Junior Harrier Coaches

John Darrow

Coach Darrow has coached the boys and girls cross-country and track teams at Notre Dame School in Clarendon Hills since 2009. Ten of his Notre Dame cross-country teams have qualified for the IESA State Championship meet, winning multiple State trophies. Notre Dame has placed in the top ten teams in State on six occasions, including two IESA State Championships. He has also coached 17 individual qualifiers for the State meet. His teams have won four IESA Sectional Championships. Notre Dame competes in the Suburban Parochial League (SPL). During Coach Darrow’s tenure, his teams have won 16 SPL XC Championships and 15 SPL Track Division championships. On the individual level, he has coached one individual IESA State Champion, 14 All-State runners, 12 SPL XC individual champions, and 8 SPL Track Athletes of the Year. In 2020, Coach Darrow received the ITCCCA Distinguished Middle School Coach Award, a lifetime achievement recognition awarded by the Illinois Track & Cross Country Coaches Association.

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Jeannie Sullivan

Jeannie has been a competitive runner on the track, roads, and cross country for over 30 years. Her love of running began in middle school in southeastern Michigan by default when she got cut from the basketball team but then broke the gym class 8th grade mile school record. In high school, she quickly became one of the top cross country runners in the State and competed in all track distance events. She continued her career at the University of Michigan earning a 2nd team All-Big Ten Conference award in XC and academic All-American awards in indoor/outdoor track and XC, ultimately finishing her collegiate career in 2002 as XC team captain with a team Big Ten Conference Championship, regional team runner-up, and top 15 team placement in the NCAA. She continued sub-elite post-collegiate road racing for the Impala Racing Team in San Francisco and now DW Running in Chicago where a recent highlight was placing 4th in the State of Illinois in the 2018 Chicago Marathon.

Steve Driscoll

Coach Driscoll teaches 7th grade ELA and has coached the girls and boys' cross country teams at Gurrie Middle School in La Grange since 2006. Gurrie joined the IESA in 2011 and has since coached eleven state qualifying teams, ten All-State finishers, and won four State trophies in the past five years. His approach is to “teach the sport and coach the person”. Culture, teamwork, and progress are the foundation of his philosophy with a focus on fun. He believes that cross country training is the groundwork for all sports and encourages young athletes to embrace stamina, speed, recovery, strength and nutrition training for life-long health.

Josh Vance

Coach Vance teaches Art and coaches the boys cross country / track & field teams at Westview Hills. The boys cross country team has qualified for state 12 years in a row. They won their first state championship in 2024 and finished as state runner-up in 2025. Coach Vance ran competitively in middle school, high school, and college and feels fortunate that many of his college running teammates are also coaches in the suburbs. His coaching focus is teaching our young runners to set goals and help them work towards achieving them. Mental toughness and sportsmanship are prioritized during our season. We have created a team atmosphere where every runner feels welcome and prepared to succeed while having fun and learning a new sport.

Kate DeProsperis

Kate has been an active figure in the Illinois running community for more than 30 years as both an athlete and coach. Kate competed for Lyons Township in both cross country and track and field, earning All-State and Junior Olympic All-American honors through the 4 x 800 meter relays. She ran cross country and track and field at the University of Notre Dame focusing on middle distance. She sought further running challenges, and after college signed up for a marathon. Over the span of 20 years of post-collegiate road racing, Kate gradually dropped over an hour from her debut marathon and qualified for her first U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials in 2012 in Houston, TX. Kate was the only Illinois woman to compete at the 2012 Olympic Marathon Team Trials. After taking a hiatus to have children she came back to run two more Olympic Trials Qualifiers and competed in the 2020 U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials in Atlanta, GA, as a mom and masters runner (over 40 years old). Kate has retired from competitive running and takes joy in coaching athletes using her experiences to help others achieve their running goals. Kate has more than 10 years of coaching experiences and carries USATF Level 1 Run Coach and SafeSport Certifications.

Ryan Jaskiewicz

Ryan Jaskiewicz brings a wealth of experience and passion for running to the West Suburban Harriers. His running journey began earnestly in 2007 with the Chicago Marathon, and he has since participated in well over 15 marathons, including a personal best of 2:26 in Berlin in 2022. Ryan’s dedication to the sport is evident in his personal records, with a 5K best of 15:07 and a half marathon time of 69:17. In 2024, he won the USATF Masters Indoor National Championship in the 3000m with a time of 8:56, achieved at age 40. He continues to compete and improve with the DWRunning Elite Team.Ryan focuses on fostering a supportive team environment, emphasizing consistent training, proper technique, and mental strength. His goal is to help each athlete achieve their personal best while developing a lifelong love for running. Outside of his running achievements, Ryan is a devoted father of three and the founder of a finance company. He is eager to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with the West Suburban Harriers, inspiring and guiding young runners on their athletic journeys.

