Senior Elizabeth Russell led Uni with a 45th-place performance at sectionals. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

DECATUR — The Uni girls cross country team ended its season Saturday with an 11th-place finish at the Class 1A Decatur St. Teresa sectional meet.

Only the top five teams at sectionals advance to the state finals, which will be held Saturday at Peoria's Detweiller Park. In addition, the top seven individual runners from non-advancing teams also qualify for state, but none of the Illineks made that cut.

"It was a hard race because there was lots of mud and it was nasty out," said junior Emma Coverdill. "Our goal was to get above 10th and we got 11th, and we were a little sad in that regard."

Uni's top finisher was senior Elizabeth Russell, who placed 45th. She ran the muddy three-mile trail at Hickory Point Golf Course in 21 minutes, 4.1 seconds. She was 24th among runners not on an advancing team.

Decatur St. Teresa won the title with 76 points, followed by state qualifiers Bloomington Central Catholic (98), St. Joseph Ogden (110), Kankakee Bishop McNamara (165), and Shelbyville (182).

With 280 points, Uni was only 15 points behind 10th-place Stanford Olympia (265). The Illineks finished just ahead of Tuscola (281), a reversal of regionals, when Tuscola placed one spot higher than Uni.

A total of 154 girls competed in the race. Three other Illineks finished in the top 100: freshman Sarah Vaughen (51st, 21:12.10), Coverdill (67th, 21:33.40), and sophomore Christina Harden (76th, 21:41.55).

Sophomore Tanya Denisova rounded out the scoring for Uni (108th, 22:24.10). Also running for the Illineks were sophomore Elena Bauer (130th, 23:54.95) and senior Brittany Scheid (138th, 24:18.85).

Overall, the team improved by 28 points and two places over last year's sectional, when then-senior Elaine Gu led the girls to 13th place and 308 points. In the 2008 meet, Gu and Russell finished in the top 30, but only one other Uni runner placed in the top 100 (then-senior Maddy Levin, 62nd).

This year, Kelly Curran of Bloomington Central Catholic took top individual honors. She ran the course in 18:36.55.

Although coach Doug Mynatt's Illineks will lose Russell and Scheid to graduation, they will gain two Illinois Elementary School Association state finalists from the Class of 2014: Mara Dolan (who made all-state) and Jaki Vipond.

The addition of such stellar talent to an already solid lineup should give Uni cross country fans plenty to cheer about when the 2010 season begins.

More Photos: Class 1A Decatur St. Teresa Sectional Girls Meet

Sophomore Tanya Denisova (211) placed 108th out of 154 runners at Saturday's Class 1A Decatur St. Teresa sectional meet. Gargoyle photos by David Porreca (click any photo to enlarge and to create your own slideshow)

Sophomore Christina Harden ran the muddy course in 21 minutes, 41.55 seconds for 76th place.

Freshman Sarah Vaughen (left) came in 51st with a time of 21:12.1.

Senior Brittany Scheid ended her Uni cross county career by running the sectional course in 24:18.85.

Sophomore Elena Bauer ran the course in 23:54.95.

Junior Emma Coverdill placed 67th with a time of 21:33.4.

Senior Elizabeth Russell concluded her varsity career by placing in the top 50 at sectionals.

Class 1A Decatur St. Teresa Sectional Girls Meet at a Glance

Team Results (top five qualified for state finals)

1. Decatur St. Teresa 76
2. Bloomington Central Catholic 98
3. St. Joseph-Ogden 110
4. Kankakee Bishop McNamara 165
5. Shelbyville 182
6. Monticello 186
7. Altamont 198
8. Downs Tri-Valley 227
9. Champaign St. Thomas More 240
10. Stanford Olympia 265
11. UNI HIGH 280
12. Tuscola 281
13. Beecher 285
14. Hoopeston Area 287
15. Teutopolis 308
16. Neoga 325
17. Effingham St. Anthony 330
18. Herscher 388
19. Hume Shiloh 389
20. Bismarck-Henning 430

Top 10 Runners Overall (three-mile course, muddy conditions)

1. Kelly Curran, Bloomington Central Catholic, 18:36.55
2. Aimee Sims, Kankakee Bishop McNamara, 18:42.15
3. Ellen Devereux, Decatur St. Teresa, 18:51.60
4. Grace McCormack, Decatur St. Teresa, 19:04.85
5. Alex Van Hoof, Bloomington Central Catholic, 19:09.80
6. Liz Wortman, Effingham St. Anthony, 19:14.30
7. Ivy Handley, Decatur St. Teresa, 19:22.70
8. Belinda Cohen, Hoopeston Area, 19:27.25
9. Michelle Moyer, Monticello, 19:27.70
10. Theresa Welle, Champaign St. Thomas More, 19:28.30

Uni Individual Results (154 runners overall)

45. Elizabeth Russell (sr) 21:04.10
51. Sarah Vaughen (fr) 21:12.10
67. Emma Coverdill (jr) 21:33.40
76. Christina Harden (so) 21:41.55
108. Tanya Denisova (so) 22:49.10
130. Elena Bauer (so) 23:54.95
138. Brittany Scheid (sr) 24:18.85