Eagles Earn State Qualifying Finish Behind Hou's All-Sectional Run

Due to the cancellation of the IHSA State Finals this year because of COVID-19 precautions, the varsity officially ended their 2020-2021 season at the IHSA Sectional Championships with a seventh place finish.  

However, despite the decision not to contest the state meet this year, the seventh place finish was still good enough to earn the Eagles a state qualifying bid in normal circumstances.  In addition, the performance also secured an invite to this weekend's ShaZam Racing Championships, an invitation only club meet that is being hosted as an 'unofficial' substitute for the official state meet.  

The Eagles punched their ticket at Sectionals thanks to a big fifth place finish from Aaron Hou, making him the first individual in program history to earn All-Sectional honors at the 3A level.  It also lands the senior in the number eight spot all-time for three miles.  Classmate Andy Niser also turned in a big race to finish in the top-twenty, as the senior crossed the line in eighteenth place to help secure the final team qualifying spot.

Rounding out the scoring on the day was seniors Michael Sommese and Ryan San Juan, as well as junior Ethan Sterling.  

As was the case for Regionals, the meet was completed in a 'flighted' format to meet all COVID-19 protocols, which will also be the case for this weekend's Shazam Racing Championships to be hosted in Chillicothe, Ill.