Audrey Borling

Audrey is thrilled to join the Harriers coaching staff. Coach Borling currently teaches and coaches cross country at Gurrie Middle School in La Grange. She discovered her love of running and racing at Downers Grove North High School, then competed for Indiana University in both cross country and track. While at Indiana, Coach Borling earned All-Big Ten honors in cross country, and was a Big Ten champion and All-American in the 3000-meter steeplechase on the track, where she also competed in the 1500 and 5000 meters. She has run several marathons and half-marathons post-collegiately and has hopes of running another marathon in the future. Her passion is now coaching young athletes to foster their love of this incredible sport and build relationships with teammates!

Jason Wagner

Jason Wagner has been a competitive endurance athlete for 35 years. A product of Joe Newton’s Long Green Line, the legendary York High School cross-country and track coach and 1988 Olympic middle-distance coach, Jason is a 2x IHSA State cross-country champion (Top-7 member of ’91 and ’92 squads). Other athletic achievements include: All-American status for cycling at the University of Wisconsin in 1998, rank 11th in the US; 12x American Birkebeiner cross-country ski finisher; 12x Chicago Marathon finisher; 1x Boston Marathon finisher; and 1x Ironman Wisconsin finisher. Jason is currently the XC Coordinator at St. Francis Xavier and has been part of Coach John Mulholland’s cross-country and track programs for the past 7 years as an Assistant Coach. ‘Coaching today’s generation of young runners is just a small way to say Thank You to all the great coaches and athletes that were such a positive influence on my endurance activities and successes.’

Peter Soung

Peter began running in 2009, embracing the journey as an adult-onset runner. Over the years, he has developed a passion for endurance events, completing 14 marathons along with numerous half marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks. In the past five years, Peter has taken a more focused approach to training, working with coaches from Microcosm Running to enhance performance and achieve personal goals. This dedication has not only improved his own running but also deepened his understanding of effective training methodologies. Peter has discovered both personal and professional benefits through running and is eager to help others tap into these same rewards. He is an active member of the Chicago running community, regularly volunteering at local Parkrun events and major Chicago races. He's currently exploring a leadership role within the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA). Outside of running, Peter is a co-founder of Sprout Social, a public software company based in Chicago, and a proud dad of two daughters

Grace Mayer

Grace began running at Lagrange Highlands and continued at Lyons Township High School in both cross country and track. Fun fact: She was one of the first female competitors in the Distance Night Special Olympics in Palatine. She is now coaching cross country at Gurrie, and her work at Peak Running has also given her a wealth of knowledge about the sport. Grace hopes to run a half-marathon in the near future.

Kate Borho

Kate began running track and cross country at St. Pius X in 5th grade and is going to be a freshman at Willowbrook High School. She competed at the IESA State Championship three years in a row. Kate earned 5th place in state for Class A in both 7th and 8th grade. Kate was a member of the St. Pius X cross country team, earning the title of Class A State Champions in 2023 and Class A State Runner-Up in 2024. Kate also plays basketball and volleyball and was awarded All-Conference for volleyball in 8th grade. Kate represented the West Suburban Harriers at CCCNYC two years in a row, earning top 25 her 8th grade year. She also represented West Suburban Harriers at Detweiller at Dark in Peoria, earning top 25 in her division. Kate has always enjoyed her Harriers seasons and she is looking forward to coaching in the summer season!

Will Caldwell

Will is a dedicated 14-year-old runner with a passion for pushing limits and achieving new personal bests. Despite being diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic condition that affects the digestive system, Will continues to excel in his athletic pursuits. Crohn’s may present challenges, but Will has learned to manage his health while balancing the demands of training, school, and life. Whether racing on the track, competing in cross-country meets, or training for upcoming events, Will inspires others with his determination and positive attitude. When he is not running, Will is, mostly likely, listening to music. He loves going to concerts, especially when it's his favorite band, Pearl Jam. Will shows that with strength, perseverance, and a love for the sport, anything is possible, and his athletic journey is just getting started.

