Few schools in the state can match the recent success of the Yorkville girls cross country team. The Foxes have won five straight state championships.
Yorkville also was the state runner-up in Class 2A each of the two years before that streak of state titles began in 2011. The Foxes will compete in 3A this season.
“They are going to take a trophy away from someone,” veteran Wheaton Warrenville South coach Rob Harvey said of the Foxes. “They are one of the best teams in the nation.”
The traditional powers in 3A relish the chance to face off against the Foxes.
“You can ask anyone in our business,” Harvey said. “(Yorkville girls coach Chris Muth) is one of the best cross country coaches in the state of Illinois.”
“I think their impact will be immediate,” longtime Aurora Central Catholic coach Troy Kerber said of Yorkville. “They have made a smooth transition.”
The Foxes will seek an unprecedented sixth straight state title behind Nicole Greyer, Alyssa Edwards, Maddie Dearborn, Alexis Grandys and Olivia Borowiak.
“My expectations are that they run the best race of year,” Muth said of the state meet. “We have to be perfect to execute the game plan. You can’t worry about anyone else. If we get beat, hats off to the other team.”
The Foxes will have to contend with state powers such as defending 3A state champion Minooka, top-ranked Naperville North and Glenbard West.
Minooka and Yorkville were head and shoulders above the competition at both the regional and sectional, with Minooka capturing both in close fashion over the Foxes.
The Yorkville boys also won back-to-back cross country state championships in 2013 and 2014.
“We achieved our goal of going to state,” Muth said of the Foxes qualifying for the boys state meet for a 10th consecutive year.
The Yorkville boys placed fifth at the Edwardsville Sectional.
Among area 2A hopefuls, Kerber has had the privilege of mentoring more than one track and field state champion in almost three decades as a coach.
But Kerber may have his first cross country champion in senior Abby Fioresi, who won the Wheaton Academy Sectional.
“She is one of the best racers I have ever coached,” Kerber said of Fioresi. “Abby is so driven and focused.”
In 1A, Hinckley-Big Rock’s Audrey Harrod and Tanner Chada have grand designs for Saturday’s race at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Harrod said she believes she’s right on track because of track.
“As a senior in high school, I should be at my very best,” said Harrod, the state runner-up in both the 400 and 800 meters last spring. “I enjoy (cross country) and do what I do, but track is the best.”
Chada is the last remaining scoring member of Aurora Christian’s 2013 1A boys track state champion. He transferred to his hometown high school for his senior year.
Now a senior, Chada was ravaged by injuries his sophomore and junior years at Aurora Christian.
“They took 100 percent away from me,” Chada said of the injuries. “I had to start from ground zero again. That gave me even more motivation.”
Last weekend, Chada won the Oregon Sectional.
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“It looks like Chada is peaking at the right time,” said Harvest Christian coach Steven Bland, whose team won the sectional at Oregon.
Kevin McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
CROSS COUNTY STATE FINALS
CLASS 3A
Girls schedule: 1 p.m. Saturday at Detweiller Park, Peoria
Girls qualifying teams: Geneva, Batavia, Metea Valley, Yorkville
Girls individual qualifier: Isabelle Christiansen, Oswego, junior
Boys schedule: 2 p.m. Saturday at Detweiller Park, Peoria
Boys qualifying teams: Marmion, Geneva, Yorkville
Boys individual qualifiers: Dylan Zangri, Oswego East, senior; Bennett Peterson, Oswego, senior; Ralph Papa, Metea Valley, junior; David Castillo, West Aurora, senior
CLASS 2A
Girls schedule: 11 a.m. Saturday at Detweiller Park, Peoria
Girls qualifying teams: Rosary, Kaneland
Girls individual qualifier: Kayla Schiera, Sandwich, junior
Boys schedule: noon Saturday at Detweiller Park, Peoria
Boys qualifying team: IMSA
Boys individual qualifier: Matthew Richtman, Kaneland, senior
CLASS 1A
Girls schedule: 9 a.m. Saturday at Detweiller Park, Peoria
Girls individual qualifier: Audrey Harrod, Hinckley-Big Rock, senior
Boys schedule: 10 a.m. Saturday at Detweiller Park, Peoria
Boys individual qualifier: Tanner Chada, Hinckley-Big Rock, senior