Girls Cross Country: Warriors Run at Woodruff Invite

The SHS Girls Cross Country team placed 26th at the 22nd Annual Peoria Woodruff Invitational Saturday at Detweiller Park in Peoria – the site of the state cross country meet.

Sophomore Carrie McPherson was Sterling’s top varsity finisher in a time of 20:43.

Other SHS varsity times:
Carissa Apperson: 21:08
Brittany Ellis: 21:14
Stephanie Eichebarria: 21:46
Kaylen Palmer: 23:23
Sayra Contreras: 24:55
Kairee Brown: 25:53

Girls that competed in the open race were:
Liz Welch: 23:22
Kaitlyn Bradley: 23:36
Alayna Wolfe: 23:57
Charisma Martinez: 28:11
Erica Salas: 28:47

Sterling coach Nancy Gehrke: "One of the highlights for our team was Brittany Ellis, a Junior, who is out for Cross Country again after taking her Sophomore year off and finishing her freshman year very ill. She came through very strong finishing 3rd for SHS with a best ever time. She will be a real asset for our team as we get into the season and this should be a great confidence builder for her and for our team. Stephanie Echabarria (Jr) had a strong finish despite her judgement of this race. She has run 3 races in 8 days and the finishing times have all been within 3 seconds. The Open Race brought some best-ever races for 3 SHS runners. Liz Welch (So.) ran a best ever followed by Kaitlyn Bradley (Jr.)- a first time Cross Country runner. Alayna Wolfe (Fr) finish right behind these girls and ran her fastest ever race. These girls are all competing strong and everyone is looking to see who earns the opportunity to run varsity for the Running Warriors."

Sterling hosts the annual Twin Cities meet with Newman and Rock Falls Tuesday (9/15) at Hoover Park.