Ten girls comprise this year's Morris Daily Herald All-Area Girls Cross Country team, including Runner of the Year in Minooka's Morgan Crouch.
Coach Kevin Gummerson's Indians led the area once again as his harriers finished 19th as a team at the state meet down in Detweiller Park in Peoria. All seven runners at that event made the cut this year, to go along with two from Morris and one from Seneca.
Just one girl on the list will graduate this year meaning than most on this list will likely be back here at this time next year.
Laura Simon
Senior, Minooka
Season-best time:18:19 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
"Laura had an outstanding career at Minooka High School," Minooka coach Kevin Gummerson said. "She ran in four IHSA State meets and she saved her best one for her last. She will go down as one of the great ones in Minooka XC history."
Kaitlyn Chetney
Junior, Minooka
Season-best time: 18:29 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
"Kaitlyn put together an impressive state series and I was really impressed with her ability to focus on racing at a high level at the state meet," Gummerson said.
Haley McNamara
Junior, Minooka
Season-best time:18:19 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
"Haley McNamara did not get the chance to run XC last year due to a severe hip injury," Gummerson said. "She was able to get healthy, put in a ton of work, and establish herself as an outstanding cross-country runner. She had a great season."
Caleigh Beverly
Junior, Minooka
Season-best time: 18:41 at Southwest Prairie Conference Championships in Plainfield.
"Caleigh worked extremely hard to get to this point," Gummerson said. "She had a huge impact on this team this year and ran the third fastest time in Minooka Girls’ History at Channahon Community Park."
Moira McAsey
Junior, Minooka
Season-best time:18:18 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
"Moira had a ton of success last year in the spring running the 4x800 and 4x400, and she was able to carry that over to the XC course this year," Gummerson said. "It has been great to see Moira’s confidence grow over the course of the season."
Caroline Collet
Junior, Minooka
Season-best time:18:31 at Amboy Invitational.
"Big improvement from last season. Career best this season by almost a full minute," Seneca coach Kim Sedlock said. "Caroline was strong, healthy, and confident in every race. She trained hard and it paid off."
Haley Renison
Junior, Minooka
Season-best time: 19:00 at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
"Renison has worked extremely hard this season, and she has dedicated herself to not just improving her abilities but also that of the team," Gummerson said. "Renison earned her first All-Conference medal this season by running a very gutsy race at the SPC Championships.
Sara Burns
Junior, Morris
Season-best time: 20:15 at the Morris Regional.
“Sara is quite talented. The fact that she ran as our No. 1 part of the year with very little training is proof of her ability," Morris coach Joe Blumberg said. "She just wasn’t healthy enough this season to consistently train.”
Valerie Pfaff
Junior, Morris
Season-best time: 20:32 at the Morris Regional.
“Val is our most dedicated offseason runner and our hardest worker," Blumberg said. "She continues to improve, and it’s a joy to see hard work and determination pay off in an athlete."
