Girls Cross Country:  Warriors Run Past Dixon, LP

The SHS Girls Cross Country team was awarded a triangular win Tuesday after both Dixon and LaSalle-Peru were unable to field complete teams.  The meet was held at Lowell Park in Dixon.

“Dixon started with five runners and one dropped out leaving them without a team score and LaSalle Peru started the meet with two runners,” said SHS Coach Nancy Gehrke.

Carissa Apperson was Sterling’s top finisher (21:06) – good enough for third place overall.  “(Carissa) ran an outstanding race,” said Gehrke. “She stayed in the race and then powered past (Dixon’s Tiara) Sondegroth (21:15) with 400 meters left in the race.”

Other Sterling finishers:  Mary Rose Dukelow (21:33) was the fifth runner followed by Stehanie Echebarria(21:43) at number #6, Kaylen Palmer (21:48) # 7,Carrie McPherson (22:03) #8. Next was Johnson of Dixon in 22:07,  followed by Brittany Ellis (23:04) #10 and Elisabeth Welch (23:59) #11, Kaitlyn Bradley (24:00) #12.

At full strength, Dixon is a state-ranked team and Gehrke acknowledges the Duchesses probably would have won had their fifth runner not dropped out, but it still would have been close.  “If Dixon had their fifth runner finish after our 7th runner (only 7 can effect the score), Sterling would have lost by only 1 point,” she said. "The Warriors ran very competively today.”

Sterling next runs at the Peoria Woodruff Invitational Saturday (9/12).  The meet will be held at Detwieller Park – site of the state cross country meet.