Late last season, Trinity junior Hailey Hansen established herself as the No. 1 runner on the Blazers’ cross country team. She maintained that position this season.
But the difference between this year and last year is that this season, Hansen had sophomore Bridget O’Bryan on her heels.
“I’m definitely glad to have her pushing me. I’ve come to appreciate having someone to run with, especially during races,” said Hansen, an Oak Park resident.
“When you’re out there alone, you feel the pressure more than when you have someone to run and switch off with. It’s great to have someone to run with and aim for, and it motivates you to stay with them.”
Hansen and O’Bryan finished 10 seconds apart at Saturday’s Class 2A Fenton Sectional, as the Blazers finished fourth in a 12-team field to advance downstate. Hansen ran the course at Fenton in 19:55, the 12th-fastest time posted, while O’Bryan finished in 20:05 in posting the 17th-fastest time.
O’Bryan, who lives in Riverside, values the relationship she and Hansen have forged.
“We’ve grown a lot closer this season and competing with her helps a lot because I’m always trying to keep up with her,” O’Bryan said. “We work together, and we push each other.”
Emma Creviston (20:31), Alyssa Jimenez (20:55), and Hannah Roberts (21:25) rounded out Trinity’s top five scoring finishers. Grace Brown (22:18) and Catherine Doyle (22:25) also competed for the Blazers.
“Everybody pretty much ran the way they have all year,” Trinity coach Johann Gonzalez said.
Prior to taking over the program this year, Gonzalez implemented a new summer training regimen that paid dividends this season.
“It started two weeks after the track season ended last year,” O’Bryan said. “We were able to bond as a team and build our mileage back up, which was nice because you obviously run shorter distances during track season.”
Trinity returns downstate to Detweiller Park in Peoria on Saturday for the first time since 2013, when they also qualified in 2A. The program won its first team regional title this year, at the Oct. 22 Class 2A Latin Regional.
“We dreamt about qualifying for state as a team and now that it’s happened, we’re kind of still in shock,” Hansen said.
“We got bumped up to 3A for my freshman and sophomore year, and our expectations weren’t as great. But we went into this season with a real positive outlook. Instead of hoping we’d qualify, we were planning on qualifying. We’re so excited.”
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Hansen is a two-time state qualifier in track, but no one else on the cross country team has been downstate.
“I’m a little nervous, but overall I know that all the hard work has paid off,” O’Bryan said. “Now we just have one more race to get through.”
With no seniors on his team, Gonzalez’s goal for his team is simple.
“I just want them to enjoy it,” he said. “I’m excited for them, having this experience when they’re so young. Going down there and getting experience is what we’re focused on. I just want them to make the most of the opportunity and leave it all on the course.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press