NILES, Illinois — The Northridge cross country team capped off a record setting season this past Saturday with a fourth-place finish at the IHSA 1A State Finals in Peoria.

The fourth-place effort set a program record for highest-ever finish at the State Finals meet.

Along with the historic team placement, individual records were also broken. Senior Brady Kataoka set a Northridge record for individual time at State with his 15:16 time (17th place). The Knights effort was molded by the continued excellent finishes of James Barder (15:46), Peter Kipp (15:50), CJ Pronek (16:13.70) and John Masaka (16:13.99).

"Looking back on this past season, I am proud of how hard the boys worked at practices (especially during the "Michigan" workouts!)," head coach Julian Murphy said of the team. "The season was developed to have a small peak around halfway and then another peak just prior to State. It was the dedication and belief by the boys in the plan that led to the teams success."

The Knights set records left and right in the first year under Murphy's direction. On Oct. 29, the program won just its second ever Sectional title, defeating runner-up Harvest Christian by a staggering 31 points. The week prior, Northridge took home the Regional Championship crown, the 9th in program history. In claiming the Regional title, the Knights bested runner-up North Shore Country Day by an incredible 45 points.

The Knights end the season with first-place finishes in five meets, and podium finishes in three others.