Erik Hall
Digital editor and journalist

Nov. 12, 2011

By Erik Hall

WYANET, Ill. — Derrick Johnson established a new barometer at Bureau Valley.

The Bureau Valley senior completed his cross country career at the IHSA State Meet on Saturday, Nov. 5.

He accomplished many things no other Bureau Valley runner had ever achieved. It was arguably the best career of anyone to ever run cross country in Bureau County.

Johnson wanted a better ending.

“I just don’t like to lose if you haven’t noticed in my career,” Johnson says reflecting almost a week after the season’s end. “All my career, I pride myself on passing people at the end and not getting passed. The one time the opposite happens is at state my senior year.”

Nov. 10, 2011

By Erik Hall

TOLUCA, Ill. — The Fieldcrest cross country team held its annual banquet Thursday night at Mona’s Italian Restaurant in Toluca.

Fieldcrest coach Carol Bauer took the time to recognize the accomplishments of every team member, including those not in attendance. She specifically mentioned every runner’s time at the first meet of the year and the fastest time of the year for everybody to highlight individuals’ improvements. 

Nov. 7, 2011

By Erik Hall

PEORIA, Ill. — Fieldcrest cross country coach Carol Bauer asked sophomore Maria Baldwin when she wanted to do her cool down after Saturday’s Class 1A race at the IHSA Cross Country State Meet.

Baldwin said: “I’ll do whatever you think is smart to do.”

The trust Baldwin placed in Bauer’s running knowledge had just earned her all-state, and Baldwin was not going rogue now.

Nov. 6, 2011

By Erik Hall

PEORIA, Ill. — The state’s historic cross country programs at Elmhurst York and Winnebago leave little room for current runners to achieve groundbreaking accomplishments.

Bureau Valley wants its program at that level, and days like Saturday at the IHSA Cross Country State Meet get the Storm closer each year.

The Storm left Peoria’s Detweiller Park on Saturday with an all-state medal for the ninth time in the last 12 years. It was the fifth time in those 12 years that Bureau Valley left Peoria with more than once piece of hardware.