1A ready for new faces in the front

 

By Michael Newman

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Photo – Christopher Collet will be one of the top 1A runners in the state this fall (Laura Duffy Photo)

 

What do you get when you graduate three state champions like Wyatt McIntyre, Logan Hall, and Jack MacNabola? The answer is a mystery of who will be the top runner in 1A that most likely will not be answered until November 3.

Those three runners from last year defined Class 1A running during the track and cross-country seasons. It is hard to say if there one runner that will step out during the first month of the season. It would have been Riley Wells. The senior will not be a factor in this classification since Rockford Christian was moved to Class 2A for the 2018-2019 running year.

It will be a process of elimination during this season. It could be Justin Mumford of Trenton-Wesclin who is the top returning runner from 2017. Christopher Collet of Seneca, Garrett Dixon of Monticello, or Dawson Smith of Rock Falls are runners that could have a say in November.

Here is a look at some of the top runners that you can expect to see in the front this fall.

 

1 – Justin Mumford

SO – Trenton-Wesclin

Notes – The top returning runner from last year’s state meet. Mumford ran 15:06 for sixth-place at Detweiller. Mumford won races at Edwardsville, the East Alton-Wood River Invitational, and the 1A New Athens Regional. Justin qualified for the state track meet in the 3200 Meter Run. He finished 14^th in the state finals running 9:56.46 as a freshman. Good things are ahead for Mumford during the next three years.

 

2 – Christopher Collet

SR – Seneca

Notes – Finished ninth in the 1A State Meet last November running 15:12. Collet picked up big wins at the Interstate Eight Conference Meet and the 1A Seneca Regional. Christopher finished second at the 1A Oregon Sectional three seconds behind Rockford Christian’s Riley Wells. Collet earned all-state honors on the track finishing seventh in the 1A State Meet in the 3200 Meter Run. He also qualified for the finals at state in the 1600 Meter Run where he finished 11^th in the finals. Ran personal bests in the 1600 Meter Run (4:28.63 for 1-Mile at Magis Miles) and 9:51.09 for 3200-meters running that in his sectional race. Ran 9:51.16 in his state race.

“Christopher has been extremely focused this summer,” said his coach Kim Foster. “He wants to be in the 14s at state this year. He ran Detweiller at Dark last month and finished 15th with a time of 15:31. With some speed work this season, he should definitely reach his goals.  He will obviously be a leader for the boys.”

 

3 – Garrett Dixon

SR – Monticello

Notes – Ran 15:12 to finish 11^th at the 1A State Meet. Dixon did win at the Amboy Columbus Day Invitational ahead of graduated teammate Alex Helmuth and Seneca’s Christopher Collet.  Dixon did not run in the 2018 track season. He does have personal bests of 4:33.75 for 1600-meters and 9:39.32 for 3200-meters during the 2017 track season.

“Garrett Dixon impressed me a lot this summer,” said his coach David Remmert. “He has always been a grinder, but this summer he developed into a leader.  We need more of that.  His training over the summer has been really good and I’m looking forward to his season especially. He is a special talent and the most driven kid I have ever coached.  He works especially hard to develop the talent he has.  He has matured as a person a lot over the last year, is more patient, and listens better.  I’m really looking forward to his season.”

 

4 – Dawson Smith

JR – Rock Falls

Notes – Finished 15^th in the 1A State Meet running 15:17. Smith ran 15:10.9 to win the First to the Finish Invitational in September. He also picked up wins at the Rock Falls Rocket Run, and the 1A Rock Falls Sectional. Smith finished fourth in the 1A Oregon Sectional. Spencer earned all-state honors when he finished ninth in the 2A State Meet for 3200-meters. Smith ran his personal best at that distance (9:28.19) at Distance Night in Palatine. He also ran a 4:31.41 personal best for 1600-meters. “Dawson has particularly impressed me beating Jake Gebhardt at the Reagan Run in Dixon this summer,” said Rock Falls Coach Mark Truesdell.  In a wide-open 1A season, Smith should be among the best in this classification.

