CHS Cross Country Invitational is huge success

15 schools converge on Randolph County State Conservation Area course to compete; Chester’s Katelyn Vallet places 8th in Girls’ Division

By Jim Beers

CHESTER – Thursday October 2 Chester High School hosted the 35th Annual Chester Cross Country Invitational. The event was held at the Randolph County State Conservation Area on a warm, humid afternoon with temperatures in the 80’s to start the race. By the time the competition was in full swing, a nice cloud had covered the sun to provide welcomed shade and coolness for the competitors.

The race was a 3-mile event for both the Girls’ and Boys’ Divisions. There were 15 schools that entered the Girls’ race and 13 schools entered the Boys’ race. A total of 69 lady athletes competed in the Girls’ race while78 boys ran in the Boys’ race.

It takes at least five runners from a school to qualify for a team score. Schools without the required five runners can have their runners compete as individuals. The Girls’ Division had just five schools that qualified for team scores. The Boys’ Division also had a total of five team scores.

Medals were presented to the top-20 finishers in both the Girls’ Division and the Boys’ Division. Plaques were awarded to the teams that finished 1st and 2nd Place.

GIRLS’ DIVISION RESULTS

There were 15 schools represented in the Girls’ Division. Those schools included Okawville, New Athens, Red Bud, Columbia, Marissa, Pinckneyville, Chester, Steeleville, Woodlawn, Freeburg, Nashville, Sparta, Trico, Gibault Catholic, and Bluford-Webber.

A total of 69 girls competed. There were five schools that qualified for team scores including Columbia, Pinckneyville, Okawville, Freeburg, and Red Bud.

Chester Results

8th       Katelyn Vallet  Freshman         21:52.47

45th     Caitlyn Hargis Sophomore      26:43.80

Team Scores

1st        Columbia         53        Average Times: 22:58.39

2nd      Pinckneyville   62        Average Times: 23:25.21

3rd       Okawville        71        Average Times: 23:26.64

4th       Freeburg          82        Average Times: 24:19.72

5th       Red Bud          86        Average Times: 24:29.61

Top-20 Medal Winners

1          Caroline Tepe              Sr.        Okawville        19:25.65

2          Brooke Deterding        so.        New Athens     20:58.44

3          Ava Wagner                 Sr.        Red Bud          21:28.93

4          Addyson Piel               Sr.        Red Bud          21:30.78

5          Kaylee Grandt             Fr.        Columbia         21:42.32

6          Lillyonna Delrio          Fr.        Marissa            21:44.74

7          Jessi Baggett               So.       Pinckneyville   21:49.24

8          Katelyn Vallet              Fr.        Chester            21:52.47

9          Kaylee Wolf                So.       Okawville        21:55.06

10        Kadence Bruno           So.       Pinckneyville   21:59.57

11        Hillari Cowan             Fr.        Steeleville        22:01.75

12        Carly Chambers          Sr.        Columbia         22:24.04

13        Katelyn Gogolek         So.       Okawville        22:34.37

14        Zelena Koch               Jr.         Woodlawn       23:38.76

15        Ruby Leemon             So.       Marissa            22:47.22

16        Claira Folden              Jr.         Pinckneyville   22:49.50

17        AnnMarie Trentman    Sr.        Freeburg          22:50.24

18        Cecilia Muehl              So.       Columbia         22:58.97

19        Gabrielle Martin          Jr.         Columbia         23:30.72

20        Abby Sherman                        Jr.        Freeburg          24:06.58

BOYS’ DIVISION RESULTS

There were 13 schools represented in the Boys’ Division. Those schools included Pinckneyville, New Athens, Columbia, Okawville, Marissa, Sparta, Gibault Catholic, Blueford0Webber, Nashville, Freeburg, Steeleville, Trico, and Chester.

A total of 78 boys competed. There were five schools that qualified for team scores including Pinckneyville, Sparta, Okawville, Bluford-Webber, and Freeburg.

Chester Results

40th     Ivan Hobbs                  Senior              20:35.50

57th     Jaden Ramirez             Sophomore      21:31.20

Team Scores

1st        Pinckneyville               19        Average Times: 17:22.36

2nd      Sparta                          78        Average Times: 19:11.13

3rd       Okawville                    104      Average Times: 19:42.87

4th       Bluford-Webber          124      Average Times: 19:57.23

5th       Freeburg                      129      Average Times: 20:06.57

Top-20 Medal Winners

1st        Landen Boman            Sr.        Pinckneyville               15:59.86

2nd      Pacer Szopinski           Fr.        Pinckneyville               17:03.91

3rd       Jesse Winter                Jr.        Pinckneyville               17:08.76