Kevin DeBoni

Kevin will be a sophomore at Benet Academy this fall and competes for both their cross country and track teams. Kevin’s passion for running began in 5th grade at St. Isaac Jogues running both cross country and track. He was on their 2023 state qualifying team for the IESA State Championship. He placed second in the Frosh/Soph race in the ESCC conference championship during his Freshman year. Kevin has been a member of the West Suburban Harriers since 2023 and began coaching for the Junior Harriers last summer

Abby Fijal

Abby is a freshman at Nazareth Academy where she competes on the cross country and track teams. She started her cross country journey as a 5th grader at St. Francis Xavier in LaGrange. Abby has also been a member of the West Suburban Harriers since 2021. She qualified for the IESA State Championship Team in 5th, 7th, and 8th grade. During her 8th grade year, her team took 9th in State Championship. She looks forward to coaching the next generation of Harriers.

Margie Gilmartin

Margie is a freshman at St. Ignatius College Prep where she competes on the cross country and track teams. She is a graduate of Notre Dame School . During all four years of middle school, she ran Cross Country and Track and Field. Her love for running has grown and expanded under Coach Darrow’s teaching.

Molly Gilmartin

Molly is a senior at Hinsdale Central where she runs on the track team. Molly has qualified for the IHSA State Track championship in multiple events. A graduate of Notre Dame School, Molly participated in cross country and track from 5th-8th grade. In 2022, Molly was voted Suburban Parochial League (SPL) Track Co-Athlete of the Year in recognition of her league championships in the 75M Dash, 100M Dash, and 400M Relay. In addition to running, Molly likes basketball, tumbling, volleyball, and cheerleading. She is looking forward to coaching younger students and hopes to instill a love of healthy competition in the aspiring athlete.

Kennedy Hartman

Kennedy will be a freshman at Lyons Township High School this fall. Kennedy started running cross country for Gurrie Middle School during her 6th grade year and developed a passion for the sport. She ran on Gurrie's IESA State team during both her 7th and 8th grade years when her team finished in 5th place both years. Kennedy has been running with the Harriers since 6th grade and has loved making friends and meeting new runners from other schools through Harriers. Her favorite race was running at Nationals with the Harriers in the CCCNYC race in Knoxville, TN in 2025. Kennedy is excited to coach the next generation of Harriers this summer.

Sydney Hartman

Sydney's passion for running started in 5th grade when she joined the Harriers program. She has run with Harriers every year through 8th grade, including running at the national CCCNYC race in Knoxville, TN in 2025. Sydney's favorite part of Harriers was working with the amazing coaches, and she's excited to help coach the Junior Harriers this summer. Sydney also ran cross country for Gurrie Middle School during 6th through 8th grade. Sydney ran at State on Gurrie's IESA team during 7th and 8th grade when the team finished 5th place both years. Sydney will be a freshman at Lyons Township High School in fall 2026 where she plans to run both cross country and track.

Kate Lowe

Kate began running in 6th grade at CHMS where she participated on both the XC and Track & Field teams. She has participated in Harriers yearly since 6th grade and is excited to return this summer as a Junior Harriers coach. Kate will be a sophomore at Hinsdale Central High School in the Fall where she runs both XC and Track & Field.

Ben Marks

Ben is currently a freshman at Benet where he competes on the cross country & track teams. He is a graduate of St. Joan of Arc School in Lisle. He qualified for the IESA State XC Championship in 2023, where he finished tied for 50th. In track, Ben runs the 1600m and 800m. Ben will be a sophomore at Benet Academy in the Fall where he intends to continue running both cross country and track. Ben joined the Harriers in the Summer of 2022 and is looking forward to continuing this year as a Junior Harriers coach.

Cait Maguire

Cait is a current 8th grader at Notre Dame School. She has participated in cross country for the past three years, she has also run track and Harriers and enjoyed every minute. Cait will be a freshman at Benet Academy in Fall and will continue her journey in Cross Country while at Benet.

Jacob McKillop

Jacob McKillop is currently a freshman at York High School. He started running and competing in races when he was 5 years old, and ever since he has not stopped. He enjoyed running in the Suburban Parochial League for 4 years for Visitation Catholic School. Jacob currently participates in cross country, swim and track at York High School and is excited to be a part of the Harriers.

Joseph McKillop

Joseph McKillop is currently a freshman at York High School. Joey started running competitively at an early age. He ran XC and track for Visitation Catholic School where he was apart of a state winning team. Joey is on the swim team and track team at York and will be running XC in the fall. Joey enjoyed running for Harriers and is excited about coaching.

Maggie Morrissey

MaMaggie Morrissey is currently a freshman at Nazareth Academy where she competes on both the cross country and track teams. She is a graduate of St. John of the Cross. Maggie started cross country running in 5th grade, loves running distance, and enjoys being faster than her father. Maggie has been on the West Suburban Harriers team for 2 years. She placed as the 2nd female runner at the 2024 Love Like Sean 5K race.

