Westville Middle School Runners Shine in Season Opener at Bluhm County Park

The Westville middle school cross country season opened in dazzling fashion Tuesday evening at Bluhm County Park, where a bright sun, a lively crowd, and a spirited trio of schools—Westville, South Central, and River Forest—set the stage for an unforgettable first meet.

The Westville Blackhawks wasted no time in making their mark, with multiple state qualifiers, great finishes, and even a new school record emerging on the trails.

Girls Race: Depth and Breakthroughs

The girls’ team put on a display of both depth and top-end speed. Sixth-grader Makayla Doyle stormed through the field to win the race in 13:36, stamping her ticket as a state qualifier and setting the tone for Westville’s season. Close behind was seventh-grader Genevieve Nettrouer, who surged into second place in 13:39, also earning state-qualifying honors for the second time in her young career.

Sixth-grader Lily Jamieson kept the Blackhawks’ momentum alive with a strong third-place finish at 13:49, joining the state-qualifier list. Together, Doyle, Nettrouer, and Jamieson formed a dominant trio that electrified the home crowd.

Westville’s depth carried the day, too. Eighth-grader Brooklyn Egly secured a top-five finish in 15:29, while sixth-grader Brooklyn Burger crossed in 15:35 for fifth. Teammates Sarah Purcell (16:34, 7th), Lily Barbahen (16:20, 6th), Isabella Popp (17:06, 8th), and Brooklynn King (17:10, 9th) all packed the top 10, showcasing the Blackhawks’ balance from front to back.

Boys Race: Records and Rising Stars

The boys’ race featured one of the night’s headline performances. Eighth-grader Tobias Bradney blazed across the finish in 10:54, not only winning the race outright but also breaking the Westville school record. Bradney’s performance stamped him as a contender this season and earned him a state-qualifying berth.

Seventh-grader Gavin Hutchison followed with a strong second-place finish in 12:42, his second career state-qualifying performance. Behind them, Westville’s depth again proved vital: eighth-grader Everett Ewart ran 14:39 for sixth, seventh-grader Henry Golden clocked 16:50 for seventh, and seveth-grader Jaxon Egly toughed it out to finish in 20:28 for eighth.

Looking Ahead

The Blackhawks left Bluhm County Park with confidence, momentum, and a deep roster ready to carry them through the season. With multiple state qualifiers already secured and a new school record to their name, Westville’s middle school runners have set a high standard for what lies ahead.

Their next test comes Saturday, August 30th, at the 421 Run hosted by West Central High School, where the Blackhawks will look to build on their early success.