Repeat was in the air this season for the the Latin School of Chicago's cross country teams, with both the boys and girls locking up their second straight IHSA regional title.
And Dan Daly’s squads did one better, each earned sectional victories in the same year for the first time ever.
“I knew we had a very strong boys team and I knew the girls would be competitive,” he said. “But they definitely met and exceeded our goals.”
At the beginning of the season, Daly targeted a top-10 finish at state for both teams.
But after a few meets, he moved the girls’ goal — a team that had never won sectionals — to a possible top-three finish at state.
“There was just a whole lot of talent, so we shifted the goal,” he said.
The girls ultimately finished No. 3 at state. Senior Victoria Bianco placed seventh overall, while junior Abigail Nadler came in 23rd.
Meanwhile, the boys placed 10th at state, their highest finish ever.
“We knew the boys team was really deep,” he said.
Their season, which also included a league championship, was highlighted by an impressive performance at the regional championship.
Latin’s runners placed first through sixth, with a difference of about 30 seconds — an “amazingly small split, ” Daly said. Senior Jacob Silverman finished first.
Daly, in his 24th season at the helm, was also selected as ISL Coach of the Year.
“I’m so proud of both teams. They really stepped up this year,” he said.
