Seven times.

15:56

15:58

17:03

17:26

17:43

17:51

17:55

Seven runners.

Zach Besson

Danny Ressler

Tommy Castino

Bogdan Anghel

Pat Schoenfelder

Tyler Glassman

Nick Filippone

One team.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, all runners on the Antioch Community High School Boy’s Varsity Cross Country team finished in under 18 minutes: a feat that has not been accomplished in years.

“Since I’ve been here [at ACHS], this is my sixth year, I don’t think we’ve had a boys team where we’ve had all seven guys on the varsity team run in under 18 minutes so that was a big accomplishment. On top of that, Danny Ressler and Zach Besson both broke 16 minutes,” said Chris Bailey, Antioch’s Cross Country coach.

The boys were able to finish quickly due to the extra time they give to train before and after school and during the summer.

“The dedication and commitment level from the team in general is so much better and has improved. Summer running has taken off…a good group of  varsity kids come in a couple times a week to run in the morning as well,” said Bailey.

There are high expectations for the team to go far in the post-season due to their current success individually and as a team.

Bailey said,”Individually, Ressler just missed [state] last year so that’s one of his goals coming in. Besson goes back and forth with Ressler a lot. Both have a shot to qualify [for state] as an individul. Teamwise, I think if you have two guys trying to place as individuals, the team score is going to already be great.”

A lot of the team’s top runners are upperclassmen, but they still have a lot of youth on the team and are expected to do just as well in upcoming years.

“We will lose senior leadership like Ressler, Besson, Tommy Castino, and Bobo Anghel but we have a nice group of freshmen and sophomores coming up. It will be tough to replace those shoes of Ressler’s and Besson’s but there is a good group of young guys coming up that I am excited about,” said Bailey.

The Antioch Cross Country Boys will be a team to watch at their next meet on this Saturday, Sept. 27, at Oak Park.