Cross country teams take 2nd at Intercity

For the second straight year, Community’s boys and girls varsity cross country teams finished 2nd at the Intercity meet at Maxwell Park, Thursday, Sep. 22.

Girls Varsity

West runner Amanda Warren runs ahead of Community’s Megan Metz, Warren would finish the race one place ahead of Metz. (Photo Courtesy of: Jeff Christopherson)

Normal West won the girl’s race, with the Wildcats finishing 7 points ahead of Community.
Four Community runners finished in the top ten, led by Ali Ince’s (’24) 3rd place finish.
Ince’s 18:46 3-mile time was 26 seconds behind 2nd place finisher Julie Bach of West.
Lily Cavanaugh (’25) finished 6th (19:14), Abigail Ziemer (’24) placed 8th (19:52) and Megan Metz (’23) took 10th (20:08).
A Wildcat jersey crossed the finish line ahead of each of the Iron’s top four finishers, with West’s Renee Warren (18:59), Ashleigh Horton (19:26) and Amanda Warren (20:06) taking 5th, 7th and 9th, respectively.

Boys Varsity

Community’s Joey Yaros runs ahead of U-High’s Brandt Henderson. Yaros would be the Ironmen’s top finisher in the Intercity race, beating Henderson to the finish line by 9 seconds. (Photo Courtesy of: Jeff Christopherson)

Community’s boys placed second in the Intercity meet, finishing behind the U-High Pioneers for the second straight year.

While a tie-breaker decided last year’s meet, the Ironmen finished 27 points behind the Pioneers this season.

Normal West’s Sky Riddle took first (15:58), trailed by three Pioneers: Mitchell Hayes (16:02), Landen Alcom (16:04) and Mason Hart (16:06).

Community’s Joey Yaros (’25) trailed the pack of Pioneers, crossing the finish line at 16:10 to earn 5th.

U-High runners Brandt Henderson and Connor Hartman would take 6th and 9th, contributing to the Pioneer’s outright Intercity title.

AJ Ince (’26) and Jack Thomas (’24) were among the race’s top ten finishers, with Ince (16:32) taking eighth and Thomas (16:36) tenth.

About the Contributors

Libby Price, Staff Writer

Libby Price is a senior at Normal Community High School and is involved in Speech Team. This is her first year working with the Inkspot, and she is a staff writer. On the weekends I enjoy baking and crocheting. My favorites subjects in school are English and Spanish. I hope to become a teacher someday.

Ruth Oliveros-Gallardo, Staff Writer

Ruth Oliveros-Gallardo is a senior at Normal Community High School and is on the track and field team. This is her first year working with the Inkspot, and she is staff writer. After school and on the weekends, I enjoy working and spending time with my friends. My biggest pet peeve is people chewing with their mouths open. I am most comfortable when I am with my sisters or by myself.

Christian Hofmann, Staff Writer

Christian Hofmann is a senior at Normal Community High School and is involved in Drama club. This is his first year working with the Inkspot, and he is a staff writer. My all-time dream is to become an actor. In my free time I watch movies, I act and I listen to music. My best advice is to go with the flow and roll with the punches.

Zachary Knox-Doyle, Senior Staff Reporter

Zachary Knox-Doyle is a junior at Normal Community High School and plays on the school's tennis team. He is a Senior Staff Reporter at the Inkspot. One of my biggest inspirations is Candace Parker because of her insane skills on the basketball court, never back down attitude and the work she's done for ESPN behind the mic. I am most comfortable and content when I'm playing tennis and basketball simply for the love of the sport.

BJ Dumas, Senior Staff Reporter

Brantley Dumas is a senior at Normal Community High School. He is the president Black Student Union and is on the varsity bowling team. He is a second-year Staff Reporter on the Inkspot. If I were to win a million dollars I would definitely pay for college, then buy all the shoes and clothes I could ever want. I enjoy fashion, making and listening to music and anime. So, if you like any of those we can probably be friends. My biggest pet peeve is when people chew too loud. Gross.

Brayden Blackwell, Senior Staff Reporter

Brayden is a junior at Normal Community; he is involved in the boxing club and Best Buddies organization. This is Brayden's second year on the Inkspot. I am inspired by people lifting each other up because "iron sharpens iron." My all-time dream is to own my own business in Colorado Springs. A book that moved me was "Breath" by Rickson Gracie.