Cross Country Teams Continue Progress, Cap Solid Seasons

When the Oak Lawn Community High School girls and boys cross country teams headed into the Illinois High School Association Regional Meets recently, both teams knew it would serve as a great measuring stick for progress. After the athletes left it all out on the course and the times were recorded, the boys measured up in second place behind eventual IHSA State Champion Sandburg, and the girls showed a glimpse of possible greatness to come with strong performances from a group constructed mainly of freshmen and sophomores.

On the boys’ side, the Spartans battled Sandburg, Eisenhower, Shepard, Marist, Brother Rice, Stagg, Mount Carmel and Reavis. Luis Garcia finished in fifth place and was an All-Regional nominee, while Diego Arana and Nick Minnella both ran well placing eleventh and twelfth, respectively. Junior Steve Raybould and Omar Abdelrahman each ran his fastest time of the season. Raybould placed 19th.

“We knew it would be really tough to beat Sandburg, but we still did really well,” said head coach Susan Szala.

As for the girls, the team featured a total of 70 percent first-time runners and continued to show its development. Riding the wave of a Frosh/Soph South Suburban Conference Red championship behind the performance champion Tasneem Jaber, Jessica Sciaky (third), and Jenny Miranda (eighth), the team planned to challenge at the regional. In the end, the Spartans missed advancing to the sectional by one place. Both Jaber and Sciaky ended up qualifying for the sectional as individuals though. It served as an indicator of things to come.

“This was a team that worked incredibly hard each and every week,” head coach Jeremey Cryan said. “Personal Records were dropping every meet. What we were able to accomplish this year with the size and experience level of the team was incredible. With the young talent we have moving forward, I see the Spartans being a very competitive team next season on the varsity level.”

Photograph: Spartan Cross Country runner Luis Garcia finished in fifth place and was an All-Regional nominee. The team captured the conference championship and placed second at regionals.