Four area runners had top 10 finishes at Saturday’s Oregon Girls 1A Cross Country meet at Oregon Park West.

Ridgewood runners, sophomore Emily Downing (19:07.43) and freshman Jana VandeKemp (20:09.59) placed second and seventh, respectively, and advanced to Saturday’s IHSA State Meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

Seneca’s Evelyn O’Connor was the top runner at the Girls 1A Oregon Sectional. She ran the course in a time of 19:07.43.

Annawan/Wethersfield senior standout, Kennady Anderson, placed third in a time of 19:34.92 and freshman Dusti Smith of Stark County was fifth at 19:48.38.

Smith advances to next Saturday’s IHSA Class 1A State Meet, along with her teammates, who placed fourth in the 19-team sectional meet. The top six team advance to the state meet.

Winnebago won the team event with a low score of 99 points. Stark County was fourth with 158, Ridgewood was 10th with 245 and A/W was 14th with 341 points.

Downing, Anderson and VandeKemp also punched their tickets to the state meet. The first 10 individual runners (not on an advancing team) qualify for the state championship meet.

As a sophomore, Anderson placed 24th at the Class 1A state meet, running the Detweiller Course in a time of 18:29.31 and earning All-State honors.

Last season she topped that performance by placing fourth at the state championship meet in a time of 17.45.70 and, again, earned All-State honors. Downing also qualified for last year’s state meet. She placed 13th in a time of 18:13.80 and was accorded All-State honors for her top 25 finish.

The remaining Stark County team members running in Saturday’s state meet will be Cheyenh Smith (31st in a time of 21:43.98), Alexis Martinez (35th at 21:46.54), Keagan Hamilton (60th at 33:41.95), Paytin Terwilliger (61st at 22:44.17), Sarah Kraklow (95th in a time of 24:16.94) and Haylie Moodie (113th at 25:44.10).

Kewanee runners, senior Natalee Martin (50th in a time of 22:25.10) and freshman Nolie Charlotte (77th at 23:15.07) did not advance.

A/W junior Paige Sierens improved on her 2022 sectional appearance. Last year she placed 101st in a time of 25:24.60. Saturday she crossed the finish in 38th place at 22:03.20.

Also running for A/W were Zoey Vance (109th in a time of 25:17.20), Tyra Church (121st 26:30.77), Ellie Merrick (123rd at 26:53.47), MaKenna VerKruyse (144th at 30:11.59) and Ella Anderson (147th at 37:41.47).

Saturday’s Girls 1A race will start at 9 a.m. at Detweiller Park in Peoria. The Boys 1A race will start at 10 a.m.