The Rochester High School girls’ cross country team qualified for and performed well at the state meet in Peoria on Saturday, November 8th, 2025. They ran their hardest at the most competitive race of the season and placed 6th overall in the state championships.
These girls are among the fastest, toughest, and most determined runners in high school cross country. What drives them? How did they arrive at their current position? What training was required for their great accomplishment?
Preparation, Coaching, and Accomplishments
The Rochester High School girls’ cross country team trained diligently every day after school, enduring the harshest conditions — including heat, wind, rain, and cold.
The coach of both the boys’ and girls’ teams, Bill Owens, is the mastermind behind their training and success.
“We start with base work and gradually introduce more and more speed. Ultimately, we’re focusing on kind of sharpening the pencil, so to speak. Just as if you would prepare for a test, you keep studying all along, to be at the top of your game,” Coach Owens explained.
Locking in for the state meet does not start the week of, or even weeks before, the race. It begins right when practices start at the end of summer — or possibly earlier for elite runners.
Coach Owens had many goals for the season, with his primary goal being
“always just to provide an environment where people can improve themselves and find happiness in the sport of running. As we get into the season, we get a feel for what we are capable of, and then set our goals accordingly.”
This team has faced challenges such as the constant heat and injuries among the top runners, yet they persevered and had a great season.
Qualifying for state was a big accomplishment for the team.
“It’s very rewarding. You know, as a coach, you’re limited in what you can really do. In the end, all the girls stepped up to the line and left it all out on the course. I am so proud of them and what they have accomplished this season,” said Coach Owens.
He could not have been prouder of how the team ran at the state meet.
“My standout moment was just the way that the girls all packed it up. They got out strong. We had our number four, five, and six runners side by side. They all finished within five spots of each other, so that was really neat. And also, the front-runners ran well too, despite being alone in their places.”
A Running Perspective
There is so much going on in the mind of a runner and in their life outside of running. Kallie Gardner, a sophomore on the varsity team and the third runner for the girls, gives us a look into the competitive mindset of the runners at the state race.
“I was trying to stay within an eye shot of a Chatham girl, and then I was trying to keep Natalie near me as well. I wanted to be close to anyone on Chatham’s team because they’re the fastest team in the state,” said Gardner.
Looking into the mind of the runner, you realize their main thoughts and concerns are purely competitive — the race takes over their thoughts. But competition and seriousness are not the root of their accomplishments.
“Everyone is really close; we all stick together like a family. We all supported each other, which made State a lot more fun being with all of them,” Gardner added.
Looking Ahead
This was the fifth year in a row that the girls’ cross country team qualified as a team, showing their consistency and commitment to the sport. The girls have placed top seven at State in the past four years since they have been going.
Many records have already been broken by this talented group of girls, and more records are yet to be broken in the near future.
Conclusion
The Rochester girls’ cross country team isn’t just a team; it’s a family.
“A lot of the seniors were sad and crying because it was their last race, so it was emotional for them. I’m really close with all the girls, and I think all the girls are close with me too, so it’s gonna be really different and sad without them next year,” said Gardner.
This team is encouraged and driven by friendship, love, trust, reliability, and good communication — qualities that every sports team needs to have for success.
