By Michael Newman

[email protected]

The storyline in the 2A Boys classification this spring has been an area of opportunity for athletes to step into the state spotlight. This is the case in the distance events. Well, almost.

The 800 Meter Run looked to be open for anyone to win right after the 2018 state meet. Ended. There was only one all-state runner back, Chris Gilbert of Peoria Notre Dame. That was until Rockford Christian moved to 2A. That added two-time 1A champion Riley Wells to the mix in the 800 and maybe the 1600.

Matthias Powell of Mahomet-Seymour could be the class of the field in the longer distance events especially after his dominating performance last November when he won the 2A State Cross Country Championship. That could change during the outdoor season. Adam Gilbreath-Glaub of Metamora passed Powell on the final straight in winning the 3200 Meter Run last May. Injuries slowed down the junior this cross-country season. Gilbreath-Glaub still earned all-state honors by finishing 22^nd overall.

There will be a new champion in the 3200 Meter Relay since 2018 champion Normal University was moved up to 3A. There could be some many possible teams to contend for that relay including, yes, Rockford Christian.

Here is a look of what we could see this season in the three 2A Boys distance events. We also will take a look at what we could see in the 4 x 800 Meter Relay during this preview.

3200 Meter Run

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – The rematch between defending champion Adam Gilbreath-Glaub and Mathias Powell is intriguing especially if both qualify again in this event. Powell ran 9:14.76 last year at Distance Night in Palatine. Gilbreath-Glaub peaked at the right time for state last year dropping his best from 9:40.31 to a winning 9:20.62 at Charleston. Powell finished just 34 hundredths of a second behind. Powell ran with great confidence during the fall. Gilbreath-Glaub will be out to prove something when he gets to May.

Dawson Smith is the only other athlete back that made the podium when he finished ninth. The junior has a 9:28.19 best and could be close to Powell and AGG. After Smith, there is a 23 second drop-off before a pack of seven runners within seven seconds of each other. Austin Ames, Ryan Jones, Collin Grady, Ethan Cherry, and Casmir Cozzi are some of the runners in that group that could close the gap between the three all-state runners. Garrett Dixon missed all of last track season to injury. He ran 9:39 as a sophomore to finish ninth in the 2A finals. After his second-place finish last November at the 1A State finals at Detweiller Park, it is a good bet that we see Dixon near the front when we get to May and the state series.

800 Meter Run

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – Instead of a battle for a state title, this event could come down for a battle for second. Riley Wells proved the last two years that he can race against any runner regardless the size of the school. It is the size of the heart that this runner has especially at the end of the race where he can kick down anyone at any time. Wells won the 1A title at this distance his sophomore and junior seasons and could make it three in a row in 2A this May. Injuries slowed down Wells at the end of cross-country season where he was unable to finish in the state meet. That moment might push him to faster times before we get to Charleston.

If there is one runner that will push Wells, it would be Chris Gilbert. He did run 1:56.31 during last season as well as finishing eighth in the state finals. He is the only runner back from that race.

There are only two other runners back in this distance that had seasonal bests under two-minutes. Wells’ teammate Brent Brunner as well as Jacob Gray can boast of those sub-two times and will be in the mix for a high finish. It is extremely open after that with 30 runners that are capable of finishing in the top nine in this coming May’s state finals. Kaden Rink, Payton Borich, and Eli Steinbeck are some of the runners that will be chasing after a state medal.

1600 Meter Run

Top Athletes from 2018

Outlook – Daniel Chen should be the class of this event this spring. He ran a personal best of 4:20.19 to finish third in last year’s finals. He finished seventh in this event as a sophomore. Riley Wells has the next closest time (4:21.87) but I doubt that he will double back from the 800 at state. Both runners could at some time this season go under 4:20. Chen is a runner that has not received the attention that he deserves. He also has been all-state twice in cross-country with his best finish eighth last November. He will get that attention this spring.

John Bruce finished 10^th in last year’s finals after running for Marion in the 3200 Meter Relay. Bruce missed all of his cross-country season due to injury. Brent Brunner finished sixth last fall in the 1A finals. These are the two only runners, besides Chen, that have state finals experience.

There is a good group of athletes that will be difference makers in this event. Mathias Powell, Hunter Roedell, Eli Ward, and Christopher Cherry all return with best times under 4:30. The door is open for anyone to jump into the spotlight for this event.

4x800 Meter Relay

2018 Champion – Normal University – 7:52.17

Early Outlook – There will be a new champion in this relay since Normal University will be running this spring in 3A. Burlington Central may have the edge returning three from last year’s sixth-place team. Marion, Waterloo, St. Francis, Dixon, Metamora, Mt. Zion, and Sycamore all made last year’s finals and return two from their quartets.

I would also keep an eye on Rockford Christian. The Royal Lions finished fifth in last year’s 1A finals and return all of their runners from that team. That did not include 800 Meter Champion Riley Wells. Rockford Christian should be contending for the 2A team title. We could see Wells in this event to get his team more points. It’s just a guess. We will have a better idea when the sectional lineups come out in May.

Other relay teams to watch for this spring include Eureka, Geneseo, Monticello, and Troy Triad.