The 2026 Illinois High School Association state cross country meet is a week away, following the statewide sectionals that took place Saturday, Oct. 31.
In Class 1A meets, the top six placing teams along with the first 10 individual runners not on an advancing team moved on to state. In the Class 2A and 3A races, the first seven placing teams as well as the top-10 individuals not on a state-qualifier also head to state.
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The Peoria-area is boasting 16 state-bound teams and 31 individuals heading to the state meet. The state finals are set for Saturday, Nov. 7 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
Here is how the Peoria-area runners fared at sectionals:
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Where: Maple Lane Country Club, Elmwood
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Sectional champions: Boys — Eureka (52 points). Girls — Eureka (58 points).
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Area advancing teams: Boys — 2 Elmwood/Brimfield (83 points); 3 El Paso-Gridley (135 points); 4 Delavan (142 points). Girls — 2 Elmwood/Brimfield (74 points); 3 El Paso-Gridley (92 points).
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Individual winners: Boys — Coriell Green (Delavan, senior) 14:55.0. Girls — Kasyn Jibben (Havana, sophomore) 17:33.1.
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Area advancing individuals: Boys — 7 Karter Chenoweth (South Fulton, sophomore) 15:31.0; 15 Noah Burrell (Deer Creek-Mackinaw, senior) 15:54.5; 20 Ty Gale (Olympia, sophomore) 16:03.0; 24 James Shuey (Abingdon-Avon, junior) 16:06.8; 27 Alex Simmons (Macomb, senior) 16:13.0. Girls — 4 Elyse Brinkmeyer (Delavan, junior) 18:04.2; 6 Audrey Dickinson (Illini Bluffs, sophomore) 18:07.0; 10 Mira Kistner (Olympia, junior) 18:13.3; 12 Claire Fournier (Canton, sophomore) 18:22.3; 13 Jessica Henderson (Tremont, sophomore) 18:22.8; 14 Averi Kennett (Tremont, freshman) 18:26.2.
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Where: Oregon Park District, Oregon
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Sectional champions: Boys — Illinois Valley Central (50 points). Girls — Winnebago (80 points).
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Area advancing teams: Girls — 4 IVC (179 points).
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Individual winners: Boys — Evan Knobloch (Stark County, junior) 15:44.1. Girls — Dusti Smith (Stark County, senior) 18:27.4.
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Area advancing individuals: Boys — 8 Caleb Scheirer (Lowpoint-Washburn, senior) 16:11.0; 16 Jacob Bosch (Princeville, senior) 16:45.4; 18 West Manning (ROWVA/Williamsfield, senior) 16:47.2; 28 Carter Baxter (Putnam County, junior) 17:07.5. Girls — 5 Bethany Sennett (Princeville, senior) 19:16.2; 6 Anniston Judd (Putnam County, freshman) 19:23.8; 8 Kasy Rivas (Lowpoint-Washburn, sophomore) 19:31.2; 10 Payton Frueh (Princeton, senior) 19:40.4; 11 Avery Manning (ROWVA/Williamsfield, sophomore) 19:48.2; 16 Ruby Acker (Princeton, senior) 19:59.6.
IHSA cross country: Here are Peoria’s 8 breakout runners so far this 2026 IHSA postseason
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Where: Black Partridge Park, Metamora
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Sectional champions: Boys — Morton (77 points). Girls — Peoria Notre Dame (65 points).
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Area advancing schools: Boys — 3 Peoria Notre Dame (127 points); 4 Metamora (155 points); 6 Washington (163 points). Girls — 5 Morton (150 points); 6 Dunlap (181 points).
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Individual winners: Boys — Cuyler Swanson (Morris, senior) 14:14.1. Girls — Lillian Chaddock (PND, sophomore) 17:47.0.
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Area advancing individuals: Boys — 9 Dalton Miller-Klunke (Dunlap, junior) 14:48.9; 21 Benjamin Bobchik (Dunlap, junior) 15:16.1; 28 Gianni Verucchi (LaSalle-Peru, senior) 15:23.3. Girls — 29 Annie Witte (Richwoods, junior) 19:14.3; 30 Kaia Hale (Limestone, sophomore) 19:21.9.
IHSA cross country: Here are the top 25 boys and girls cross country times for Peoria-area runners in 2026
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Where: The Oaks of Mokena, Mokena
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Sectional champions: Boys — Plainfield South (59 points). Girls — Edwardsville (54 points).
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Individual winners: Boys — Alex Batsala (Plainfield South, senior) 14:32.9. Girls — Marlie Czarniewski (Plainfield North, senior) 17:05.8.
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Area advancing individuals: Girls — 18 Morgan Coker (Pekin, senior) 18:06.5; 26 McKinlee Williams (Pekin, sophomore) 18.17.0.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: These Peoria-area cross country runners are heading to the 2026 IHSA state meet
