PEORIA — After a year hiatus due to Covid, the State Cross Country Finals were back at Detweiller Park in Peoria Saturday. Carbondale senior Alex Partlow made the most of his third and final state appearance, winning the 2A championship in record time.

Partlow finished with a personal best 14:11.96, setting a new 2A State Finals record. Partlow’s time is the 25th best in State Finals history, regardless of class.

Complete 2A results are here.

Four runners from the area medaled in the 1A boys race. Pinckneyville’s Isaac Teel edged Benton’s Gavin Genisio for fifth place. Teel ran a 14:45, with Genisio posting a 14:47. Du Quoin’s Landen Swiney (15th) and Flora’s Isaac Stanford (21st) also medaled. Benton finished seventh as a team. Pinckneyville was ninth.

In the 1A girls race, Pope County sophomore Ahry Comer and Du Quoin senior Olivia Phillips both medaled. Comer finished seventh with a time of 17:55, which was 33 seconds behind winner Lianna Surtz of Aurora (Rosary). Phillips finished 11th with a time of 18:09. Phillips and the Lady Indians finished 11th as a team, which is the program’s top finish in school history.

Complete 1A results are here.