Nazareth Academy junior Kathleen Hardy has somehow balanced running for the girls cross country team with being an all-state lacrosse player and showcases for recruiting.
After Hardy verbally committed to play lacrosse for Northwestern, Sept. 10, her running also became a showcase.
On Saturday, Hardy finished a program-best 11th at the Class 2A state meet at Peoria’s Detweiller Park and helped the Roadrunners finish fifth the highest state finish in program history, after taking 11th in 2025.
Hardy’s 17:41.5 for 3.0 miles also edged her school record of 17:42.7 when she was an top-25 all-stater with 22nd in 2024. Hardy was 44th last year (18:11.3).
“I feel like everyone ran for each other this race,” Hardy said. “(All-state) was definitely my goal but I didn’t know if I’d be able to do it. The last mile, I pushed myself and I really kicked it in.”
Hardy was followed by sophomore Maggie Morrissey (58th, 18:43.0) senior Claire Sigmund (72nd, 18:49.6), freshman Nora Trayser (76th, 18:52.6), sophomore Elena Vlahos (87th, 18:58.3) and seniors Allie O’Halloran (95th, 19:07.8) and Julia Parkes (169th, 20:04.8).
The Roadrunners returned all seven from last year’s then-record-setting state lineup. This also was the Roadrunners’ eight straight state appearance with O’Halloran and Parkes making their fourth trips. Their top three finishers and O’Halloran ran personal records Saturday.
“We did the best we could have done and that’s what you want. I felt like fifth place was a nice target and they hit it so it was fun to watch,” Nazareth coach Joe Wejman said.
“I felt like there was some fire inside of them from last year. We had a good feeling about (state) and it came out.”
Because of lacrosse, Hardy missed some regular-season races, but she wasn’t alone with other commitments. Regionals marked the first time Saturday’s lineup ran together in the same race.
“In the fall I was gone all of the time. I feel like in practice when I was able to go, the workouts really helped me and I was able to get back to where I was freshman year,” Hardy said.
Class 3A cross country
The state meet once again brought out the best in Fenwick senior Juliana Gamboa of Riverside. At the 3A finals, Gamboa finished with yet another lifetime best at her fourth and final state meet to take 42nd (17:31.7 for 3.0 miles).
“It’s very bittersweet to be done but it was a good last race,” Gamboa said. “It was a fun way to end out the season.”
Gamboa edged her previous best of 17:32.0 from the 2025 3A state meet that also placed 42nd. Gamboa set the school record for 5 kilometers/3.1 miles with 18:12.6 for eighth at the 3A Lyons Township Sectional Oct. 31.
“Juliana has (run personal records) at state every year. She’s consistently found a way to rise to the occasion,” Fenwick coach Latoya Zubowicz-Hill said. “I affectionately have called her since freshman year the G.O.A.T.”
Gamboa’s first two state races achieved all-state honors in 2A, taking 14th in 2023 (17:47.4) followed by 21st in 2024 with an even faster 17:41.3. Gamboa was 19.1 seconds from 25th place in 3A Saturday with what is believed to be the No. 4 fastest 3.0-mile personal record in Fenwick girls history.
“Really fast (state race) but really fun to have such great competition,” Gamboa said.
Riverside Brookfield sophomore Elia Bursua (111th, 18:11.3) and Lyons Township sophomore Naomi O’Hare (173rd, 18:46.6) also had personal records in their state debuts as individual qualifiers. Bursua, who beat her 18:38 from the Upstate Eight Conference Meet, was grateful six teammates trained with her as she prepared for state.
“I was just really excited because it’s a great environment and it’s so much fun to be doing this,” Bursua said. “I’m so glad that I had the chance to make it.”
Vika Bursua, her mother, is an RBHS assistant coach.
“Being her mom and coach has been an amazing experience this year and last year,” Vika Bursua said. “Hopefully we’re going to be here as a team next year. I think we have a good chance if we keep working hard.”
O’Hare beat the 18:56.4 from her conference meet despite after leaving her right shoe behind after she inadvertently received a “flat tire” from another runner.
“My shoe was dangling off my foot the first mile and a half. (My coaches) just told me to take it off,” O’Hare said. “I am proud of myself. I’m just upset. That was the worst thing that could have happened but it’s OK. I have next year hopefully.”
The LTHS boys finished 25th (650 points) in their state team return after a one-year absence. Juniors Brennan Monohan (63rd, 15:00.2), Ben Radtke (161st, 15:35.5) and Henry James (190th, personal-record 15:47.5) led the Lions, followed by sophomore Luke Borling (195th, 15:48.7), senior Colin Shea (202nd, 15:53.5), junior Evan Ruse (224th, 16:14.2) and senior Juan Contreras (229th, 16:21.5).
Monohan was hoping to contend for all-state but had been only bike training during the week because of shin pain.
“It was just kind of getting worse and worse and hurting the most at state. I did not feel 100 percent,” Monohan said. “At sectionals I ran good (all-sectional 8th place) and then state I think I psyched myself out a little bit and also just not having the confidence losing the time running.”