Jeff,
The 2008 boys Class L X-Country champion was Triad. O'Fallon took 2nd place but is shown as the Class L X-Country champion for 2008 on the listing of past state champions. Had O'Fallon had their #3 runner who broke his leg a month prior, things could have been different!
With O'Falllon splitting their Junior High this year, that talent will be split which should benefit the other schools in the team race.

thank you,

Bryan Riba
O'Fallon, IL

Bryan,

Thanks for pointing that out. I have fixed listing to show Triad.

I see that Alex has been having a good season. How did the Southwestern Conference meet go today?

-Geff

Geff,
Thanks for asking about Alex. He did not run in the St. Clair county championship but O'Fallon won with 19 points, I think they went 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8. The big test will be the Conference meet between O'Fallon and Edwardsville on the 24th and Sectionals where they qualify for state is the 31st. State up in Peoria is the 7th of November.
Alex has been hurt so has not run in a meet in a couple of weeks. I think it was due to running too much. For these 3 miles races, he did run 15:51 at Granite City in the pouring rain about a month ago and ran 15:50 at Peoria (on the state course) a week later. He is planning to run meets starting this Saturday with a goal of breaking 15:30 at state this year. His 15:50 is one of the fastest freshman times in the state this year. On a side note, Michael Scolarichi (O'Fallon's #1 runner), has run a 14:37 on the Peoria course which I think is the #1 time for a Junior in the state also.

Bryan Riba

Bryan,

I am sorry to hear he is hurt and been unable to compete. I have taken over as head coach at Salem High School and we were also at the Granite City Invite. I saw him run and was impressed with his times. I have Preston Burkett the Class S state champion on my team and he has dropped his times as well, but he did not get enough base mileage in this summer to do what Alex has done. I wish Alex the best of luck the rest of the season.

-Geff