Donner named IHSA girls' track coach of the year

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In cross country, he’s had 10 state medalists with one state runner-up team and one third-place team.

Donner was pleased to receive the award, but at the same time very surprised.

“I didn’t even know they had the award,” he said. “I guess they give one for each of the sports.”

The letter from the IHSA to Bureau Valley states the honor is “based on the work your coach has done with the athletes in your program.”

• Change of sports: Sterling Newman’s Dylan Reyes, who won his second straight PI title, used to be a football player. But after two years on the gridiron, Reyes felt better suited for cross country.

“After my sophomore year, I thought, I don’t think (football) is for me anymore,” he said. “I dropped out and started running with the team. I think this is my sport.”

Change of course: Saturday’s race was the first time the PIT was not held at City-County Park since a 5K race was held through the streets of Princeton in 1987. It was just the second time PHS hosted a meet at Zearing Park and it seemed to be a popular choice.

“It was really easy and had no hills,” said race winner Elizabeth Mosbach of Hall. “The other park (City-County) seems really stretched out and long. This one seems put together.

• Keeping up with the Johnsons: Bureau Valley has a trio of Johnsons, including brothers Trent and Derrick. “I’m not related to that one,” Derrick said with a laugh, pointing to teammate Ryan Johnson.

Derrick, who finished fourth Saturday, said he thanks Trent for getting him into cross country.

• PHS notes: Saturday’s meet was the first time PHS was able to field teams on all levels since 1997 in its own invitational. PHS coach Pat Hodge noted 19 of his runners had season bests, showing an average improvement of about 45 seconds.

• Girls notes: Bureau Valley had its fourth different race leader Saturday in its fourth meet of the season with senior Cassie Criminger’s 34th-place finish of 23:00.3. BV coach Dale Donner said that’s only going to make the Storm better. ... Senior Lucy Stanke led the Lady Bruins with a 13th-place finish of 20:53.8. ... Two area volleyball players put on their running shoes Saturday and gave steady effort. St. Bede sophomore Kayla MacDavitt was 16th (21:26.1) and PHS sophomore C.J. Rhodes 17th (21:26.6). ... LaMoille junior Lorraine Stamberger finished 27th (22:07.3) for Amboy; her sister, freshman Merideth, was 41st (23:17.8).

• F/S boys: Noah Schaff of Deer-Creek-Mackinaw won the F/S race, clocking a time of 11:43.9, five seconds ahead of Amboy’s Colton Shaw. Hall’s Brandon Allen (12:00.7) was fourth and PHS’ Zach Holmbeck (12:12.1) was seventh. Erie/Prophetstown won the team title, defeating Newman 54-70.

• Parting shots: The local harriers will meet again in Saturday’s Bureau Valley Invite at Walnut. ... Sterling and Ottawa Marquette pulled out of the Princeton meet late in favor or the Peoria Heights Invite, leaving the Princeton meet with 19 teams.

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