O’Fallon boys cross country team has strong showing at state, bright future ahead

The O’Fallon boys cross country team traveled to Peoria for the IHSA state cross country meet Saturday, Nov. 6.

And the young Panthers were excited to make the trip after the IHSA canceled the state series last year.

The team was led by sophomore Dylan Ybarra, who, even after being sidelined for several days with an injury, ran a personal best of 15:07 to finish 41st overall. It was Ybarra’s second time running at Detweiller, but his first competing against the state’s top runners.

Ybarra commented, “The pace of the race and atmosphere” was different than every meet he had run his first two years. Fellow sophomore Eli Greenstreet also ran a personal best of 15:23 and helped pace the team to a 22nd place finish overall.

Freshman Zach Thoman was third for the team and also ran a personal best. Senior Blake Westrater finished fourth on the team and, like his teammates, also ran his personal best at the best time. Juniors Ethan Nieroda and Nathaniel Boston also ran for the Panthers with Boston recording a personal best as well.

Senior Peyton Mueller, who has been dealing with an injury since the Southwestern Conference meet, unfortunately could not finish the race. Overall, Mueller has been a strong senior presence on the team all season and no doubt helped prepare the young Panthers for the big stage.

The team expects Peyton to recover and be ready for track season in the spring.

Given the cross county team’s top three finishers were two sophomores and a freshman, there is reason to expect great things from this team for the next several years.