PEORIA — Orlando Sandoval ran fast to begin the Class 3A boys cross country state final. Perhaps a little too fast, according to his coach.
But Sandoval had enough energy at the end to claim a top-25 finish and all-state status in his final high-school race.
The Morton senior was 15th in the 3-mile 3A title run Nov. 8 at Detweiller Park. His time of 14:24.8 was one-10th of a second and one place faster than another all-stater, Sandburg senior Mateo Ramiro-Garcia. Both times were personal bests.
“These past four years I was never able to be all-state,” said Sandoval, who finished 46th last year. “My dream was to become all-state. It feels like I’ve accomplished something.”
Another Morton runner, junior Miguel Flores, finished 26th in 14:36.9 after he finished 51st in 2024.
Morton coach Bill Bloom felt for Flores just missing all-state honors, but he still ran a personal record and the third-fastest time in program history. Sandoval’s became the fastest.
“It was a crazy race today,” Bloom said immediately afterward. “I can’t complain. My top two guys ran really fast.”
It all was fast enough to give Morton a 19th-place team finish with 434 points. Sandburg was ninth with 284 points.
Also finishing among the all-staters were Stagg senior Jack Krusinski (20th, 14:26.8) and Reavis junior Santiago Chavez (21st, 14:27.1).
Class 3A champ Philip Cupial of Downers Grove North ran 14:03.2 on a day that featured near-perfect running conditions — overcast, dry and mid-50s temperatures. That helped lead to a quick start. Sandoval ran his first mile in under 4:40, according to Bloom.
“He went out way faster than I would have liked,” he said. “Some guys push the pace and you’ve got to decide, do you go with them?”
Sandoval said he didn’t realize how fast he was running, because he was feeling fine. He said he tried not to think too much. But the physical toll became more evident late, including on the final incline.
“I was feeling very nervous, very tired, but I was very loose,” Sandoval said. “I held on and finished strong.”
Among colleges Sandoval is considering for cross country is Illinois State. So is Ramiro-Garcia. With about one-quarter mile to go, Ramiro-Garcia was in the last all-state spot, according to his coach, John O’Malley. He yelled that assessment at Ramiro-Garcia, who proceeded to act.
“He mowed down nine guys,” O’Malley said. “Not just random runners, either, all-staters. He just went to the well and gave everything he had in the last quarter-mile.”
Ramiro-Garcia was 56th at state last season. He ascended after he rehabilitated an ankle he fractured in June while playing kickball. O’Malley called Ramiro-Garcia one of the most driven people he’s ever known.
“I had a second to do it or not. I chose to take the risk,” Ramiro-Garcia said about O’Malley’s quarter-mile plea. “It’s something we’ve been working on my time at Sandburg: Always take the risk, and it’ll pay off.”
Other area 3A boys individuals included Brother Rice senior Andrew Straley (30th, 14:40.9) and Andrew senior Caden Wolf (52nd, 14:51.8).
Among 3A girls were Lyons senior Mya Coglianese (72nd, 17:48.2) and Shepard senior Ayat Tantawi (87th, 17:54.46).
In Class 2A, the Nazareth girls finished 12th as a team with 334 points).
“Fifteenth was our target estimation, so that was what we were aiming for,” Roadrunners coach Joe Wejman said. “We thought top 10 was doable if we had a really good day. Ultimately, as a team they ran fantastically.”
Sophomore Kathleen Hardy was Nazareth’s top individual, 44th in 18:11.25. She was 22nd and all-state last year, but she injured her right ankle about a month ago during lacrosse practice.
“For a few of the races, my foot was hurting a ton,” said Hardy, who suggested she wasn’t at 100% for her state race.
Other area 2A girls in the race included Kennedy junior Viviana Tryfonopoulos (63rd, 18:33.02).
Among 2A boys, Nazareth finished 27th, led by senior Daniel Lewis (60th, 15:20.15).