By Zach Mikrut ‘25

On Saturday, Aug. 14, the Brother Rice cross country team had a standout performance in the “First to the Finish” Invite in Peoria, Illinois. Some huge finishes for the Crusaders led them to place 21st out of 67 teams.

Senior Captain Gavin O’Connor led the charge with an impressive fourth-place finish in the entire race. He led the team with a new personal record time of 15:00, which secured him as the seventh fastest runner in the state.

“I felt pretty confident going into the race,” O’Connor said. “I knew I had been putting the work in, and this was a great chance to compete at the highest level. As a team, we have our sights set on a regional championship and going downstate as a team. We saw much of the competition we will see in the postseason this Saturday, and I think we stack up very well.”

Junior Andrew Straley shined, also finishing with a new personal record at 15:17 and 11th in the overall race. Straley is now ranked 22nd in the state.

“Overall, I was happy, and when I crossed the line I was ecstatic,” Straley said. “Saturday was definitely one of my best and smartest races I ever ran. Peoria is the best course in the state, so I’m glad both me and my team successfully competed for Brother Rice.”

The Crusaders didn’t stop with O’Connor and Straley. Strong performances from seniors Brian Biondo, Brian Sheehan, Andrew Quinn, and Eamon Roache; juniors Oliver Davis and Aidan Leary; sophomore Declan Nieto; and freshman Dylan Cody helped the Crusaders significantly. Each runner has contributed to the team’s promising start and is eager for even better performances as the season progresses.

Brian Sheehan said, “If we’re able to stay consistent and get our three through seven guys closer to our top two, I think we can have a very successful season.”

Cross country relies on a collective effort to be successful. With the special group of runners that the Crusaders have, they are excited for a special season ahead of them. Their team motto, “Run Ugly,” sums up their drive and determination to push through their challenges and achieve their goals.

Photo Credit: Kyle Swynenburg