By Fred Kroner
Led by freshman Clark Roland, the entire Heritage boys’ cross-country team earned a berth in the Class 1A Decatur Sectional by virtue of its fourth-place team finish on Saturday (Oct. 21) at the Chrisman Regional.
The top seven teams from the 12-school regional field will participate at the sectional.
In a 92-runner race, Roland covered the 3-mile course in 16 minutes, 43.17 seconds. He finished in sixth place.
The Hawks’ other regional runners were sophomore Eli Denmark-Collins (25th in 18:05.02), senior Aidan Ashbrook (30th in 18:33.15), senior Cohen Sands (40th in 19:23.68), sophomore Joshua Stierwalt (41st in 19:24.20) and junior Hunter Montgomery (59th in 20:34.49).
The St. Teresa Sectional will be held at South Shores Park, in Decatur, with the boys’ race beginning at 11 a.m.
To advance to state from the 21-school meet, teams need to finish among the top six. Individuals can qualify for state – if they are not on an advancing team – if they among the first 10 runners not on an advancing team.
St. Joseph-Ogden won the regional title (33 points).
Other schools advancing full boys’ teams to the sectional were La Salette (37 points), Urbana Uni High (86 points), Heritage (138 points), Paris (144 points), Villa Grove (178 points) and St. Thomas More (196 points).
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Heritage’s only entry in the girls’ race at the Chrisman Regional – senior Lillian Montgomery – qualified for the sectional by finishing among the first five runners on an advancing team.
Montgomery placed 26th overall in a field of 65 with a 3-mile time of 22 minutes, 56.53 seconds.
The St. Teresa Sectional will be held at South Shores Park, in Decatur, with the girls’ race beginning at 10 a.m.
To advance to state, Montgomery will need to be among the top 10 runners not on a state-qualifying team.
St. Thomas More (60 points) won the team crown at the Chrisman Regional.
