Fenwick’s Gamboa runs her fastest at final state meet

Starting with two all-state girls cross country performances in Class 2A, Fenwick senior Juliana Gamboa once again saved her best for the state meet Saturday. At the 3A finals, Gamboa finished with another lifetime best in her fourth and final state meet to take 42nd (17:31.7 for 3.0 miles) at Peoria’s Detweiller Park. “It’s very bittersweet to be done but it was a good last race,” Gamboa said. “It was a fun way to end out the season.” And an appropriate one. Gamboa edged her previous best of 17:32.0 from the 2025 3A state meet where she also placed 42nd. Gamboa set the school record for 5 kilometers/3.1 miles with 18:12.6 for eighth at the 3A Lyons Township Sectional, Oct. 31. “Juliana has (run personal records) at state every year. She’s consistently found a way to rise to the occasion,” Fenwick coach Latoya Zubowicz-Hill said. “I affectionately have called her since freshman year the G.O.A.T.” The Oak Park and River Forest High School girls (536 points) and boys (5