Newton Cross Country Competes at EIU Invitational, Girls Finish Top 5
Photos by Marcia Street
Charleston, IL — The Newton Eagles cross country teams competed this past weekend at the Eastern Illinois University Invitational, racing against over 20 teams from across Illinois in a highly competitive field.
The Newton girls’ team shined, placing 5th overall out of 18 teams, while the boys’ team placed 15th out of 22. The meet served as a solid midseason benchmark for both squads as they prepare for the postseason.
Girls Team Finishes 5th Overall, Marshall Leads Top 5 Pack
The Lady Eagles posted a strong team score of 164 points, just five points behind Olney (159) and ahead of large programs like Champaign Centennial and Mt. Zion. Senior Layna Marshall led the charge for Newton, finishing in 9th place overall with a time of 19:29.48.
Here are the top finishers for Newton:
- Layna Marshall (12) – 9th place, 19:29.48
- Heather Bergbower (9) – 29th place, 20:24.93
- Avery Geier (10) – 37th place, 21:01.96
- Josie Vogt (9) – 62nd place, 22:05.29
- Nora Street (9) – 67th place, 22:17.77
- Kimberly Bierman (9) – 75th place, 22:27.54
- Lily Yager (12) – 106th place, 24:03.93
- Alivia Bierman (9) – 130th place, 25:34.60
- Shay Bennett (12) – 95th place, 23:39.65
Boys Finish 15th, Led by Borgic and Whitaker
The Newton boys placed 15th of 22 teams, with seniors Hayden Borgic and Tanner Whitaker pacing the squad and finishing just one second apart.
Top finishers for Newton boys:
- Hayden Borgic (12) – 47th place, 17:28.43
- Tanner Whitaker (12) – 48th place, 17:29.70
- Johnnie Brant (12) – 19:02.31
- Alec Bower (10) – 19:35.93
- Kendall Probst (9) – 20:24.55
- Jeremiah Hills (9) – 20:44.90
Meet Overview
- Location: Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
- Girls Team Finish: 5th of 18
- Boys Team Finish: 15th of 22
- Top Newton Girl: Layna Marshall – 19:29.48 (9th place)
- Top Newton Boy: Hayden Borgic – 17:28.43 (47th place)
Looking Ahead
With the season entering its final stretch, Newton’s runners are building momentum as they eye strong finishes in conference and postseason meets.
