Timothy Christian's girls cross country team is headed to the IHSA 2A State Meet after finishing fourth at the Kaneland Sectional on Saturday, Oct. 31.
The Trojans secured one of seven qualifying spots in the Class 2A field, according to the school's announcement. The three teams that finished ahead of Timothy Christian were ranked in the top 10 in Illinois, the school said.
Sophomore Lyla Plaisier won the sectional title. Freshman Kaitlyn Pergande finished fourth and earned All-Sectional honors.
All seven runners delivered. Senior Brooklyn Hanchett, junior Addison Butler and Pergande all ran personal bests. Junior Maddie Turner and Plaisier posted season-best times. Junior Phoebe Leppink finished within seconds of her fastest time of the year. Freshman Megan Lumkes shaved nearly a minute off the time she ran on the same course the previous week, the school said.
The state qualification caps a postseason run that started with a fourth-place finish at the regional meet, also held at Kaneland. Plaisier won the regional title, and Pergande placed sixth. Earlier in the season, Plaisier, Pergande and Lumkes earned All-Conference honors at the Chicagoland Christian Conference meet, finishing second, third and eighth, respectively.
Plaisier, a sophomore, was ranked third among Illinois sophomore girls in the 5,000-meter run earlier this fall, according to MileSplit Illinois. She posted a time of 19:03.30 at the Under the Lights Invite on Aug. 28.
The Trojans will race at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. The Peoria Journal Star reported the historic 3-mile course is hosting the IHSA state finals for the 56th year.
