State cross country at a glance

1A boys’ team outlook: Top-ranked Beecher won the Decatur sectional with just one senior and two freshmen in its lineup and is a heavy favorite. Elmwood/Brimfield won its own sectional and returns five runners from last year’s 1A state title squad. No. 2 ranked Sterling Newman and 2008 runner-up Westmont placed 1-2 at the Aurora sectional. Bureau Valley returns five runners from last year’s sixth-place squad, which finished five points out of fifth, including sophomore Derrick Johnson (47th), juniors Nate DeVenney (54th) and Ryan Johnson (74th) and seniors Ryan Johnson (99th) and Cody Taylor (138th).

1A individual boys’ outlook: The first five and seven of top 10 runners from last year’s meet graduated, leaving meet favored Justin Rehfeldt of Rockford Christian, Grant and Griffin Nykaza of Beecher, Dylan Reyes and Jake Trancoso of Sterling Newman, Kevin Barnacle of Westmont, Danny DeLaney and Austin Viano of Carlinville and Chase Coffey of Farmington ahead of the pack. BV’s Derrick Johnson and Hall’s Janusick and Mosbach should be right in the mix for top 25 all-state honors.

1A girls’ team outlook: The top four teams will be Winnebago, Decatur St. Teresa, Winnebago and Eureka with Freeburg, St. Joe-Ogden and Oregon in the mix.

1A individual girls’ outlook: Defending champ Kelly Curran, a senior from Bloomington Central Catholic, returns as well as third-place finisher Kristen Garwood, a sophomore from Springfield Lutheran, and fifth-place finisher Kristen Busch, a sophomore from Freeburg. Senior Julia Buford of Chicago Latin was also a sectional champ. Winnebago’s Alex Palm and Tessa Hoefle will also be in the mix ... Princeton sophomore C.J. Rhodes makes her state debut.