Girls Cross Country: Warriors Fall Short at Sectionals

The Sterling High School girls toed the line at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning in East Peoria at the IHSA Cross Country Sectional Race with some high hopes to keep their season alive.

This particular morning presented extra challenges for all the 157 girls running on this Sectional course. The course was covered with standing water and the mud was thick and deep along with a chilling wind. Every girl faced the same tough conditions and in the end covered in mud and cold, there were either smiles or tears to contend with, as Sterling placed 12th at this race.

Carissa Apperson was all smiles, as she placed 39th in the field of 157 runners. This was her best IHSA Sectional meet finish and the top Sterling High School girls finish for 2009 Sectionals. She found the conditions to be thrilling and exciting. 

The other Senior girl, Mary Rose Dukelow, finishing her high school cross country career, found the conditions to be tormenting and exhausting. The mud just sucked the energy out of her legs. And in as few as 23 minutes, the final race concluded after all the long hours of preparation throughout the summer and past 12 school weeks.

“These girls know that tough times don't last but tough people do,” said SHS Coach Nancy Gehrke.  “The times at each place for the girls ran were typically 1:45 to 2:00 minutes slower Saturday than previous years due to the water and mud on the course.”

Sterling finishers:  
Carissa Apperson (#39, 21:18)
Carrie McPherson (#58, 21:51)
Hannah George  (#70, 22:13)
Brittany Ellis  (#86, 22:36)
Stephanie Echaberria (#90, 22:50)
Kaylen Palmer  (#96, 23:09)
Mary Rose Duklow (#101, 23:16)

Top Team finishes were: Yorkville, Peoria Notre Dame, Geneseo, East Peoria, Galesburg

“Many sports have the weather issues to deal with but cross country adds the terrain difference at all courses, which makes it very exciting and makes 'best' race times different each year,” said Gehrke.  “This is the one disappointment for me as a coach at the Sectional race in Peoria this year, and the wet conditions at the regional race and the Sterling Invite.  Our girls ran some great races, but their times won't reflect this as we chart their times against those of all the previous years.  (Running in poor conditions) may keep some of these SHS runners off from the top best times on a 3-mile course. These girls worked and raced hard all year.”

Below are the Top 10 times on a three-mile course for Sterling High School Girls Cross Country. 2002 was the first year IHSA had a three-mile course for girls.

1. Megan Fliss  18:31  2005 Regional Race at Credit Island
2. Jaclyn Sciacero 18:52  2003 Sectional Race at Sterling
3. Devon Carbaugh  19:09  2006 NCIC at Dixon SVCC
4. Carissa Apperson  19:25  2006 Sterling Invite
5. Nicole Williams  19:30  2003 Peoria Invite at Detweiler
6. Daujevon Clark  19:39  2004 Peoria Invite at Detweiler
7. Caroline McPherson  19:49 2008 Sectional at East Peoria
8. Tasha Romano  19:50  2003 Sectional at Sterling
9. Michelle King  20:01  2002  Peoria Invite Detweiler
10. Angie Arellano  20:08  2002  Credit Island Regionals