Updated: YHS Runners Finish Strong

After two straight years of placing second in the Class 2A state cross country meet, Yorkville High School’s girls team knows what first place feels like.

Three runners in the top 10, as the Peoria Journal-Star pointed out, including senior Ali Hestor’s three-mile finish in 17 minutes, 28 seconds. Tears of happiness that (according to The Beacon-News) Hester couldn’t quite explain. Hester had inspirational phrases inked across her arms and repeated “Be a force; be a force,” to herself as she ran, The Chicago Tribune reported.

Then, police and fire vehicles escorted the team buses across Yorkville as they returned.

The girls team captured the championship at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Saturday, while the boys team finished sixth. It is the program's first state title, The Beacon-News reported.

The boys’ finish was the team’s best since the current coaching staff took over seven years ago, Coach Chris Muth told The Beacon-News.

The state meet concludes a season that : The Lady Foxes are ranked the best team in Class 2A while the boys earned the No. 2 ranking in the 2011 preseason rankings by ESPN Rise/Dyestat.

Here are details about the girls race, according to the Illinois High School Association:

Here are the details about the boys race, according to the Illinois High School Association:

Editor's note: Yorkville Patch reader Zak Overmyer posted this video of police and fire vehicles escorting the Running Foxes into town Saturday after successful races at the state meet in Peoria. You can add your own photographs and videos to this article by clicking on the green "Submit Your Photos" button above the gallery.