CGB’s Sarah Hill and Griffin Durbin Qualify for IESA State Cross Country Finals

By Editor | October 15, 2024 |

CGB Runners Are IESA State Qualifiers! CGB middle school cross country runners Sarah Hill and Griffin Durbin ran in the Class 2A IESA Cross Country Sectional on Saturday, October 12. Sarah placed seventh in the girls’ race and received a medal for placing in the top ten. Griffin placed thirteenth in the boys’ race and while he didn’t medal he was one of the individual qualifiers for the Class 2A IESA State meet. That meet will be on Saturday, October 19 at Maxwell Park in Normal. Sarah’s race will start at 10:45 and Griffin’s at 11:30.

By Sally McCARTHY

The Cerro Gordo Bement Bulldogs middle school cross country team ran in the IESA Sectional held at St. Joseph Community Sports Complex on Saturday, October 12.

The CGB girls just missed qualifying as a team with their fourth place in the team standings with 136 points. Host school St. Joseph won the team title with 58 points. The other two school qualifiers were Marshall with 67 and Tri-County with 81.

Besides the three qualifying teams, the next seven individuals not on a scoring team advance to the IESA State cross country meet that will be hosted by Normal Parkside. The meet is next Saturday, October 19 and held at Maxwell Park in Normal.

Sarah Hill placed seventh in the girls’ race and Griffin Durbin took thirteenth in the boys’ race to qualify for the State meet next Saturday. The Class 2A girls’ race starts at 10:45 and the boys will start at 11:30 a. m.

Seven girls ran the two mile Sectional course for the Bulldogs. The first five of those figured in the team score. They were with their place and time Sarah Hill, 7, 13:26.94; Miranda Miller, 26, 14:33.45; Darby Walther, 28, 14:35.71; Sophia Ferguson, 41, 15:29.89; Rylyn Howell, 42, 15:36.69; Lauren Hill, 43, 15:39.36; and Tessa Summar, 58, 16:11.65. There were 83 runners in the girls’ race.

For the CGB boys, Griffin Durbin earned his thirteenth place with a time of 12:37.39. Three other boys ran in the boys’ race. They were, with their place and time, Joshua Callaway, 67, 16:31.15; Luke Willard, 69, 17:09. 04 and Tristan Garver, 72, 18:15.55. The race was good experience for the three boys as they are sixth graders and they’ll be back to run again next year. Griffin will also gain valuable experience at the State meet as he is a seventh grader.