 

5 – Jackson Stewart

SR – Decatur St. Teresa

Notes – Injuries slowed Stewart down during the 2018 outdoor season. He did run 10:20.71 to finish 13^th at Illinois Top Times in March. His cross-country season was notable as he finished 11^th in the 1A state finals running 15:16 at Detweiller Park. During the regular season, he finished no worse than fifth in the 10 races he competed in before the state meet. Picked up wins at the HCA Fall Classic, El Paso-Gridley Invitational, Elmwood-Brimfield Invitational, and the Central Illinois Conference Meet. Finished second at the First to the Finish Invitational last September.

 

6 – Leland Sumer

JR – Tremont

Notes – Finished 20^th in the 1A state meet running 15:23. Sumner finished in the top five during the fall at the Dunlap Invitational (5^th), St. Joseph-Ogden Spartan Classic (5^th), and the Elmwood-Brimfield Invitational (3^rd). Qualified for state individually finishing ninth at the 1A Elmwood-Brimfield Sectional. Ran on Tremont’s 3200 Meter Relay team during the track season and earned all-state honors as his team finished sixth in the 1A finals. Sumner achieved personal bests of 4:39.58 for 1600-meters and 10:26.15 for 3200-meters.

“Leland is always motivated and driven to become the best he can be,” said Tremont Coach Mike Lynn. The temptation to over train is more of a concern than under training.”

 

7 – Spencer Mauch

SR – Sterling Newman Catholic

Notes – Finished 22^nd in the 1A State Meet last fall running 15:24 at Detweiller Park. Mauch picked up invitational wins during the season at the Gary Coates Invitational, TRAC Conference Championships, and the Roger Schmidt Invitational. Mauch qualified for the 1A Boys State Meet at 1600-meters running 4:37.13 to win the 1A Erie-Prophetstown Sectional. Ran 4:37.15 in the state prelims.

“Both Spencer and Shay (Hafner) have been running strong this summer,” Coach Patrick Warkins said. “They have ramped up their mileage from last summer and both appear to be much stronger. Results from Detweiller at Dark show that they are close to what they ran at the state meet last year. Both are great leaders. They should have great seasons based on what they have shown this summer.”

 

8 – Negus Bogard

JR – Robinson

Notes – Transferred from Hutsonville-Palestine to Robinson during the summer. During his sophomore season at Hutsonville/Palestine, Bogard just missed all-state finishing 27^th in the 1A State Meet. He picked up wins at the Lawrenceville Invitational and the 1A St. Anthony Regional. In his track season, Bogard won all three of the distance races at the 1A Newton Sectional. He ran 9:49.20 to finish fifth in the 1A 3200 Meter Run. Bogard also qualified for the 1600 Meter Run finals. He ran 4:24.37 in the prelims. “Negus is an amazing natural talent with a drive to be the best,” said his Palestine coach Caleb Will. “We will probably try to enter Negus in at least one other large meet,” said Robinson Coach Tony Cork. This junior is on the verge of doing some great things this fall. Winning a state title is not out of the question.

 

9 – Evan Horn

JR – Williamsville

Notes – Another up and coming junior that could make some noise this fall. Horn did not make it to state last fall finishing 16^th at the 1A Elmwood-Brimfield Sectional. Evan was part of Williamsville’s 3200 Meter Relay that finished seventh in the 1A State Finals. Horn ran personal bests for 800-meters (2:08.40) and 1600-meters (4:46.10) during the track season. I just have a hunch that he could finish in the top ten this November.

 

10 – Noah McIntyre

JR – Athens

Notes – A junior ready to step out of his brother’s state championship to do some great things in the next two years. Noah finished 28^th during the fall in the 1A State Meet as his team’s second runner. “Noah is looking great,” said Coach Kerry Trueblood. “I think he might have a chance at a top ten finish.” McIntyre qualified for the 1A State Meet for 800-meters and 1600-meters. He ran seasonal bests of 2:01.29 for 800-meters, 4:36.94 for 1600-meters. His personal best for 1600-meters is 4:31.24 achieved his freshman season.

 

11 – Noah Smith

SR – El Paso-Gridley

Notes – Finished 48^th in the 1A State Meet as El Paso-Gridley’s top runner in 2017. He should lead this team again this fall. He had a good track season finishing sixth in the 3200 Meter Run in the 1A State Meet running 9:49.72. Smith also achieved a personal best of 4:27.19 for 1600-meters. “Noah Smith had a conservative but consistent summer,” said EP-G Coach Michael Mellick. “He is ready to have a break-out fall.”

