After advancing to sectionals last season in 10th, the boys cross country team hopes to utilize their majority underclassmen roster to create a championship-caliber team. 

Senior Max Peterson ran a 15:48 in the Loyola regional last season, leading him and the team to the sectional meet. Peterson was the only runner on the team to advance to the state competition. That being said, he has high hopes not only for himself, but for the rest of the team as well. 

“I feel more prepared than ever,” Peterson said. “I’m hoping to leave my mark by passing down the legacy that I received.” 

Thanks to Peterson and his confidence, the team is excited to reach the postseason. 

Senior Jack Rutstein has embraced Peterson’s preparedness and hopes that he can finish his career off strong.

“I’ve dealt with countless injuries over [the duration of] my career, but now, I’m the fittest I’ve ever been,” Rutstein said. 

With a devastating postseason in 2018, they hope that maintaining their strategies will strengthen them rather than keep them stagnate. 

“We are training in multiple ways: on the track, the sand, the grass and even in the water,” Rutstein says. 

Some of their conference rivals, New Trier and Maine South, prove to be great competitors despite lack of tough competition during the rest of the season.

“We need to make sure our seven gets in before their seven to ensure victories,” Rutstein said. 

With newfound confidence and consistency, the boys cross country team hopes to advance further than ever before this season. 

Their first meet is the Hinsdale Central Invite at Katherine Legge Park on Sept. 7.