Kaitlyn McKinney runs for the Lady Warriors at the regional meet. McKinney’s time of 23:33.0 was a key part of the team's seventh-place finish, which secured a berth in the Sectional. —photo by Terri Cox

Lady Warriors XC Team Advances to Sectional; Richardson Qualifies for Warriors

Spread the love

Featured photo caption: Kaitlyn McKinney runs for the Lady Warriors at the regional meet. McKinney’s time of 23:33.0 was a key part of the team’s seventh-place finish, which secured a berth in the Sectional. —photo by Terri Cox


By Terri Cox | Sports Reporter

MATTOON – The Casey-Westfield cross country teams competed in the IHSA 1A Regional meet at Lake Land College on Saturday, with the Lady Warriors making school history by advancing as a team and Eli Richardson qualifying individually for the Warriors.

For only the second time in program history, the Lady Warriors team has advanced to the IHSA 1A Sectional. The team secured their spot with a seventh-place overall finish at the regional meet. Kayla Clark led the way, cracking the Top 10 with an impressive time of 20:17.2. Following Clark were Kaitlyn McKinney (23:33.0), Amelia Washburn (24:34.3), Olivia Henderson (25:44.7), and Savannah Lyman (29:29.0).

For the Warriors, Eli Richardson punched his ticket to the Sectional meet as an individual qualifier. Richardson earned a Top 25 finish with a time of 17:45.5. Also competing for the boys’ team were Rylie Large (18:18.6), Wade Winnett (18:46.1), Kaleb Perie (20:26.7), Brayden Clark (20:35.8), and Alex Hancock (22:44.2).

Wade Winnett navigates the course at Lake Land College during Saturday’s regional meet. Winnett finished with a time of 18:46.1 for the Warriors. —photo by Terri Cox

Savannah Lyman rounds out the course for the Lady Warriors. Lyman completed the race in 29:29.0, helping her team clinch its spot in the Sectional meet. —photo by Terri Cox

Rylie Large competes for the Casey-Westfield Warriors at the regional meet. Large finished the race with a time of 18:18.6. —photo by Terri Cox

Olivia Henderson races for Casey-Westfield on Saturday morning. Henderson contributed to the Lady Warriors’ team advancement with a final time of 25:44.7. —photo by Terri Cox

Kayla Clark had a standout performance for the Lady Warriors, finishing in the Top 10 with a time of 20:17.2. Her high placement led the team to its historic Sectional qualification. —photo by Terri Cox

Eli Richardson leads the way for the Warriors at the IHSA 1A Regional. Richardson earned a Top 25 finish with a time of 17:45.5, qualifying individually for the upcoming Sectional meet. —photo by Terri Cox

Kaleb Perie pushes through the regional course on Saturday. Perie finished the race with a time of 20:26.7 for the Warriors. —photo by Terri Cox

Brayden Clark runs the course at the regional cross country meet in Mattoon. Clark posted a time of 20:35.8 for the Casey-Westfield Warriors. —photo by Terri Cox

Amelia Washburn competes for the Lady Warriors at Lake Land College. Washburn finished with a time of 24:34.3, helping her team advance to the Sectional meet for only the second time in school history. —photo by Terri Cox

Alex Hancock strides toward the finish line during the IHSA 1A Regional meet on Saturday. Hancock completed the course for the Warriors in a time of 22:44.2. —photo by Terri Cox

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to...
WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop discusses a recent announcement...
Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposed Illinois bill, the “Let the People Lift the Ban Act," SB2884, would let local...
Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Many businesses across Minnesota closed today as part of an ‘economic blackout’ to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This comes in response to calls...
Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Board of Higher Education has approved a 4.5% spending increase in its budget for fiscal...
lake land college.2

Policy Change Relaxes Grade Exclusion Requirements for Returning Students

Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | Dec. 8, 2025 Article Summary: Trustees voted to reduce the waiting period required for students to apply for grade exclusion, lowering the...
Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One day after an Illinois state representative said there was no budget transparency from J.B. Pritzker’s office,...
Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has notified Illinois officials that the state is violating...

WATCH: Resolution condemning federal immigration law enforcement sparks debate

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Democrats are calling for investigation, prosecution and impeachment of federal immigration law enforcement. State Rep....
Screenshot 2026-01-21 at 5.13.00 PM

Casey City Council Bans Sale and Possession of Kratom Products

City of Casey Meeting | January 19, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey City Council on Monday unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting the sale, possession, and delivery of Kratom and 7-Hydroxymitragynine...
Screenshot 2026-01-21 at 5.13.46 PM

Council Pursues Site Readiness Grant; Discusses Outsourcing Code Enforcement

City of Casey Meeting | January 19, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey City Council approved a resolution to support a Regional Site Readiness Grant application and began discussions on potentially...
Chicago splits pension payments in hopes of Improving cash flow

Chicago splits pension payments in hopes of Improving cash flow

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Saint Charles, worries Chicago’s newfound plan to divide annual advance supplemental...
Following GOP criticism, Pritzker finds $481.6 million in budget reserves

Following GOP criticism, Pritzker finds $481.6 million in budget reserves

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget says it has identified more than $480 million of budget...
Critics slam Illinois’ $36M park grants as political, wasteful

Critics slam Illinois’ $36M park grants as political, wasteful

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Pritzker administration’s recent announcement of $36 million in state grants for local park projects is...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago pays OT to potentially ineligible workers

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago pays OT to potentially ineligible workers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s inspector general has advised the city’s human resources and finance departments that from 2020 through 2024,...