There’s good and bad news to the Fenwick boys cross-country team this season.
Bad news first: The Friars lost three runners from last year’s state qualifying team to graduation. The good news: The team returns four runners from last year’s state qualifying team this season.
With speedsters like Robert Ayres, Jordan Kramer, and Brooks Smith gone, the bulk of the leadership duties now fall to Ryan Shannon, Tom Laser, Matthias Connelly and Jack Boyle. Out of the three that ran at state last season, Shannon led the pack with a 187th place finish in 16:03, 5:21 off the first place runner. Senior Patrick McGillen is also expected to make an impact this season for Fenwick, which will be shooting for its third straight Chicago Catholic League title.
Other runners looking to factor into the mix and help the Friars attain another regional title include juniors Brian Barron and Matt Miller, and sophomores Martin Grady, Matt Shannon and Bill Toohey.
“Another league title is certainly attainable this season,” said Fenwick head coach John Polka. “Loyola and Brother Rice will be the usual suspects in the race for the top spot, but we have a good crew back, so we’ll see how it pans out.”
Fenwick kicked off the season on a high note last week by taking first at the St. Patrick Invitational at Schiller Woods. Laser led the Friars with a third-place finish in 16:30.
“It’s great to get off to a start like that,” said Polka. “The guys are running pretty well early, but we still need to work out some things. We’re still a little weak on the third mile, but we’ll get there.”
When asked about the IHSA’s new three-class system for the sport of cross-country, Polka responded, “It’s going to be a barn-burning sectional, that’s for sure. But then again, it always is.”
Fenwick runs against Woodruff-Peoria downstate at Detweiller Park this Saturday (9 a.m.). Last weekend, the Friars placed third at the Fenton Invitational with a score of 86.
Connelly leads girls team
Margaret Connelly led the Fenwick girls cross-country team to a sixth place finish overall at the Fenton Invitational on Saturday. Connelly timed out at 19 minutes flat on the 3-mile course.
The Friars travel to Channahon Park Saturday to take on Gordon Tech (9 a.m.).
