Girls Cross Country: Lemont Places 21st at Class 2A State Finals

The girls cross country team wrapped up their season Saturday with a 21st-place finish at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals.

The Indians, making their fifth consecutive state finals appearance, scored 533 points during the meet, which was held at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Yorkville (74), while Crystal Lake (106) finished second and Lombard (165) finished third.

Competing for the Indians were freshman Victoria Salazar (102nd, 19:11), senior Amber Trick (115th, 19:19), sophomore Nicole Balinski (128th, 19:25), Holly Lemming (144th, 19:50), freshman Brittney Klosak (175th, 20:13), senior Mary McKevitt (196th, 20:51) and junior Amanda Ruban (200th, 21:06).

Trick's appearance in the state meet makes her the first girls cross country runner in school history to compete at the state finals four times.

The Indians earned their state berth by placing fifth as a team at the Nazareth Academy Sectional on Oct. 29. Lemont posted a team score of 143 during the sectional meet, which was held at Niles West High School in Skokie. They finished behind sectional champion Montini Catholic (30), runner-up Wheaton St. Francis (51), Illiana Christian (99) and Glenbard South (125).

On Oct. 22, the team finished second at the Wheaton Academy Regional, placing three runners — Ruban, Salazar and Balinski — in the top ten.

Girls cross country is the third Lemont High School sport to be represented in the IHSA state finals this year. The and senior Shane Purtle finished third at the Class 2A state finals, while senior competed at the Class AA girls golf state finals.

The (11-0) will play in the quarterfinals of the IHSA playoffs this weekend against Hubbard (9-2).