After Year Break, Saint Gilbert Cross Country Returns

After a yearlong hiatus, Saint Gilbert Catholic School Cross Country is back on the run! With practices starting in mid-August, the team did its best to train in this summer’s challenging heat. Under the careful guidance of their coaches, the Cross Country team has run distance, intervals and hills to ensure their runners have a well-rounded running experience, able to handle any course.

The team competes in the Northern Illinois Catholic Conference which had its first meet on Thursday, September 16th. The meet involved 10 schools who ran a challenging course at Allegheny Park in Grayslake, Illinois. Varsity teams run two miles and JV teams usually run one mile, but this course required the JV to run 1.5 miles. For the 5th Graders, it was their introduction to grade school athletics so the first race would be a test of their training.

The outcomes were gratifying for the coaches. The JV girls took 3rd place with a led by Juliet B. The JV boys secured 1st place, on the fleet feet of Gavin M. On the Varsity side, the Girls only had 3 runners, rather than the mandatory 5. However, even short two runners, the team garnered the 3rd highest score, with Breyanna V. as the top SGS runner. One can imagine what they can do when they have a full complement. As to the Varsity boys, they finished in 2nd, with Justin M. being the top runner.

The schedule got hectic with meets at Lake Forest Country Day School and an invitational in Vernon Hills on Friday. But with a foundation like this, the season looks bright.

Saint Gilbert is also a member of the IESA, which allows its runners to compete individually, or as a team at Sectionals and if they quality, go to the State Cross Country Finals. This is the goal of all the varsity runners. Also, being part of a conference, the SGS “Running Rebels” as they call themselves, can compete for championships on Boys or Girls, JV or Varsity levels. The Varsity teams get a banner raised in the SGS school gym where it would join many past teams. Likewise, any runner that qualifies for state gets their name on a banner.

SGS Alumni Lead the Way

However, the news does not end here as it would be remiss to pass over the SGS graduating class of

2021, who lost their 2020 season due to COVID.

While Catholic schools opened the 2020-2021

School Year in-person at all grade levels, athletic competition was not allowed. Graduating Varsity runners, Izzy B., Sidney K. and 7th Grader Breyanna V. formed a runners club to keep in shape, even though they expected track to be cancelled.

As it turns out, their efforts were a long term commitment to achieve this year. Izzy B. and Sidney K. are now running for Carmel Catholic High School. Even though they are freshman, their running club laid the basis for their being promoted immediately to Varsity. They were the top two runners for Carmel at the St. Viator meet, leading Carmel’s Varsity girls to a 1st place finish. Izzy B claimed first place while Sidney K. took 3rd.

The Varsity Carmel boys finished 3rd thanks to the efforts of SGS graduates who also ran SGS Cross Country: Mario D. (2018) and Nate S. (2019) placed for the boys while Sophomore P.J. B. and Freshman Theo D. helped the Carmel Frosh/Soph team also take 3rd. Nora J, another former Running Rebel, also runs for Carmel.

Alumni like Nate S. and Izzy B. have also returned to assist with the SGS coaches with practices and meets. They impart racing and running tips, supporting their former school in mind, body and soul. The tradition of SGS Cross Country looks to remain strong.

Saint Gilbert Catholic School is celebrating 77 years of academic excellence, graduating students who achieve academically and athletically as graduates. Founded in 1944, Saint Gilbert Catholic School has been honored by the U.S. Department of Education for Academic Excellence and was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2017.

Interested in learning more? Come visit us on the web at www.stgilbertschool.org. or https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Gilbert-Catholic-School-126504574087725/. Arrange a virtual or in-person tour by calling 847-223-8600 or by emailing school.office@saintgilbertschool.org