to the challenge of taking the state title. Rehfeldt had looked impressive for most of the season with freshman sensation Grant Nykaza looking like the biggest challenge that he would face on his way to the state championship. Rehfeldt held pace with the lead pack but as he emerged from the triangle, he put in enough of a surge that Grant could not hold on. It was an impressive feat from a great runner that will return again next year to defend his title.
On the team side, it was clear that Beecher, Canton, and Sterling Newman Central Catholic would be the teams that would be vying for the state team title. Both Newman and Beecher’s top two pushed the pace to keep their points as low as possible to give their teams a chance at the title. However, it was Sterling Newman Central Catholic and their top five that would prove to be the victors. They benefited from great races from all five of their runners to just edge out Canton by one point to take the state championship. Beecher’s third place victory was short lived as we had a disqualification of one of their runners, which gave the trophy to Carlinville. This is the second year in a row that a disqualification has occurred. It definitely put a bitter end to a very great race on both sides. These races all proved to be great openers for the rest of the day and it definitely will be some motivation for the teams that just missed their chance at a trophy or medal. However, all good things must come to an end and so ends another great season of Class A cross country in Illinois. |
