Princeton High School cross country runners turned in strong performances at the 48th Annual Patriot Invitational at Detweiller Park in Peoria, with the varsity girls placing 18th out of 26 full teams.
Elmwood won the varsity boys team title with 88 points, while Eli Anderson of Monticello took the individual championship in 14:43 over the 3.0-mile course. Shelbyville won the varsity girls team title with 66 points, and Kasyn Jibben of Havana was the individual champion in 17:11.
Varsity Girls
Princeton finished 18th of 26 full teams with 423 points. Ruby Acker led the way, placing 27th in 18:50 — a personal best and the best time for a PHS girl at the Patriot Invite in 12 years. According to coach Pat Hodge, Acker moves into No. 9 on the all-time PHS list and is the first PHS girl to break 19:00 for 3 miles since Haley Adams in 2010.
- 27. Ruby Acker — 18:50 (personal best)
- 64. Alexandra Waca — 20:09 (personal best, 3rd-best time for PHS at the Patriot Invite)
- 139. Susanna Bohms — 22:04 (point of season best)
- 166. Leila Acker — 22:45 (point of season best)
- 172. Natalie Meyer — 22:59 (season best)
- 193. Lily Simpson — 23:54 (season best)
Open Girls
- 25. Emma Dye — 25:47 (season best)
- 31. Tessa Thornton — 28:18
Varsity Boys
Princeton did not field a full team.
- 210. Allister Swanson — 19:20
- 229. Jackson Drozda — 20:08 (personal best)
- 234. Cruz Rodriguez — 20:23 (personal best)
"It was a good day for all runners at Detweiller Park. The course was fast and the temperature was ideal. We ran well with nearly everybody getting a Season Best or better," Princeton coach Pat Hodge said. "It was an excellent overall team performance."
Source: the original release