Sports
Gimme 5: Oak Forest Cross Country Leader Ivins Grows Into Part
After running in the IHSA state meet for the first time last year, Brandon Ivins will look to go the distance again against the best of the best.
Oak Forest coach Gary Andruch didn't know what he was getting when Brandon Ivins joined the cross country team three years ago.
Ivins was a lanky freshman who didn't have much sports experience.
Andruch certainly couldn't have imagined that he'd turn into one of Oak Forest's captains and its top returning runner.
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"We did lose a lot of guys from last year and the year before, that was kind of our foundation," Andruch said. Lucky for us, John [Kawulia] and Brandon and Adam Pickram, they’ve been running on the varsity for at least the past two years. They have some experience running on the varsity.
Ivins and Oak Forest advanced to the IHSA state cross country meet last season and Ivins finished the three-mile course in 16:29. He also qualified for the state championships in track in the 3200-meter run.
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"It was a very fun time because it’s three days and (I was with Oak Forest track athletes) Tevin Coleman, Josh Driver," Ivins said. "That was the fun part. The race itself, I was just with people too fast for me at the time. Next time when I go I’ll be a little bit better."
Ivins knows he wants to run in at the next level in college. He's looking at a number of options in Division III and the NAIA.
But for this season he just wants another chance to run against Illinois' best.
"We should be able to go downstate as long as all our guys are healthy and running well," Andruch said.
