With autumn racing away, the Niles North Cross Country team is gearing up for their first meet at Hinsdale taking place on Sept. 5.

After a successful season led by Coach Dave Shafron last year, taking home the conference championship on the varsity level, the runners are very enthusiastic for another season to begin.

“I’m excited to see how much I can improve. Everyone on the team is working hard and we’re all super motivated. We just have to keep believing it’s worth it in the end,” Andrew Mareczko, captain, said.

Hosted by Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South, the prestigious meet is very well known throughout Illinois. The invite features over 25 teams and has races for freshmen, sophomore, and varsity level runners. Although the competition is tough, Niles North continues to be a force to be reckoned with at this Palatine competition.

Most anticipated in the event is the varsity race. A standard varsity race in a cross country meet consists of each team’s top seven runners, with only their best five counting for a score.

“It’s my first year on varsity, and I feel confident in our ability to go far this season. The great thing about cross country is that it doesn’t just make you into a better runner; it develops skills in every aspect of your life,” Zach Harris, junior, said.

For those interested in supporting the vikings this weekend, more information can be found on the cross-country site