Mud, Sweat and Tears: Tiger boys qualify for state; girls narrowly miss, finishing 6th at sectionals; Garrett Sweatt wins meet on sloppy course

Garrett Sweatt holds off O'Fallon's Michael Scolarici to win the sectional meet at Normal, leading the Tiger boys to a 4th-place finish overall, good enough to qualify as a team for the state meet at Peoria one week from today. Photo/Tom Atwood

Freshman Ariane Wright moves past Belleville's Maria Effinger near the half-mile mark. Wright qualified individually for the state meet next week, but the Tiger girls finished 6th, one spot away from qualifying as a team. Photo/Tom Atwood

The Maxwell Park course in Normal had to be altered for today's race due to flooding, but most of it was still extremely wet and muddy. Photo/Tom Atwood

Chis Taglieri ran sectionals, his first race off a knee injury. Photo/Tom Atwood

Tiger girls get a good start in the middle of the course at Maxwell park. Photo/Tom Atwood

Alex Wever, Briana Chamberlain, Emily Firsching and Stephanie Dalla Riva leave the chute at Normal. Photo/Tom Atwood

Daniel Mazar finishes 7th overall at sectionals. helping Tigers advance to state. Photo/Tom Atwood