Edison's Entertainment Complex Female Athletes Of The Month: Edwardsville Girls Make Cross Country History With Fourth at State

PEORIA — MacKenna Kerpan and Morgan Popelar earned all-state honors Saturday afternoon as Edwardsville finished fourth at the IHSA Class 3A girls' state cross-country meet at Detweiler Park, the highest team finish in school history.

Kerpan placed eighth in 16 minutes, 48.0 seconds, and Popelar finished 17th in 17:00.7 to lead the Tigers, who scored 246 points. Their performances gave Edwardsville two all-state runners in the same season for the first time in either the boys or girls program, according to head coach George Patrylak.

The Edwardsville girls cross-country squad was named Edison’s Entertainment Complex Female Athletes of the Month.

“Being one of the top four programs in Illinois is an incredible accomplishment, and we couldn't be more proud,” Patrylak said. "What an incredible day for our Tigers at the IHSA Class 3A State Championships! Our girls made history with a fourth-place finish in the state, the highest team finish in school history!"

Arlington Heights John Hersey won the team championship with 126 points, followed by Barrington with 146 and Mt. Prospect with 170. Park Ridge Maine South rounded out the top five with 249 points, three behind Edwardsville. O’Fallon finished 23rd with 515 points.

Kerpan improved her own school record by five seconds and recorded the highest individual state finish by an Edwardsville girl, according to Patrylak. Popelar’s time moved her into second place on the program’s all-time list.

Ella Thompson finished in 17:48.2 for Edwardsville, followed by Heidi Stahlheber in 18:00.3 and Reagan Jumper in 18:07.9. Emery Lawson and Willow Jackson also represented the Tigers.

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