Megan Monteleone

Megan is currently a sophomore at Hinsdale Central. She has been running with the West Suburban Harriers since 2021. Along with the Harriers, she competed on the Hinsdale Middle School cross country and track teams. She learned great techniques, made great friends, enjoyed the competitions and had successful races. She is thrilled to pass on her knowledge, to help the younger kids grow and love the sport as much as she does.

James Mowrer

James will be a junior this fall at Montini Catholic High School. His main sport is lacrosse. He plays lacrosse for Montini and has played travel lacrosse since the third grade. James also enjoyed running in middle school for his Notre Dame Cross Country team. He has coached the Junior Harriers for two years. He is excited to coach Harriers again this summer.

Olivia Mowrer

Olivia has helped coaching the Harriers for four years now. She is a graduate of Notre Dame School where she competed in both cross country and track since 5th grade. She continued to run cross country her freshman year at Nazareth Academy and returned to Notre Dame to help coach the cross country team in 2023 and 2024. She is now a sophomore at Clemson University where she is majoring in mechanical engineering and she is really looking forward to coaching and having the opportunity to share her love of running with the athletes again this summer.

Corrin Ponto

Corrin began running in 6th grade with Clarendon Hills Middle School’s cross country team. She joined track in 7th grade and has continued with both sports since. She previously also participated in the Harriers program for four seasons. She is an incoming freshman at Hinsdale Central, and can’t wait to participate in track and cross country in high school.

Sarah Read

Sarah is currently a freshman at Benet Academy where she competes on the cross country and track teams. She is a graduate of St. Mary of Gostyn. Sarah She has been participating in track and cross country since fifth grade and she loves to run. While running cross country for St. Mary’s, she competed at the IESA State XC Championship where her team placed fourth in State. Sarah is the defending 800 meter champion in the Suburban Parochial League. Sarah has been participating in Harriers since 2023, and she is excited to help out as a coach!

Cate Riberto

Cate Riberto has been part of the Harriers program for the past three years. She is a three-time IESA State Cross Country qualifier for Gurrie Middle School, with her team placing 5th overall in each of the past two seasons. Cate will attend Nazareth Academy this fall, where she plans to compete in both cross country and track. In addition to her running achievements, she is a 2025 DEKA FIT Youth/Adult Team World Champion.

Luke Sarb

Coming soon!

Conrad Sigmund

Conrad Sigmund is a freshman at Hinsdale Central where he is a member of the track team. A former Harrier, Conrad participated in XC and track at CHMS where he started focusing on sprinting. He is excited to join as a coach this summer!

Natalie Sullivan

Natalie is a current sophomore at Hinsdale Central where she competes on the cross country and track teams. She is also on the JV Basketball Poms team and is in her 7th year of competitive dance at Impact Dance studio. This will be Natalie’s 3rd summer coaching with the Harriers program and she can’t wait to reunite with the kids!

Rory Sullivan

Rory is a rising freshman at Hinsdale Central and has been running with the West Suburban Harriers program for the past five years. She competed as the top XC runner in her grade at CHMS, contributing to 2 conference championships while there. Rory is also a competitive rock climber at Vertical Endeavors in Glenview Heights. She is so excited to coach the Junior Harriers this summer!

Savannah Trench

Savannah will graduate from Notre Dame School in May, where she ran cross country the last four years. She plans on attending Benet Academy in the Fall while continuing cross country, soccer, and singing. Savannah has also been participating in the West Suburban Harriers since 2021 and is looking forward to coaching this summer!

Claire Twohy

Claire Twohy will be a sophomore at Fenwick High School where she competes on the cross country and track teams. She is a graduate of Immaculate Conception Grade School. During her time at IC Grade School, Claire competed in both cross country and track for all four years. Claire earned SPL all-conference honors in cross country for three consecutive years (6th-8th grade) and qualified for the IESA state meet in her 7th and 8th grade seasons. She holds the school record in the 1600m run. Claire loved being a West Suburban Harrier and is excited to coach Jr. Harriers this summer!

Elsa Voight

Elsa is currently a freshman at Hinsdale Central. She is a graduate of Clarendon Hills Middle School where she competed in cross country and track. She has been a part of the West Suburban Harriers club since summer of 2021. In addition to running, Elsa also enjoys dancing competitively and participates in a number of school and community activities, such as the National Charity League. She loves running and is looking forward to helping out with coaching.