OPRF Boys, Girls Qualify for 3A State Meet
Both Oak Park and River Forest cross country teams advanced to the Class 3A state meet after strong finishes at the Lyons Township Sectional.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Track & Field
The Oak Park and River Forest boys cross country team finished sixth with 189 points, and the girls team finished fourth with 114 points, at the 3A Lyons Township Sectional. Both squads advance to the 3A state meet on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Peoria's Detweiller Park.
Why it matters
The girls team earned its first state team berth since 2021, marking a notable step for the program. The boys' sixth-place finish secured a spot in the state field alongside seven advancing teams.
Sectional results show OPRF's boys totaled 189 points for sixth place and the girls totaled 114 points for fourth, with the 5-kilometer course spanning 3.1 miles. Ryan Wangerow ran 15:40.3 for 26th, and Abby Denneen clocked 18:27.4 for 11th, 1.0 second shy of top-10 all-sectional honors.
The players
Oak Park and River Forest High School
The Oak Park and River Forest high school in suburban Chicago whose boys and girls cross country teams qualified for the state meet.
Fenwick High School
A Catholic high school in Oak Park whose boys and girls teams both finished outside the advancing positions at the sectional.
The details
Juliana Gamboa finished eighth at 18:12.6 and Bridget Brunick 14th at 18:32.9 for the girls. Ten individual qualifiers from teams outside the seven advancing squads also earned state berths.
Timeline
Saturday, Nov. 7: 3A state meet at Peoria's Detweiller Park
Season Trajectory
The girls' berth ends a stretch without a state team appearance that dates to 2021, returning the program to the state stage. Both squads' advancements position OPRF to contend in Saturday's 3A field alongside the seven other qualifying teams.
For local runners and families, the state meet offers an in-person chance to watch OPRF compete on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Peoria. The girls' berth also means a full state-level roster to follow in the coming days.
The takeaway
Track and cross country fans in Oak Park can track OPRF's progress at Saturday's state meet in Peoria. Following sectional results is a practical way to keep tabs on qualifiers across the 3A field.
What happens next
The 3A boys and girls state meet takes place Saturday, Nov. 7, at Peoria's Detweiller Park.
Further reading
Find more on Track & Field coverage from around Oak Park.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wednesday Journal.
