The future is bright, with the present a lot of fun. Cathedral High School boys track and field turned in a foundation-building season in 2026 – with a young team achieving at a high level and setting a tone moving forward. “We’re pretty pumped about this group,” John O’Hara said. The Irish in O’Hara’s 10th season as boys track and field coach qualified two events for the 2026 Indiana High School Athletic Association state meet – part of a postseason featuring strong team and individual performances in various events. Freshman Cameron Berry qualified for the state meet at 100 meters, with the 4x100 meter relay team also qualifying for the state meet. “It was never a chore,” O’Hara said of working with the ’26 Irish boys track team. “It was always, ‘All right, here's the workout, here's what we're going to do, and let's put in some work. Let's have some fun. Let's tell some jokes. Let's talk to each other and have a good time.’ “When the kids lean into the work and realize how hard it is going to be and trust the coaching staff, the training program and each other, it usually goes pretty well.” The Irish in 2026 were keyed by what O’Hara called “great senior leadership” from longtime varsity runners such as Jimmy Pappas and Jimmy Saul, as well as new addition senior Adam Ayers. The addition of junior sprinter Brady Windle after basketball season also was critical. “Those seniors showed up to practice, work and younger kids look to them,” O’Hara said. “That’s a really, really big deal.” O’Hara called the seniors “a great group of kids.” “You have kids like Nolan McCracken and Alexander Batt, who have been unbelievable leaders,” O’Hara said. “It was a group of seniors that you never really worried about. You never were like, ‘Man, are they going to show up to practice or are they doing the right thing at school or at mass?’ “They put their heads down. They did their work. They brought others along with them. They made the community better. They made their program better. It's kudos to not only them as people, but also their parents and their families. It's a pretty special group.” Berry won the 100 meters at the Region 6 meet at Greenfield-Central in 10.70 to qualify for the state meet, with the 4x100 relay team – Pappas, Berry, Ayers and Windle – finishing second in 41.57 at the regional to advance. Freshman Tate Bushong finished eighth in the 300-meter hurdles at regional in 41.70, with the 4x400 relay team – Pappas, Ayers, Saul and freshman Aj Crenshaw – finishing 10th in 3:27.75. The 4x800 relay team – junior Hayes Eneix, freshman Chase Garber, Saul and freshman Miles Cole – finished 10th in 8:37.64. The Irish finished sixth at the Section 21 meet at Lawrence Central with 32 points, with Berry winning the 100 meters in 10.65. Other Cathedral athletes placing at sectional: Junior Xavier Dangerfield (100 meters, seventh, 11.33), Garber (800 meters, ninth, 2:08.99), Eneix (800 meters, 13th, 2:13.62), Cole (1,600 meters, 12th, 4:57.15), freshman Cole Bakemeyer (1,600 meters, 14th, 4:57.96), freshman Kade Miller (3,200 meters, 11th, 10:54.59), Batt (3,200 meters, 14th, 11:42.02), Bushong (300 meter hurdles, third, 41.92), junior Coi Tinnin (high jump, ninth, 5-6), junior Jack Corcoran (high jump, ninth, 5-6), junior Evan Johnson (long jump, 10th, 19-11), senior Connor McNally (pole vault, sixth, 10-6), senior Max Byrd (discus, 16th, 102-11) and Byrd (shot put, 14th, 36-5). The 4x100 meter relay finished third in 42.14 at sectional, with the 4x400 meter relay finishing third in 3:29.07 and the 4x800 meter relay fourth in 8:52.62. Also competing in the sectional for the Irish: Crenshaw (200 meters) and junior Caden Nelson (200 meters). The Irish finished second in the Indianapolis City meet with 97 points behind Bishop Chatard (173 pounds). Berry won the city title in the 100 with a time of 10.62 seconds, with the 4x100 relay team winning with a time of 42.24. Berry’s 10.62 was a state record for freshmen. “He’s the fastest freshman state history, which is a pretty cool accomplishment,” O’Hara said. “You don't see guys running that fast when they're freshmen. It’s usually junior-senior year. He was awesome, to come into the program and just mold right into what everybody's been doing already. “He has taken to coaching really well. We didn't overdo it at the beginning and he peaked at the right time. He’s a great kid, first and foremost and he's going to be a special one if he keeps doing the right things.” The Irish in 2026 remained strong in sprints and jumps, with four freshmen in distance events at sectional. “We’re excited about this group,” he said. “They have the mental acumen. They all run cross country and do track. Keeping that crew together is going to be really important, but I think next year and the year after, we'll be talking about them in pretty high praise. “I don't think we've ever entered six-to-eight freshmen in sectionals, not just to enter them, but they're competing. They’re scoring points. They could be doing something special in three or four years.”