4th       Cole Dachsteiner         Sr.        New Athens                 17:54.84

5th       Hubert Weary              So.       Columbia                     18:02.02

6th       Ryker Obermeier         Sr.        Okawville                    18:12.46

7th       Cale Schneider                        Sr.        Pinckneyville               18:14.06

8th       Marley Hall                 So.       New Athens                 18:16.42

9th       Ky Portz                      So.       Marissa                        18:17.86

10th     Zach    Teel                 Jr.         Pinckneyville               18:25.20

11th     DJ Hayes                     So.       Sparta                          18:31.35

12th     Josh Gale                     So.       Pinckneyville               18:35.99

13th     Nick Holdener             So.       Gibault Catholic          18:41.71

14th     Brennan Tate               Sr.        Bluford-Webber          18:44.24

15th     Ayden Fox                   Jr.         Nashville                     18:45.08

16th     Chris Moreno              Fr.        Sparta                          18:47.72

17th     William Cook             So.       Freeburg                      18:57.44

18th     Bryden Dalby              So.       Bluford-Webber          19:01.86

19th     Gabriel Charles           Jr.         Okawville                    19:03.70

20th     Connor Withrow         Jr.         Bluford-Webber          19:09.62

Chester Head Coach, Chris Kern said, “I was pleased with our YellowJacket and Lady Jacket runners today. The Chester 3-Mile course is very challenging and it was a bit humid and very warm today. I thought the overall meet went very smoothly and all 147 runners appeared to enjoy the event. I am pleased with the overall results and reactions to our 2025 invitational. October 25 we will be hosting the IHSA Regional Meet right here at our same course.”

 

 

Chester’s Katelyn Vallet proudly poses for a picture of her with her medal she won at the 2025 Chester Invitational Cross Country Meet. The event was held Thursday October 2 at the Randolph County State Conservation Area. Vallet finished 8th out of the field of 69 girls in the 3-mile race with her time of 21:52.47. The Top-20 finishers received medals for their efforts. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

Okawville’s Caroline Tepe, a senior, was the overall winner of the 2025 CHS Invitational Girls’ Division race. Tepe turned in a time of 19:25.65 for her winning effort. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

Pinckneyville’s Landen Boman, a senior, was the overall winner of the 2025 CHS Invitational Cross Country Meet Boys’ Division 3-Mile race. Boman’s time was 15:59.86. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

Lady Jacket Cross Country runner Caitlyn Hargis, a sophomore, finished 45th out of 69 girls at the 2025 Chester Invite. Her time was 26:43.80. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

Hillari Cowan, a freshman Steeleville Lady Warrior, finished 11th overall at the 2025 Chester Invitational Cross Country Meet. Cown is the daughter of Clint and Lindsey Cowan, former Chester High School students and graduates. Her time was 22:01.75. She earned a medal for her performance. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

Ivan Hobbs, a senior YellowJacket Cross Country runner, was Chester’s top finisher in the 35th Annal Chester Invitational Cross Country Meet Thursday October 2. Hobbs had a time of 20:35.50 and an overall finish of 40th place in the 3-Mile Boys’ race. The boys had a field of 78 runners. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

IHSA Race Official, Paul Stallman, fires the gun to start the Girls’ race at the 35th Annual Chester Cross Country Invitational Thursday October 2. There were 69 young ladies that competed in this event. Jim Beers Photo 

 

 

IHSA Race Official, Paul Stallman, fires the gun to start the 2025 Chester Invitational Cross Country Invitational. The event was hosted by Chester High School and included a total of 78 young men in the 3-Mle event. 

 

 

Jaden Ramirez establishes himself in the opening 50-yards of the 2025 Chester Invitational Cross Country Invitatiional Meet. Ramirez finished 57th in the field of 78 runners with a time of 21:31.20. He is a CHS sophomore on the YellowJacket squad. Jim Beers Photo

 

                                                                                                    

Chester Lady Jacket Cross Country runner, Katelyn Vallet, races to finish the 35th Annual Chester Cross Country Invitational. The 3-Mile event took place Thursday October 2. Vallet finished 8th overall out of 69 girls and had a time of 21:52.47. She earned a medal for her Top-20 finish. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

Jaden Ramirez sprints to the finish line of the 2025 Chester Invitational Cross Country Meet. The event was a 3-Mile race and Ramirez finished with a time of 21:31.20 and a place of 57th out of the field of 8 runners. Jim Beers Photo

 

 

 

Caitlyn Hargis, a CHS sophomore runner, approaches the finish line at the 35th Annual Chester Cross Country Invite. Hargis ran the 3-Mile race in a time of 26:43.80. She placed 45th out of 69 runners in the Female Division. Jim Beers Photo