CHARLESTON — Since 2023, Manteno’s Klarke Goranson has qualified for six state meets and raced in 10 finals in either cross country or track and field.
Under the brightest of the bright lights, her lowest finish has been sixth place.
In this stretch, which started in seventh grade in the Illinois Elementary Association state track meet, she has six championships, two second-place finishes, a third-place finish and the sixth-place showing.
A wildly successful freshman running season for Goranson came to an end on the blue track at O’Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University on May 24. She racked up a second-place finish in the IHSA Class 2A 800 meters and a third-place showing in the 1,600.
Even though her sectional times seeded her first in both events, she didn’t feel blue about not winning a championship. She said she enjoyed her first meet in Charleston.
“This is super cool — it’s a great experience,” Goranson said. “I am happy I can be here and do so well.”
In the 800, she ran 2 minutes, 11.43 seconds and finished runner-up to DePaul Prep’s Emily Stecky, who had a 2:09.31.
Goranson was the top freshman in the state; ninth-place Latin runner Francesca Mora was next at 2:16.42.
In the 1,600, no one in Class 2A ever had a better time than Sandwich’s Sunny Weber, who set the state-meet class record with a 4:41.90.
Second place was up for grabs and Rochester’s Brooke Zeibert barely grabbed it with a 4:57.83. Goranson took third with a 4:57.85.
Goranson has been on the money in running and thanks her brother, Kash, for helping her get into cross country and track.
“I had quit gymnastics and was looking for a sport to do,” she said. “My brother had done cross country, and I started it and really loved it.”
Kash turned his attention to soccer and developed into an all-state player.
Meanwhile, Klarke concentrated on getting better in running.
“I’ve been working at it for the past few years,” she said. “I do a lot of offseason training, which I think is very important. Not everybody does that.”
So, if anyone sees her running around town in the winter, they know she is trying to get better.
“I try to get out in the cold as much as possible,” she said. “But sometimes I’ll stay inside.”
Most, Clott earn medals
Manteno had not had a state medalist since 2014 and this year, it had two.
Aside from Goranson’s two medals, freshman Sophia Most placed seventh in the discus with a throw of 121 feet, 8 inches.
Right behind her in eighth was another area standout as Peotone senior Terrynn Clott had a 121-4.