NORMAL - Bloomington-Normal's long tradition of cross country excellence appears to have a bright future based on results from Saturday's Illinois Elementary School Association Class AA state meet at Maxwell Park.

The boys team of host Parkside Junior High along with Carly Pederson of Chiddix both won in dominating fashion.

Pederson became the first sixth-grader to win in the meet's 27-year history. Chiddix began allowing sixth-graders to compete four years ago.

Pederson's season-best time of 11 minutes, 44 seconds on the 3,200-meter course put her 16 seconds ahead of the runner-up, eighth-grader Monica Hahn of New Lenox Martino.

"That's how most of her races went," said Jill Burroughs, a Chiddix co-coach with Christine Short, the Normal West High School girls head track coach.

The Parkside boys won their first title, scoring 62 points to easily outdistance runner-up Oak Park Julian's 94.

The Pythons, who have qualified for seven consecutive state meets, placed in the top 16 for the 11th time since 1994. Their previous best was third in 2003.

"I think it (winning the state title) became our goal last season," said 13th-year Coach Steve Destri, whose 2005 squad went undefeated until placing sixth in the state meet.

"We all rededicated ourselves to doing things a little bit better in preparation for this season. We asked kids to do a little bit more in the off-season, and that certainly helped."

Those running more than 100 miles during the summer received a T-shirt. Destri and co-coach Dave Dundas handed out 25.

Parkside, whose program has a combined 50 boys and girls, was led in the state meet by eighth-graders Drew Kerschieter and Matt Barnet, who placed second (10:41) and sixth (10:58), respectively. Ryan Mitsos of New Lenox Liberty won in 10:27.

Last spring, Kerschieter clocked a seventh-grade school record 4:53.15 in the 1,600.

Parkside's four seventh-graders included Logan Abeling (7th, 11:00), Eric Gordon (27th, 11:20), Logan Degroot (48th, 11:41) and Caleb Wiebenga (48th, 11:41).

"This is the first time we've put more than one in the top 10," Destri said.

The team's depth was such that even No. 7 runner Peyton Scheuermann (49th, 11:42), a sixth-grader, beat the No. 5 runners of every other team in the 21-team field except for one.

"If you would have pulled out our two eighth-graders and scored our five underclassmen, so to speak, we would have still finished second," Destri said, noting his charges are more than just good runners. "They are even better kids than they are runners."

Experience has taught Destri that young runners can handle more training than he first thought. Some logged as many as 35 training miles in a week with single days as long as six miles.

"I think it's about perfect for kids this age," Destri said.

The precocious Pederson had a perfect record after placing third in her career debut.

"She wasn't sure what to expect," said Burroughs, who soon came to believe Pederson would win the state title based on her times during the season.

Pederson's 11:44 would have ranked fifth among Pantagraph-area high school track times last spring.

Her coaches said she excelled thanks to her willingness to work and her refusal to give up. Along the way she displayed a humble attitude.

"From day one that girl has come out and worked harder than anybody I've ever seen," said Short, whose program had a combined 66 boys and girls. "She is a great kid all around."

"She is a competitive person," added Burroughs, whose star also plays soccer. "She gets plenty of exercise with soccer."

Pederson said her friends and family had a hand in her success, including those who painted their faces orange and black to cheer for her and her sixth-place team at the state meet.

"They were really supportive," she said.