History, some 30-plus years in the making, was made at the 2016 IHSA Cross Country State Finals at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Saturday, November 5, 2016.

Minooka High School senior Soren Knudsen crossed the finish line first in the Class 3A race with a time of 14:02. Knudsen became the first state champion in his school’s history and second in his family, as he joined his father Jim among the list of all-time IHSA winners.

Running for Lockport High School, Jim claimed the Class AA state title at Detweiller in the fall of 1981 with a time of 14:22.

The younger Knudsen’s victory marked the first time in state history that a father and son had each won individual cross country state titles in Illinois, and the pair showed off their respective medals afterward (above). A photo and brief description of Jim was published in the 1981 IHSA State Final program race preview (right).