NORWOOD PARK — St. Thecla's girls track team is hoping to achieve something not even Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan can put on his long list of accomplishments.
A four-peat.
Claire Anderson, Mary Kate Borner, Summer Roche and Mary Claire Weber have been running together since fourth grade. The fifth member of the team, Gabriella O'Hehir, joined in fifth grade. The team hopes to win its fourth straight championship this spring, coach Michael Gibbons said.
"They all want to be successful and they push each other," Gibbons said. "They set goals, I set goals and they are always eager for the challenge."
The team won the league's junior varsity championship in 2012 and 2013, and won the varsity championship in 2014, Gibbons said.
The team hopes to run 4x100 relay in 55 seconds this year — beating their championship time from last year of 61 seconds, Gibbons said.
Michael Gibbons credits the girls with not only winning every trophy in sight for the Norwood Park Catholic school, but helping to turn around the school's track program, Gibbons said.
The team members helped recruit their siblings and friends, making the team — now with more than 50 members — a fun place for everyone, Gibbons said.
"They have all brought fellow classmates on the team as well just creating an environment that kids want to be part of," Gibbons said.
The season ends in May, Gibbons said.
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