DU QUOIN — When the most accomplished girls cross country and track athlete in school history graduates, you might expect the team to take a step back. The Du Quoin Lady Indians aren’t thinking that way, and neither are outside observers.

Despite Gabby Alongi taking her considerable talents to Champaign to compete for the Fighting Illini, the Lady Indians are ranked 11th in the girls cross country preseason rankings put together by MileSplit Illinois.

It’s the highest ranking in program history, preseason or otherwise.

Du Quoin head coach Eric Kirkpatrick has quantity and quality to work with this season, including multiple girls who have competed at multiple state meets in Peoria. Kirkpatrick is quick to caution while the preseason ranking is a nice acknowledgement of the hard work his girls have put in, there’s still plenty of work to do as the Lady Indians hope to be able to crack the top 10.

Du Quoin will open the season September 2 by hosting the SIRR Preview.