Lisle Girls' Cross Country Team 2nd In School's History To Make State

LISLE, IL — The Lisle High School girls' cross country team recently made history as the second team in the school's history to qualify for the Illinois High School Association's (IHSA) state tournament.

The news came amid a victory in what was expected to be a tight sectional race at Lisle Community Park Saturday, with five teams vying for the last two state berths, Head Coach Derek Miller told Patch.

Miller said "every single girl on the Lisle cross country team ran their best race of the season" against Herscher High School, Richmond-Burton High School, Paxton-Buxley-Loda High School and Johnsburg High School.

According to Miller, several girls on team clocked their personal best times for a 5K race. Here are each runners rankings and times from the sectional meet.:

• Junior Dani Erickson, 5K: 13th place, 20:30 (personal best)
• Freshman Madi Madsen, 5K: 22nd place, 21:16 (personal best)
• Sophomore Jennifer Duban, 5K: 29th place, 21:53 (personal best)
• Senior Anya Kutkoski, 5K: 41st place, 22:18 (personal best)
• Junior Molly Martin, 5K, 24:59

Miller said Martin "ran strong as the team's last scoring runner and sealed the team's state-qualifying race." Sophomore Rose Helderle also clocked her personal best 5K with a time of 26:54.

Martin said, "I am really proud of our team for all the hard work they put into this, and I am so happy I had the opportunity to work with them and accomplish this." She added, "I’m looking forward to state and I can’t wait to compete with these girls."

Helderle said it took a minute to register the fact that the team was going to state.

" I was just trying to get ice on my shins, but once it finally set in, I was over the moon. Jennifer and Molly are two of my best friends, and I have grown up with them since kindergarten, "Helderle said. "Coach has been a huge supporter in my cross-country journey, and I am grateful that he was my coach."

Erickson added that she's also proud of what the team has achieved so far and she "can't wait to experience the state meet with all [her] teammates!"

"This was a great accomplishment for me. I was hoping to get a Lisle team to State in my first four years, but to do it in my first year is surreal," Miller told Patch. "It is even better because this group of girls deserves it for all the hard work they put in and they are a fun group."

The state tournament will be held Nov. 8 in Dettweiler Park, Peoria.