State Cross Country |Mahomet-Seymour, Centennial compete at IHSA cross country state finals

PEORIA - In a showcase of endurance and determination, 15 local athletes competed in the Illinois High School Association's Class 2A Girls' Cross Country State Finals at Detweiller Park on Saturday. Among 243 runners, representatives from Mahomet-Seymour and Centennial made their way around the three-mile course on the heels and hip-to-hip with the top harriers from all corners of Illinois. Also with them was Marley Yau, representing Urbana in the season finale.

Centennial and Mahomet-Seymour battle through competitive field

The Bulldogs finished the season ranked 20th overall in the team standings at this year's meet, while the Chargers finished 29th. For both teams, reaching the state finals was a significant accomplishment after advancing from the sectional meet at Olney Central College on November 2, where Mahomet-Seymour was fourth, and Centennial clinched the sixth and final qualifying spot.

The Chargers' top runners hurried along the course at competitive paces. Sophomore Farah Scott led the Chargers with an 18:42.28 finish, placing 65th. Sophomore Brenna Hooper followed, clocking in at 19:52.89 and finishing 160th.

Junior Molly Pate trailed close behind in 162nd with a time of 19:53.85. Senior Kaylee Sweikar rounded out notable performances, finishing in 188th at 20:08.38. Lauren Kleber rounded out the top five scoring runners in 234th place at 21:27.94.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were led by junior Emily Anand, who posted the best time for Mahomet-Seymour, finishing in 18:12.46 to secure 45th place. Freshman Cecily Smith ended her race in 79th place, clocking in at 18:51.97.

Sophomore Taylor Mills notched 104th place with a time of 19:07.02. Kennedy Ashby was not far behind, crossing over at 19:59.86. Seniors Chloe Bundren and Morgan Waisath rounded out the team's state run, finishing 185th and 240th, respectively, with Finley Smith wedged between them, coming in 212th at 20:40.89.

Urbana’s Yau returns to state

Sophomore Marley Yau finished the season strong for Urbana with a second trip to state. The lone Tiger to qualify from Urbana, Yau finished 136th with a time of 19:28.17, capping her journey after a strong sectional performance where she set a personal record at 19:18.7, ten seconds under her best time from the 2023 state meet.

Top Contenders and Final Standings

In a field of fierce competition, St. Ignatius College Prep emerged victorious with a team score of 76, securing first place. DePaul College Prep took second with 177 points, followed by Glenwood in third with 217 points. These teams demonstrated exceptional depth, with St. Ignatius' Annika Swan finishing second individually and contributing to her team's victory.

The top three individual finishers established a remarkable standard for Illinois high school cross country. Sundara Weber from Sandwich High School won the race with an impressive time of 16:11.27. Following her was Swan from St. Ignatius, who finished with a time of 16:27.80. Zoe Carter from Normal University secured third place, crossing the finish line at 16:49.50.

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KEYWORDS: State cross country, IHSA girls state finals, Mahomet-Seymour cross country, Centennial cross country, Urbana state cross country qualifiers

Five-Star point guard to call Illinois home, Destiny Jackson commits to Fighting Illini

URBANA - The Fighting Illini women's basketball program added another highly touted recruit to its roster last week with the addition of Whitney Young point guard Destiny Jackson. The 5'6" Chicago native will join the team next season after signing a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement during the National Signing Period.

Jackson knew immediately Illinois was the place for her.

"One or two weeks after she got the job, I heard from her (Shauna Green) and it was such a great connection from the start," Jackson told CPSAthletics.com. "They’re building something great. I feel like the impact that Coach Shauna has had, I feel like she’s going to continue the success and I can’t wait to help build on that."

Jackson is ranked as the No. 28 prospect in the Class of 2025, No. 6 at her position, and No. 1 in the State by 247Sports. She is also ranked No. 25 in ESPNW's HoopGurlz rankings.

As a junior at Whitney Young, Jackson was named 2023-24 AP First Team All-State and received AP All-State Honorable Mention her sophomore season. She has also been named First Team All-Conference in the Chicago Public League (CPL) three times.

Jackson is a member of the three-time Chicago Public League (CPL) champion Whitney Young team. She chose the Illini over offers from West Virginia, North Carolina, Baylor, and Arizona.

Jackson is known for her quickness, ball-handling skills, and ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. She averaged 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game as a junior.

Head Coach Shauna Green praised Jackson's talent and work ethic, saying, "Destiny is a dynamic scorer, a dynamic point guard, who's going to be able to lead our team and someone that I know is going to develop into a great leader."

Jackson's commitment adds depth to an Illinois roster that includes current Illini Mia Zenere, who played with Jackson on the Example Sports club team in 2023. The Fighting Illini will look to build on their success from last season, when they reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.

"I chose the University of Illinois because it felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus," Jackson said, who excited to play at the college level with a program she feels values her potential as a player and a person. "Growing up in Illinois, I wanted to stay connected to my roots, and Illinois gives me the perfect balance of familiarity and new opportunities."

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KEYWORDS: Illinois Women's Basketball, Destiny Jackson, Big Ten Athletics, Whitney Young Magnet High School, Illini Basketball Recruit