The boys and girls cross country teams both placed as teams and as individuals at their home conference meet last Saturday, October 17.

The race was held at the team’s’ home course, Lakewood Forest Preserve. The varsity and frosh-soph boys placed first, with Matthew Pereira, junior, and Drake Heisterkamp, sophomore, individually winning their respective races.

“It felt pretty good. [14:48] is a good time on that course. It was really nice to have my teammates, [Brian and Kyle] Griffith right back behind me,” Pereira said.

The girls frosh-soph team also took first place. The girls’ varsity team received sixth place, with Caitlin Shepard, senior, as the North Suburban Conference champion.

“I was really excited because it’s my senior year and I really wanted to just go out and win conference and then I really want to be top five at state. Hopefully I’ll go sub-17 [minutes] at Regionals,” Shepard said.

Both teams will compete this  Saturday, October 24 at regionals hosted by Palatine High School at Deerpath Forest Preserve.

“We wanted to win on all three levels and run our best races of the season,” JB Hanson, head boys cross country coach, said. “We would like to win Regionals [again] as well.”