November 8, 2022
The girls’ cross country team brought home a state title on November 5th, 2022 at Detweiller park. The girls beat the former state champs, York High School, 39-58.
This 1st place trophy was the first state championship for Prospect in nine years, and the first one ever for cross country. This accomplishment was amazing for the girls since they had been state runner-ups last year.
The score of 39 is the lowest team score in Illinois state history. The previous record was 51 points in 2008 held by Geneva.
Prospect had five all-state finishers in top 25 and all seven runners placed top 41.
They were as follows: Hailey Erickson (5th), Veronica Znajda (6th), Meg Peterson (8th), Lily Ginsberg (13th), Cameron Kalaway (18th), Samantha Patterson (36th), and Ireland Wildhart (41st).
Head coach Pete Wintermute couldn’t be more proud.
“The energy the girls brought on this day [was that] they all really believed that they were in there and out there ready to do something special,” Wintermute said.
Stay tuned for more girls’ cross country state championship coverage in our special edition of The Prospector Issue 3.
The Prospect girls celebrate their win in a huddle after the race. (all photos by Alyssa Degan)
Meg Peterson (Fr.), Cameron Kalaway (Sr.), and Lily Ginsberg (Jr.) make their way through the first mile working as a pack.
Surrounded by hundreds of other runners, the Prospect girls find each other after a difficult race in the mud and wind.
The trophies sit lined up ready to be received by the rightful winners.
The four seniors on the state roster accept the trophy and celebrate with coach Wintermute and their team on stage.
The entire girls’ cross country program crowds around the first place trophy.
Veronica Znajda (So.) and Hailey Erickson (Sr.) run together, holding strong in 2nd and 3rd place in the race.
Prospect starts off the race with confidence to get out fast.
Ireland Wildhart (So.) and Samantha Patterson (Sr.) work together, running side by side.
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