University High's Zoe Carter hopes to continue to move up at state cross country
NORMAL — Zoe Carter won't by flying off the line Saturday at Detweiller Park in Peoria. That's not her style at the Class 2A State Cross Country Meet.
"I don't like going out too fast the first mile. I want to be within myself, but also I can't let the leaders get too far ahead of me and it's very hard to catch up," said the University High School senior. "It's about staying attached and running my own race."
Carter knows the 3-mile course well. She has raced there twice already this season and will be making her fourth appearance at the State Meet.
She finished 26th as a freshman, ninth as a sophomore and fifth as a junior.
"Top three is my main goal," Carter said, "and the school record as well."
Carter, who has committed to run both cross country and track at Yale, is the daughter of former three-time Class A 800-meter state champion Rob Carter, who competed at Clinton and the University of Kentucky.
"I played soccer like my mom (Cathy) for like seven years. I tried cross country through my own desire in middle school and stuck with it," said Zoe. "After sixth grade I didn't want to lose the fitness I achieved so I asked my Dad to train me over the winter and it kept going from there."
According to Zoe, the Carters' aim to "every day, every workout bringing the 100 percent mentality, putting everything you have into it. We say 'if you're going to do it, do it right or don't do it at all.' "
Carter helped U High finish third at the Metamora Sectional as the Pioneers also advanced to state as a team.
U High's top six runners at sectional included Nora Bloebaum in 17th, Lana Alcorn in 21st, Tessa Ritter in 22nd, Josie Wamsley in 48th and Leya Alcorn in 77th.
The Pioneers' boys were second at the Metamora Sectional led by seventh place finisher Sean Kaeb. Aaden Roberts (22nd), Andrew Aldeman (25th), Jacob Bauchmoyer (27th), Connor Hartman (32nd) and Mason Dunn (37th) round out U High's top six.
Also part of the boys field Saturday is Pontiac's Cam Fenton.
Class 1A
Clinton's Aubrey Peterson finished second at the Elmwood Sectional, while El Paso-Gridley and Eureka advanced to state as teams.
Meika Bender in sixth topped the Eureka sectional finishers with Reagan Gerber in 11th, Ava Otto in 38th, Sierra Herrmann in 57th, Sophia Watson in 60th and Adeline Hubert in 65th.
EPG's top six was led by Caroline Wettstein in 13th. Kiley Knapp took 18th, Verity Nowark 23rd, Sophie Hinthorne 32nd, Haven Miller 33rd and Mya Griffin 49th.
Boys teams from Clinton and Eureka earned spots in state.
Clinton had top sectional finishers with Cayden Bostic in 16th, Colin Jameson 33rd, Talan Thrasher 34th, Brockton Sumner 45th, Abel Koritz 48th and Nolan Rhodes 57th.
Tucker Hinkle in second place paced the Eureka contingent at sectional and was followed by teammates Gavin Stalter in 10th, Landon Wurmnest in 19th, Connell Roth in 26th, Timothy Rogers in 31st and Davin Dingledine in 42nd.
Area girls in the field as individuals are Cornerstone Christian's Hayes Willard, Tri-Valley's Gracie Van Hoof, Mikayla Chambers of Dwight, Olympia's Emma Swartzendruber and Amelia Kistner and Fisher's Ellie Emberson
The 1A boys race also will feature Area individuals Corbin Christopulos of Cornerstone Christian, Dwight's Joe Faris, Drew Cooper of EPG, Prairie Central's Griffin Tredennick and Caleb Krischel of Fieldcrest.
Class 3A
Renee Warren of Normal West was ninth at the Normal Community Sectional and will be joined by fellow Wildcats Amanda Warren (25th) and Julie Bach (27th) at state.
Three Intercity boys runners finished in the sectional's top 25 and will run Saturday: NCHS' Joey Yaros in 20th, NCHS' AJ Ince in 21st and West's Ezekiel Rice in 25th.
