Last spring Fabian Alvarez-Mercado started to make a name for himself in distance events for the Oak Lawn Community High School boys track team as a freshman. This fall he is building on that success and has risen to become the second-best runner on the team. He’s also growing into a leader for the Spartans.

“He’s been asked a lot in taking this role on as a sophomore, and he is trying his best to fill in,” head coach Marty Chappetto said. “His hard work and growth as a leader have been one of the most encouraging signs of future success for the OLCHS cross country team. Fabian opened the season with a blazing-fast sub-18 performance and has followed it with several races near that mark, holding firmly onto the number-two spot on the team.”