The girls cross country team placed 23rd at the IHSA Class 2A State Championships at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Nov. 8. Junior Connor Lane, the only member of the U-High boys team to qualify for state, placed 76th of 235 runners.

Though Connor was disappointed that no one else on the boys team ran at state, he was proud of the progress the team made throughout the season.

“It was kind of a bummer to have to practice by myself for the last week,” he said, “but I think we really made the best of what was there.”

At sectionals on Nov. 1, the girls team placed third, qualifying as a team for the state finals for the first time since 2019. The boys team placed ninth with Connor individually qualifying for state.

Junior Taara Sajdeh, a captain, stressed the role teamwork had in the girls’ success this season.

“With a sport like cross country, where it can feel individual, your teammates are the ones who are pulling you along,” she said. “It’s been great to see our girls packing up together, racing together, and training together.”

The girls team took first place at their regional competition on Oct. 25 for the first time since 2015, and the boys team placed second.

Taara placed first in the women’s 3 mile race at regionals. She reflected on the experience of winning this race beside junior Celia Lukas, who placed second.

“It was a really great experience because I had never won a regional title,” she said, “but also because I got to race it with one of my best friends.”

The boys team also won the Independent School League championship on Oct. 16.

Connor reflected on how special the moment was after having injured his hamstring and missing the earlier part of the season.

“Winning the championship with the team was a big highlight,” he said. “We came in as the underdogs and we got it done.”