Here is a look at the Sauk Valley runners to watch at state cross country this weekend. Dixon, Rock Falls and Oregon have runners competing this Saturday at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

State cross country qualifiers include the Dixon boys team, Rock Falls' Gabe Moyer and Oregon's Daniel Gonzalez. Ariel Hernandez also advanced for the Rockets along with Dixon's Kamryn Rogers on Saturday.

Carson Kaiser is wise beyond his years. The Kaneland freshman has fit in wonderfully at the Maple Park school and was a key reason why the Knights were able to hold off runner-up Dixon and the rest of the field during Saturday’s Class 2A Kaneland boys cross country sectional.

Lucas stayed in stride with senior teammate Olivia Pinta during Saturday’s Class 2A Kaneland sectional as the duo finished in the top 15 to lead the Gators to second place.

Dixon boys cross country won Saturday's Big Northern Conference cross country meet behind four Top 10 finishes. Rock Falls' Ariel Hernandez was runner-up in the girls race.

Leading the way among area runners was junior Daniel Gonzales of Oregon, who took 20th place with a time of 16:30.

Oregon junior cross country runner Daniel Gonzalez, who ran a personal record 16:44.9 at the First to the Finish Invitational at Detweiller Park, is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week for Sept. 9-14 in an online vote. Here is his Q&A with Drake Lansman.

Benet Academy's Finn Richards outpaced Kaneland's Evan Nosek to win the boys race, and Delilah Helenhouse cruised to an easy win in the girls race at the Larry Eddington Invitational.

Gallery

Boys and girls Cross Country teams from Mendota, La Salle-Peru, Princeton, Newman, Amboy, Morris, Hall and Fieldcrest all competed during the Gary Coates Invitational Cross Country meet on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at Zearing Park in Princeton.