Benet senior Abby Higgins is a runner on a mission as the cross-country season heads into its final two weeks.

She wants nothing more than a trip to the state finals for the first time since 2004, when she finished fifth as a sophomore.

Higgins and her Benet teammates missed the state cut last year at the Bremen Sectional by 10 points. She doesn't want that to happen again.

''I just wanted our team to qualify. That's our main goal to get Downstate,'' Higgins said. ''We're in a regional and sectional where we can't just show up and go to state. We don't want to take it for granted that we're going to come out of here.''

Higgins won the Hinsdale Central Regional on Saturday at Katherine Legge Park in 18 minutes, 27 seconds. Hinsdale Central sophomores Roey Hines (18:31.2) and Lauren Zumbach (18:41.0) finished second and third, respectively, and senior Gina Kapusta took fourth.

''I stayed relaxed for the first two miles, and then I picked it up a little,'' Hines said. ''In the last half-mile I was trying to close it a little and I caught up to her somewhat at the end, but I'm just happy to be here.''

Hinsdale Central smashed the competition to win the regional with 36 points, ahead of Benet (63) and Naperville North (83). Neuqua Valley and Downers Grove South finished fourth and fifth, respectively, and advanced to the Lockport Sectional this week.

Neuqua Valley junior Chris Derrick won the boys race in 15:10.7 ahead of teammate Jim Riddle (15:25.3).

''I was running with the pack past the mile and we were coming towards the creek, and I put a gap on and tried to maintain it,'' Derrick said. ''I've had a great season, and from the first race I've exceeded my expectations.''

Derrick won at Katherine Legge in September at the Hinsdale South-Central Invitational. He also won the Upstate Eight title last weekend.

Naperville North's Kyle Gibson was third (15:28.6), helping the Huskies win the sectional title with 65 points, ahead of Neuqua Valley (82) and Benet (85). Naperville North, Downers Grove South and Downers Grove North advanced to the Lockport Sectional.

takouris@suntimes.com

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