The 2024 Gateway Metro Conference Cross Country Meet was held Saturday morning on the campus of Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon, IL. The CORLHS Silver Stallion Boys XC team had a strong day against a very tough conference.
Coach Tim Koch said, “I feel like every runner gave it their all today!” Each runner ran a good time and improved from last year’s conference race! Our conference is loaded with talented runners. Our kids ran with heart and fought hard today!”
The day began with the lone Lady Stallion runner Sr. Rylee Brammeier running the 3 mile course and securing her 2nd All Conference Selection in as many years, placing 5th in 20:39. Quite the accomplishment for the Senior who has a lot to be proud of throughout her excellent XC Career.
Next up was the Varsity Boys race and The Stallions were lead again by Soph. Carson Pigg who would finish 4th in 17:02 and secure All-Conference Honors (awarded to Top 7) as well.
Koch added, “Carson didn’t get out as fast as he usually does, but he fought hard the 2nd and 3rd mile and finished strong for his team, as he has all season!”
Next across the line was Stallions Sr. Zerek Koch finishing 9th in 17:24.
“Zerek ran his guts out today, he really wanted that Top 7,” said Koch. It was his best race of the season and he really got out strong early. He was the first Stallion through at the 1 mile mark and was 2 seconds behind his teammate Pigg, at the 2-mile mark! He tried to gut it out, but just couldn’t quite hold on to the Top 7, nonetheless a Top 10 conference finish is nothing to be ashamed of. He ran like, a coach would want a senior to run, with a lot of heart, in a conference meet!”
Soph. Wyatt Gregory also picked it up and ran with a lot of toughness today as well. He would be the Stallions #3, finishing in 17th place in 18:19. “Wyatt’s times have constantly gone down this season!” We wouldn’t be the team we are without his consistency!” Sr. Isaiah Lyons would come in next for The Stallion Boys at 23rd in 19:18. “This was Lyons last Conference race as well and I applaud his effort into the chute as he outkicked a Mcgivney runner!” Freshman Cameron Jones would round out the scoring for the Stallions and break the 20 minute mark today finishing 26th in 19:55. “Cameron really stepped it up big time today as well, running a solid #5 for us in his first Gateway Metro Conference Race, were really proud of him today!” Jr. Liagel Lyons would finish 30th for the Stallions (22:26) and Anderson Engele would come out of retirement and place 32nd (23:15) to give the Stallions a full 7 runners, in the absence of Fr. Jeremy Jansen who was sick today.
After the meet The Stallions Seniors: Brammeier, Koch, and Lyons were honored. “We love our seniors and can’t thank them enough for their commitment to our team, their teammates, school, and this demanding sport of cross country distance running!”
