Riverside Brookfield High School senior Elizabeth Moran and sophomore Natalie Moran have strengthened their sister connection through running.
“It’s a big inspiration because she did track freshman year so we’d always go to meets,” Natalie Moran said. “She would always talk about it and was really passionate about it so that definitely encouraged me.”
The pair are hoping for even more memories in their final girls cross country season together after quite an exciting May in track and field. The two qualified for their first Class 3A state meet. They joined graduated Rebecca Nosek and Addie Vaia on the 4×800-meter relay, which ran a season-best 10:08.80 (27th).
“Going to state was definitely one of the greatest sports moments shared with Natalie,” Elizabeth Moran said. “It was so special to have the opportunity to run with all of the other qualifiers. I think my favorite moment was the excitement after when we were all congratulating each other and feeling accomplished.”
Elizabeth Moran, Ava Alfaro, Tia Lombardi and Jaelyne Manjarro are the lone cross country seniors for first-year head coach Lisa Voigts-Guzman, an assistant last season for retired head coach Blair Jensen.
Natalie Moran (51st), junior Elsie Clark (81st), sophomore Elia Bursua (99th) and Elizabeth Moran (114th) return from last season’s Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional lineup (12th, 303 points).
Varsity newcomers include juniors Evelyn Walsh and Anabel Olesiak and a large freshman group led by Delaney Gidd and Mahlya Hala that comprises half of the team.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Evelyn Walsh during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Delaney Gidd during the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
At Lyons Township’s Mike Kuharic Invitational, Saturday, Gidd finished third (18:37.6 for 5,000 meters) behind two returning 3A all-staters and 21 seconds ahead of fourth place.
“It’s been really fun so far. We have a really young team but everyone seems to be getting along well,” Voigts-Guzman said. “Of course it’s great to win meets and improve times but it’s also real exciting to have some girls meet (personal) goals. We are working towards getting these girls to become successful runners but it’s even more important to help them develop their character and become good people.”
The Bulldogs were seventh Saturday (197 points). Bursua was 11th (19:56.7), followed by Walsh (58th, 22:18.0), Clark (69th, 22:47.5), Olesiak (74th, 23:03.9) and Elizabeth Moran (87th, 23:50.6). At the season-opening Trial on the Trail Aug. 28 at Elmwood Park, Clark was a varsity-best 11th (13:27.3 for 2.0 miles) for the third-place Bulldogs. Gidd (invite-best 11:26.4) and Bursua (12:27.6) were first and third in the frosh-soph race.
“Only having four seniors doesn’t change the dynamic at all. We still have a fun and welcoming team where we always support one another,” Elizabeth Moran said.
“The incoming freshmen have brought great energy to practices and meets and I’m excited to see how we run.”
Natalie Moran has been sidelined by a stress fracture in her tibia diagnosed in early July.
“The injury definitely makes me more nervous because I haven’t gotten to train regularly since track,” Natalie said.
She hopes to return soon and enjoy more fun moments like that 2026 state track meet with Elizabeth.
“It was a really good experience and to get to do it with (Elizabeth) was really fun,” Natalie Moran said. “We had a great time and I feel like we all got a lot closer. It was super fun that it was a relay and was all part of a team.”
LTHS girls cross country
Senior Samantha Smith and junior Evelyn Thomas have big plans as co-captains for another gigantic Lyons Township girls cross country roster.
“What we’re really working for this season is to really get everyone on the same page between all of our varsity and other runners to help every single runner improve individually,” Smith said. “Also that way, the team as a whole can come together and each person can be better.”
The Lions are determined to be better after finishing 10th at the 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional (233 points), three places and 42 points from the last team qualifier. Sophomore Naomi O’Hare (43rd), senior Amelia Ludden (61st), junior Sarah Edell (71st), sophomore Abbey O’Toole (100th) and junior Ruby Radamaker (105th) all return from the sectional lineup, but individual state qualifier Mya Coglianese graduated.
Other key returnees include senior Allie Huth, juniors Lucy Martinez, Eleanor Meuer, Abby Elter and Elin Dorchinecz and sophomores Anna Dulyaba, Adriana Caballero, Ellinor Lach and Bella Stojowski. Key freshmen include Viktoria Vidakovic, Sydney Hartman and Kennedy Hartman. The co-captains will be assisted by seniors from the different training groups to achieve program goals.
“We’ve been collaborating and I’m pretty excited for the season,” Thomas said. “(We’re trying for) more team bonding definitely, saying affirming things during practices, workouts and races, and just being super appreciative of the team and pushing everybody to do their best.”
The Lions were eighth at their annual home Mike Kuharic Invite, Saturday (213 points). O’Hare (34th, 21:03.6 for 5,000 meters) and Ludden (36th, 21:09.1) finished among the top 40, followed by Edell (49th, 21:49.4), Martinez (53rd, 22:01.5), Lach (59th, 22:23.7) and Thomas (60th, 22:28.2). In the junior varsity race, Meuer was third (21:45.3). Vidakovic was fourth in the frosh-soph race (14:46.4 for 3,600 meters).
“If we can stay healthy and continue to improve, I believe we will be a very competitive team,” second-year LTHS coach Joe Pontrelli said. “Our varsity’s team goal is to qualify for the state meet. We have a very talented group and I am excited to watch them continue to grow, develop and progress.”