 

 

12 – Kort McClellan

SR – Toledo Cumberland

Notes – Has finished in the top 30 in all three state cross-country meets that he has run in. Kort finished 29^th at state last year, 12^th in the 1A state race in 2016, and 27^th as a freshman in 2015.  McClellan ran a seasonal best of 10:33.30 for 3200-meters last spring. His personal best for the distance came when he ran 10:11.29 in the 2017 1A State Meet.

 

13 – Matt Laws

SR – Rock Falls

Notes – Laws will sneak up on runners this fall after finishing 36^th in the 1A State Meet in 2017.  Matt ran personal bests of 4:43.17 for 1600-meters and 10:27.14 for 3200-meters last spring. “Matt is coming off a productive track season (played baseball last year) and has put in good miles this summer,” said Rock Falls coach Mark Truesdell.

 

14 – Kyle Johnson

SR – Eureka

Notes – Top runner for the Hornets again this fall. Johnson finished 35^th in the 1A State Meet last November. Johnson achieved top five finishes in the Prairie Central Invitational and the Eureka Invitational. Kyle ran personal bests of 4:41.19 for 1600-meters and a seasonal best of 10:11.32 for 3200-meters. He ran a 10:09.10 personal best his sophomore year in 2017. “He had his best summer of mileage and is excited and ready for his senior season,” said Eureka Coach Olivia Morris. “He attended a running camp in Wisconsin this summer that has also been beneficial for him.”

 

15 – Isaiah Ditta

JR – Clifton Central

Notes – The Comets will be one of the top 1A teams this season. One of the reasons could be because of Ditta. He came on strong at the end of the year finishing second at the 1A McNamara Regional, fourth at the 1A Lisle Sectional, and 39^th at the 1A State Meet.  Ditta qualified for the 1A State Track Meet in the 1600 and 3200 Meter Run. He ran 10:07.45 to finish 16^th in the 3200 Meter Run. Ditta ran 4:39.44 in the prelims of the 1600 Meter Run.

 

16 – Koby Brackemeyer

JR – Morrison

Notes – Known more for his exploits on the track, Brackmeyer could do some noticeable things on the course this fall. He was part of Morrison’s winning 3200 Meter Relay in the 1A State Track Meet and the team’s seventh-place finish in the 1600 Meter Relay. Brackemeyer also qualified for the 800 Meter Run finishing 10^th in the finals. he achieved personal bests for the 800 Meter Run (1:57.79) and the 1600 Meter Run (4:33.42 for 1-Mile @ Magis Miles). He finished 40^th in last November’s 1A State Meet. Look for him in the front this fall.

 

17 – Layton Hall

SO – Arthur-Lovington-Atwood

Notes – The best is yet to come for this sophomore. His brother was Logan Hall who did some great things the past four years at Arthur Lovington. Layton finished 59^th in the 1A State Meet after finishing 10^th last October in the 1A Carlinville Sectional. Hall qualified for the 3200 Meter Run at last spring’s 1A state meet. He finished 18^th in that race. Hall ran 10:06.91 in his sectional race. He also achieved a personal best of 4:53.44 for 1600-meters.

 

18 – Andrew Cation

SR – Farmington

Notes – One of those runners to keep an eye on in an open 1A classification this fall. Cation finished 21^st at the Elmwood-Brimfield Sectional and did not make it to Detweiller Park. This year he should make his step forward. Andrew achieved personal bests for 800-meters (2:03.04) and ran a personal best of 4:40.38 for 1600-meters at the Peoria Journal Star Honor Roll Meet.

 

19 – Matt Gedraitis

SR – Westmont

Notes – In his third year at Westmont after attending Benet Academy his freshman season. Qualified for the state meet last fall placing 45^th. He finished 13^th at the First to the Finish Invitational last September. Gedraitis ran a personal best 10:39.44 for 3200-meters at the 1A Seneca Sectional.

 

20 – Isiah McCune

SR – St. Joseph-Ogden

Notes – Steps into the top spot for the Spartans in 2018. McCune finished 51^st in the 1A State Meet last November. Isiah ran personal bests of 4:44.98 for 1600-meters and 10:25.22 for 3200-meters. “Isiah has had a good summer,” said his coach Jason Retz. “Looking to be the leader of this team, he will need to continue to lead by example.  He has been a great teammate this summer building chemistry on this young inexperienced team.”