Girls Take 2nd, Boys Earn 7th in Competitive Field
The Newton Eagles cross country teams had a strong showing at a large multi-team meet this past weekend, with the girls’ team capturing a 2nd-place finish and the boys’ team placing 7th out of more than a dozen schools. Both teams demonstrated a powerful mix of senior leadership and emerging young talent as they continue to build momentum mid-season.
👟 Girls Race to 2nd Place Finish
Led by senior standout Layna Marshall, the Lady Eagles put together a stellar performance to finish second overall with a team score of 85 points, trailing only Olney (56 points) in the final standings.
🔹 Top 5 Scorers for Newton:
- Layna Marshall (12) – 4th place, 19:55.5 (6:51/M)
- Avery Geier (10) – 10th place, 20:37.9
- Heather Bergbower (9) – 11th place, 20:45.1
- Josie Vogt (9) – 26th place, 22:22.4
- Nora Street (9) – 34th place, 23:05.4
These five pushed Newton to a spot on the podium, holding off strong teams from Fairfield, Princeton, and Mattoon.
🌟 Team Depth:
- Kimberly Bierman (9) – 36th, 23:09.7
- Shay Bennett (12) – 44th, 23:31.5
- Lily Yager (12) – 58th, 24:27.8
- Alivia Bierman (9) – 85th, 26:53.9
With three freshmen contributing to the top five, the future is bright for the Newton girls’ team — even as they chase postseason success this fall.
💪 Boys Finish 7th in Deep Field
The Newton boys also turned in a strong team effort, finishing 7th overall with 211 points, competing against powerhouse programs like Herrin (1st, 54 points) and Olney (2nd, 66 points).
🔹 Top 5 Scorers for Newton:
- Tanner Whitaker (12) – 35th place, 18:23.2 (6:19/M)
- Hayden Borgic (12) – 37th place, 18:26.9
- Johnnie Brant (12) – 44th place, 18:37.2
- Holden Barthlemy (11) – 48th place, 18:49.3
- Alec Bower (10) – 55th place, 19:08.0
The Eagles’ top five all broke the 20-minute barrier, showing consistency and depth throughout the lineup.
🌟 Additional Contributors:
- Wade Ochs (12) – 60th, 19:19.7
- Levi Salyers (10) – 84th, 20:19.0
- Kendall Probst (9) – 88th, 20:29.5
- Jeremiah Hills (9) – 128th, 22:30.4
With three seniors pacing the team and younger athletes continuing to improve, the Newton boys are setting the foundation for a strong postseason run.
🏅 Team Standings Snapshot
🏃 Girls Top 3 Teams:
- Olney – 56
- Newton – 85
- Fairfield – 107
🏃♂️ Boys Top 3 Teams:
- Herrin – 54
- Olney – 66
- La Salette Academy – 99
- Newton – 211
📣 Coach’s Corner & Next Steps
Both squads are showing growth week by week, with strong finishes and promising pack running. Coaches will focus on tightening the gap between runners and building endurance as the postseason approaches.
Next Meet: Newton will hit the course again next week, looking to build off this momentum and continue climbing the standings.
