The OPRF boys cross-country team heads back to Peoria this Saturday to hopefully accomplish what they did in September on the same course. On Sept. 19, the Huskies finished second in the Richard Spring Invitational held at Detweiller Park, home of this Saturday’s Class 3A State Meet. OPRF beat out a field that included powerhouse York.
But York has since stepped up its running, winning a dual meet against OPRF earlier in the season and finishing first at the Niles West Sectional last Saturday, while the Huskies finished third.
OPRF’s Malachy Schrobilgen will again go head-to-head against York senior Jack Driggs, who took first at the sectional with a time of 14:53. Schrobilgen finished second in 15:03.
“I am very proud of what we have accomplished thus far this season, and the sectional meet was not indicative of who we are as a team,” said OPRF head coach Jose Sosa. “We didn’t run our best race, however, we’ve had a great season up to this point and I expect us to rebound and have a great state meet.”
Other than Schrobilgen, Jack Stapleton was the only other OPRF runner to break the Top 10 at the sectional. Stapleton finished eighth in 15:22. Other top finishers for the Huskies included Peter Hogenson (15:47, 22nd), Eunhwan Yoo (15:52, 26th), Brendan Donley (16:15, 40th), Michael Gardner (16:17, 42nd) and Sam Fourman (17:34, 106th).
York finished first with a score of 57, while New Trier finished second with 62 and OPRF third with 96.
Fenwick runner Ian Barnett also qualified for state by placing 17th with a time of 15:43.
