September highlights

September+highlights

Girls’ Cross Country adapts and works harder than ever after top varsity runner graduates.

“It’s debatable who will lead the team,” said Ruth Rosenkranz, senior captain, “but each runner is a key variable to the success of the girls cross country team.”

Top runners Meghan Gelinas, graduate and Katie Fabrinni, senior have left the team this season, leaving two open spots on the varsity team. All members on the team are very self-motivated and pumped for the season, according to Laura McNair, senior captain.

“Returning from last year’s state team are the senior captains, Nicole Syverson; Laura McNair; Kristie Houghton, junior; and sophomores Jemma Kim; and Mary Jane Koza,” Houghton said.

Runners to look out for are Rosenkranz and Eddleman, seniors, Caitlin Shepard, junior, who was out last season from a stress fracture injury, and Kiersten McDevitt, sophomore. The encouragement from the upper classman runners brings enthusiasm and competition to all runners across the team.

“Because we have so much depth and only seven spots to fill in the varsity spots all our runners are trying to compete for their spot on varsity,” Rosenkranz said.

The runners this year will focus on how they will run at IHSA State Finals unlike last year, where they focused on the path to qualify for state.

“We constantly work hard whether we’re running at practice or on our own and we want this hard work to pay off as each run always feels rewarding because it reminds us that we’re reaching our goals,” McNair said.