GK Cogs Cross Country

10/07/2026

GKXC is on fire 🔥🔥🔥

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

Both teams had HISTORIC days at our home Matt Walter Invite! The girls finished in second place putting our top 5 runners in the top 25. Grace Pena moves up to #3 ALL TIME with a PR of 19:33.88, Mady McDowell moves up to #5 with a PR of 19:57.24, and Alexa Ayala sits at #8 with a new PR of 20:21.40.

The GK boys claimed their first team trophy in the history of the Matt Walter Invite. Gabe Pena claims a spot on the record board with a PR of 16:37.87, which places him at #8 ALL TIME. Behind Gabe, nearly every single athlete brought home a new PR: Nathan Haag (17:42.00), Everett Amen (18:04.34), Logan Limberg (18:07.90), Oliver Perrin (18:31.75), Noah Turnquist (18:49.50).

In true Matt Walter spirit, EVERY athlete in the open race ran a new PR as well! Metztli Vallejo (25:37.12), Ben Marlin (19:12.15), Levi James (19:31.81), Anthony Swenson (21:02.37), Haiven Valdez (22:12.41), and Gavin De La Isla (23:31.41).

This meet means a lot to our athletes and the entire athletic department, and we couldn't be more proud of the performances our athletes were able to put up today! Stay tuned to see what these teams do next!

09/29/2026

GK Cross Country will be hosting the 25th Annual Matt Walter Invitational out at Walcamp today! We have 330 runners registered from 17 schools this year! First race begins at 4:00.
!

09/26/2026

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ WINNEBAGO SCHMIDT INVITE RECAP! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

After two weeks without a meet, the Cogs were back racing at the Winnebago Schmidt Invite! Both teams came ready to compete and put together strong performances.

💙🧡 GIRLS — 3rd PLACE

The girls battled their way to a 3rd-place team finish in the 2.05 mile race, led by a strong group up front!

🏅 Emma James — 5th, 12:33.4
🏅 Gracie Zapatka — 10th, 12:48.8
🏅 Grace Peña — 13th, 13:06.3
Alexa Ayala — 17th, 13:22.5
Madyson McDowell — 18th, 13:23.4
Helen Chamberlain — 44th, 14:48.2
Lyla McKee — 56th, 16:00.5
Metzli Vallejo — 70th, 17:08.0

💙🧡 BOYS — 8th PLACE

The boys also returned to competition with a solid 8th-place team finish in the 2.85 mile race!

🏅 Gabriel Peña — 17th, 15:58.2
Everett Amen — 36th, 17:07.6
Logan Limberg — 38th, 17:11.0
Noah Turnquist — 46th, 17:30.3
Oliver Perrin — 50th, 17:46.4
Christopher Garcia — 54th, 17:59.2
Benjamin Marlin — 57th, 18:11.0
Levi James — 59th, 18:31.2
Gavin De La Isla — 75th, 27:34.0

🏅 MEDALISTS: Emma James, Gracie Zapatka, Grace Peña & Gabriel Peña!

09/12/2026

We had a great time down at the gigantic Peoria First to the Finish Invite. GKXC came away with 5 personal bests from Everett Amen (18:51.80), Lyla McKee (25:42.90), Alexa Ayala (20:28.40), Grace Pena (20:19.10), and Emma James who set a new school record with a time of 19:08.00. We're looking forward to a bit of a break from racing (and hopefully some cooler weather)!

09/12/2026

SCHOOL RECORD ALERT!
Emma James ran the fastest 3-mile time in GKHS Girls Cross Country history today at Detweiller Park in Peoria when she finished the course in 19:08! Congratulations Emma!
!

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

Emma James sets another School Record today finishing the 3.0-mile course at Detweiller Park in a time of 19:08! Alexa Ayala also cracks the GKHS All-time Top 10 as she moves into 7th in school history with her time of 20:28.4.

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