This year’s girls cross country team at Oak Lawn Community High School certainly left a lasting impression. In fact, it was the best girls cross country team the school has ever seen. The runners posted their lowest times and places in the South Suburban Conference Red meet, the Illinois High School Association Regional meet, and at the IHSA Sectional meet.
The Spartans placed second at the conference meet and came back the next week to beat the winner of the conference meet at the regional take fourth. At the sectional, the girls repeated their performance with five of the seven girls beating their best regional times. They also had their lowest placement at a sectional meet.
“I am so incredibly proud of these girls,” head coach Sue Szala said. “They were dedicated by coming out all summer for our running program to prepare for the season. They pushed themselves and worked together as a team. They believed in themselves, and the results showed it. It was such a fun season, and I enjoyed coaching these amazing girls. They are not only great runners but also great individuals.”
Senior Molly Sheridan was the top runner for the Spartans with a best time of 18:38. She took second at the conference meet, was eighth out of 84 runners at the regional meet, and finished 46th out of 135 runners at the sectional. She now holds the second-fastest time in school history.
“Molly Sheridan’s achievements have truly been impressive,” head coach Sue Szala said. “She led out team to its best conference, regional, and sectional results ever at OLCHS. Molly’s accomplishments have set a high standard for future runners here.”
Other top runners for Oak Lawn included junior Naliyah Anderson (19:59), senior Kamila Tobias (21:07), freshman Anneli Misner (21:17), Koraima Barrientos (22:37), junior Allison Nava (22:39), and junior Ariana Leato (23:06).