The boys’ cross country team started their season on September 6th at Hinsdale South versus teams from Hinsdale Central, Leyden, Glenbard West, and Hinsdale South High Schools. The Mustangs took first place across all levels, hoping this will be the start of their road to winning back the conference title.
The Downer Grove South cross country team lead by Stephen Pipilas, Akhil Ghosh, and Eddie Siuda who are each running fourteen minutes forty-five seconds(14:45) ,fifteenth minutes (15:00)flat, and fifteenth minutes and five seconds(15:05), respectfully are considered strong contenders. While they might be underdogs in this fight, the Morton Boys Cross Country team has hope and confidence, “We need to take that W back, we lost our winning streak [of four years] and we’re gonna get it back…they’ve had it for two years and now we’re gonna win it back cause we can’t let them indulge.” says Rafael Ibarra ‘18.
The Cross Country team has been working hard to prepare for this season, running all summer long, coming in each day at eight o’clock in the morning for practice as the team has given it all with maximum effort. A Mustang to look out for this season is the “special case” Guillermo Ibarra, currently a sophomore and the youngest captain on the team, Ibarra is leading the team with the best time of fifteenth minutes forty-four seconds (15:44).
September 9th delivered the next competition, where the top ten runners of the team raced in the First to the Finish Invitational at Detweiller Park, in Peoria, Illinois. For the lucky runners who participate, this is a very special race, “It goes beyond the course. First to the Finish in general, it’s a meet that you not only have schools from Illinois but from Indiana and surrounding state, you have over 6,000 runners. You’re going there to see your competition.” says Alden Diaz ,18 . The team had a strong showing at the meet with Guillermo Ibarra,20, Rafael Ibarra,18, Anthony Munoz,19 , Kenneth Sandoval,19 , and Hector Anguiano,19 hitting times of Fifteenth minutes forty-four seconds(15:44), sixteen minutes twenty-one seconds(16:21), sixteen minutes twenty-six seconds (16:26) , sixteen minutes thirty nine seconds (16:39) , and sixteen minutes forty eight seconds (16:48)respectfully.
The boys’ next meet was October 2nd at Downers Grove South vs DGS and Addison Trail.
Remaining Schedule:
Oct 2nd- @DGS vs. DGS and Addison Trail
Oct. 7th- Elmwood Park Tiger Invitational
Oct. 14- Western Suburban Conference- Gold Conference Meet .
