Both the boys and girls cross country teams dominated meets throughout the season. They ended the season on a high note, finishing third and fifth in the state, respectively.
The boys secured a podium finish in Class 2A at State, despite no individual runners placing in the top 25. Much of their strength came from their depth. Their fifth runner finished only 34 seconds behind their first runner, a very small “spread” for a cross country team.
Freshman Micah Weiss said, “We all had individual goals, but we put the team and the team’s goals first, which I think is the most valuable part of being a part of that team.”
Micah, who ran 15:03 in the three-mile race and placed 30th, and senior Ben Gibson, who ran 15:05 and placed 33rd, nearly broke the Latin School boys record of 14:59, which Ryan Hardiman ‘22 set at State his senior year.
Although he placed the highest at State among Latin male runners, Micah found inspiration from his peers. “Being a freshman on the team was great,” he said, “because I got to look up to the upperclassmen, and I learned a lot from them.”
The girls cross country team, competing this year in Class 1A, also left an impact at State. Two athletes finished with All-State recognition: senior Mia Kotler, who ran 16:56, placing fourth in the state, and freshman Francesca Mora, who ran 17:41, finishing 17th.
Similarly to Micah, Francesca received immense support from her teammates despite being new to the team. “As a freshman, I did not know what it would be like to be on a high school varsity team,” Francesca said. “It was exciting for me to see how I performed throughout the season, but also how our team improved.”
While the freshmen embarked on a new journey, the seniors reflected on the season’s highlights. Seniors Mia Kotler and Ellie Anderson tackled injuries throughout the season, causing concerns about the team’s ability to compete at State. Mia’s performance at State was an upside surprise, given her inability to train for most of the cross country season. She finished her high school cross country career having posted some of the fastest times in the history of Illinois in both Class 1A and 2A, and she has committed to Johns Hopkins University for cross country and track.
Reflecting on her final season, Ellie said, “Our XC team has something far more special than the triumph—we are a family.”
At this year’s State meet, Latin’s boys and girls cross country teams had the highest combined finish in school history. Latin’s cross country coaches were selected as ISL Coaching Staff of the Year, reflecting their dedication to developing the teams to their fullest potential.
Head Coach Dan Daly emphasizes a balance of hard work and fun for both cross country teams. Throughout hours of training, both teams grew closer, forming impactful relationships as a team and a positive, uplifting team dynamic to boost their confidence as they headed to the State meet.
As Ellie said, “The magic is in the endless laughs and encouragement, the iconic moments, the way we lift each other up through every finish line. Socially, our girls and guys are one unit; we bond as one big team. I know the best friends I have made in Romans XC, I will have forever.”
