By Michael Newman

The next 18 months should be quite interesting in Illinois Boys distance running.

The indication of that started last year when Illinois runners were among the nation’s best with Sean Torpy having the fastest time nationally in the 800. Torpy and Jon Davis had some of the fastest times in the 1600 Meter Run. Davis looked strong in the post season winning the Festival of Miles and then the Brooks PR Invitational in the One Mile Run.

It grew a little more this past cross-country season when Neuqua Valley was among the top teams in the nation. Illinois had three All-Americans at the Nike Cross Nationals and Dylan Jacobs received a second All-American honor at the Foot Locker Nationals.

So, what is in store for Illinois distance runners this spring? 

All the 2016 state champions in the 3A distance events have graduated. That does not mean there is a lack of talent as we described above. All I am ready to do is watch some great runners run some great races at some great venues across this state.

800 Meter Run

Top 25 Returnees

Outlook – This event could be the most open or event of opportunity out of the three 3A distance events. Only three all-state runners from last year’s final return led by third place finisher Chris Conrad (O’Fallon, senior). He was one of the surprises of this event last year. He ran 1:55 the first week of April at the Belleville West Invitational. He showed his strength at the end of the year when he ran 1:51.99 at the 3A Collinsville Sectional and then his races at state. He has the fastest returning time by more than two seconds.

Thomas Mosley (Zion-Benton, senior) finished fifth while Isaiah Robinson (Neuqua Valley, senior) placed ninth. They are the other returning runners that finished in the top nine and had seasonal bests under 1:55. A runner to watch is Brian Griffith (Lake Zurich, senior) who made the finals last season. Griffith showed tremendous improvement last fall as he ran 14:14 to finish fifth at Detweiller Park as well as qualifying for the Foot Locker Nationals.

Evan Radomski (Whitney Young, senior) was part of his team’s 3200 Relay that just missed all-state honors by two hundredths of a second. He ran 1:54.15 at the Midwest Distance Classic in June as well as winning the 800 at the Illinois Top Times Championship indoors. This is one runner I would keep an eye on. There are a number if athletes to watch in this two- lap race including Charlie Kern (York, junior) and Vince Zona (Lyons Township, senior). My guess is that both will run the 1600 as well as helping their teams in the 3200 Relay. There is a long season ahead before anything is decided. Both runners have the talent to run under 1:54.

1600 Meter Run

Top 25 Returnees

Outlook – This is could be perhaps the most anticipated of all the events on the 3A calendar this spring. There is so much talent and so much anticipation on what could happen when we get to May and then beyond. Both Jack Aho (Grayslake Central, senior) and Soren Knudsen (Minooka, senior) both dipped under 4:10 for 1600 meters at the Festival of Miles five days after state. Aho ran 4:07.39 for 1600 (4:08.79 for 1 Mile) and Knudsen ran 4:08.70 for 1600 (4:10.17 for 1 Mile). The promise for great times again this spring is big for both runners especially the way that they ran this past fall.

Knudsen is the highest returning place finishing from last year’s state race (third) and leads four other returning all-state finishers. Aho finished ninth, but that was after placing second in the 3200. Irwin Loud (Oak Park-River Forest, senior) finished fourth in this event after finishing third in the 3200. He did not have his best state race last fall placing 28^th in Peoria. This could drive him to do some big things this spring. The other all-state finishers include Tyler Dau (Geneva, senior) who placed sixth and Reese Jordan (Maine South, senior) who finished seventh.

Charlie Kern and Dylan Jacobs both made the finals in this event but did not place in the top nine. Both ran in the 3200 Meter Relay earlier in the meet. We know what both these talented juniors did last fall. Jacobs finished third at state and then earned All-American honors in both the Nike Cross Nationals and the Foot Locker Nationals. Jacobs ran 4:15.81 at the Magis Miles a week after the state meet last June. He is running with more confidence with the possibility of a sub-4:10 mile in his future. Kern bounced back after his state race by running 4:15.67 at the Festival of Miles. Two weeks later at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, Kern ran a 4:10 anchor for 1600 meters to help his York team to a second-place finish in the Distance Medley. Kern ran 14:12 to finish fourth at state in Peoria. It will be exciting to see him go under 4:10 sometime this track season.

Lyons Township’s Danny Kilrea and Vince Zona ran under 4:15 for 1600 meters in post-season meets. Kilrea has the confidence from his 13^th place finish at the Nike Cross Nationals. It would not surprise me to see both at 4:10 or under this spring. Brian Leonard (Palatine, senior), Blake Evertsen (Hinsdale Central, senior), and Alec Danner (Downers Grove North, senior) all ran under 4:19 last spring. Watch for improvements from those runners also.

3200 Meter Run

Top 25 Returnees

Outlook – Jack Aho has finished third and second in this event at state the past two seasons. He would like to take that one more step to the top of the podium in his final senior campaign on the Big Blue Oval. Aho achieved a 9:00.70 personal best at his conference meet. Four other athletes earned all-state honors and are back including Irwin Loud who finished third, Blake Evertsen who finished sixth, Warren Blood (New Trier, senior) who finished seventh, and Danny Kilrea who finished eighth. It will be interesting to watch Kilrea run this event this spring. I think that he could go under nine minutes as well as Aho and Dylan Jacobs. I believe the Sandburg junior could find a time close to or under nine minutes this spring if he chooses to run in this event. He ran in the 3200 Relay and the 1600 at last year’s state meet. Jacobs also ran 9:19 at Downers Grove South last April.

Soren Knudsen ran 9:18 last spring but chose to concentrate on the 3200. The strength that he built up over the past year leads me to believe that there could be a sub nine for this distance in his future. Neuqua Valley’s Jackson Jett, Jake McEneaney, and Scott Anderson should all be under 9:20 in this event this track season. Matt Pereira (Lake Zurich, senior) was healthy this past cross-country season qualifying for the Foot Locker Nationals. He could be a difference maker in this event.

Sean MacGregor (York, junior), Caleb Washington (Shepard, senior), Matt Aho (Grayslake Central, senior) and Cole Barkocy Crystal Lake Central, senior) all could be surprises in this event. Aho and MacGregor are the only runners in this group that have not gone under 9:20 yet but do can achieve that. Watch for this group this spring.

3200 Meter Relay

It is hard to speculate who will be the team in charge in this event like it was last year when Sandburg had complete control of this relay. Their race at state was a memorable one when they broke the IHSA 3A record in the event. Who will be the team to watch this spring?

York and Lyons Township finished fifth and sixth a year ago and return two runners each from their teams. East St. Louis-Senior returns three from their ninth-place finish while Whitney Young returns three from their 10^th place squad. You can never count out Prospect who finished third a year ago. They only return James Riordan from last year’s team but have the depth to reload for this season. Neuqua Valley, Hersey, and Granite City are some of the teams that I would watch as the season progresses.