LHS Freshman Earns All-State Honors At IHSA Cross Country State Finals

LEMONT, IL — Lemont High School freshman Hannah Farley placed herself among the top runners in school history at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A Girls’ Cross Country State Finals, which were contested on Nov. 9 at Detweiller Park in Peoria, according to a release from LHS.

Farley placed 13th in the race and became just the second freshman in program history to earn all-state accolades, as Lemont placed 19th in the team standings. Sophomore Gavin Abad also made his state finals debut at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A Boys’ Cross Country State Finals, the school said.

Farley’s time of 17:26.66 was a personal best on a 3-mile course and is the second-fastest time in school history, according to LHS. Kaylie Politza finished in a school-record time of 17:22.80 at the 2019 IHSA Class 2A State Finals when she set a program best with her fifth-place finish. Farley already holds five of the top ten fastest 3-mile times in program history.

Senior Niki Tselios (87th; 18:57.49), junior Cassie Cunningham (143rd; 19:35.81), freshman Amelia Sinnett (158th; 19:50.69) and junior Maya Fedko (184th; 20:06.59) completed the team’s top five at the state finals. Freshman Lizzy Rupsis (224th; 20:56.94) and sophomore Nell Fedko (235th; 21:32.87) rounded out Lemont’s state finals contingent.

Lemont secured its state finals berth by finishing seventh at the IHSA Metamora Sectional on Nov. 2.

Head coach Tim Plotke’s team won its 17th South Suburban Conference-Blue Division title in 19 seasons this fall, according to LHS. Farley was the SSC Champion, while Cunningham (2nd), Maya Fedko (3rd) and Sinnett (5th) also earned all-conference honors.

Lemont was making its second straight team state finals appearance in girls’ cross country, and its 14th overall.

Abad made his state finals debut in the boys’ race. He placed 130th individually in a personal best 3-mile time of 15:59.60.

Abad advanced to the state finals thanks to his finish at the IHSA Metamora Sectional. He crossed the line in 28th place in a time of 15:47.44 on the 2.94-mile course, as Lemont finished eighth in the team standings and missed out on a team state finals berth by just one point, according to a news release. The top seven teams from each of the IHSA’s four Class 2A Sectionals advance to state finals competition, along with the top ten individuals at each sectional from schools that did not qualify for state finals team competition.