Senior A.J. Ince qualifies for 3A X/C State; Community teams’ seasons end at sectional

Inkspot Staff

Nov 3, 2025

Senior A.J. Ince qualifies for 3A X/C State; Community teams’ seasons end at sectional

Senior A.J. Ince qualified for the IHSA Class 3A Boys Cross Country State Finals with an 18th-place 15:18.50 at Saturday’s Normal Sectional at Maxwell Park, advancing as the sixth individual not on a top-seven team.

In Class 3A, the top seven teams and the first 10 individuals not on those teams advance to Detweiller Park—criteria that left Community’s boys and girls squads short, as both concluded their seasons at the sectional.

The boys finished 17th as a team with 409 points.

Behind Ince, Luke Eganhouse placed 82nd (16:25.97), Evan Kuhlman 102nd (16:49.18), Eric Schill 103rd (16:49.84) and Colin Heath 104th (16:51.51). Bryce Kuhlman (17:23.48) and Cayden Keag (17:36.04) also competed for the Iron.

The girls placed 14th with 374 points. Emma Pollitt led Community in 66th (19:59.54), followed by Erin Schierer 71st (20:12.23), Taylor Beal 77th (20:16.33), Audra Wolf 79th (20:20.01) and Avery Hardy 81st (20:20.20). Mackenzie Wayne (20:21.73) and Maddie Gentsch (21:48.45) rounded out the lineup.

Ince will race at the State Finals Saturday, Nov. 8, at Peoria’s Detweiller Park at 2 p.m.

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