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2019 IHSA State Cross Country Championships - Class 3A Boys PreviewPublished by
2019 IHSA State Cross Country Championships - Class 3A Boys Preview
By Michael Newman
St. Charles East Coach Chris Bosworth made the awards ceremony a learning experience for his team. The Saints were supposed to be one of the top squads last season. Some misfortune led to the team placing fifth overall. Instead of leaving Detweiller Park, Bosworth made his team stay and watch other teams accept trophies that they wanted to accept. That moment has driven this team heading into Saturday’s final race of the day. East has been ranked at the top of the rankings most of the season and hard to catch. That chip on their shoulder from last year is ready to come off. They first have business to take care off. York has been running strong the past few weeks and is ready to challenge for the 29th state championship in the program’s history. Defending state champion Wheaton-Warrenville South would like to make it two years in a row. Teams like Sandburg, Hersey, and New Trier would like to have their say on who leaves Detweiller Park with the state championship trophy. The dynamics of the individual race will be different ever since the announcement on Monday that Lincoln-Way East’s Brett Gardner will not race due to a foot injury. Defending Class 3A state champion Josh Methner of Hersey will be the favorite. Methner and Gardner raced at the Richard Spring Invitational in September with Methner running 14:11 for the win more that two seconds ahead of Gardner. There are plenty of quality runners that could challenge Methner for the title. The top runner to challenge could be Jared Kreis of Lincoln-Way Central. The two runners have not raced each other this fall. They both raced against each other on the track with Kreis edging Methner at the line at Distance Night in Palatine. Methner returned the favor in Charleston when he pulled away from a pack including Kreis in the final 800-meters to win the 3200 Meter Run title. There are plenty of runners that we will see in the front in this race. Tyler Cushing of Bolingbrook and Guillermo Ibarra of Morton finished less than three seconds behind Kreis at First to the Finish. Bob Liking of St. Charles East finished third at Richard Spring and should be in the hunt in the front. Billy Hauenstein of Wheaton-Warrenville South is running hot and could be with the race leaders. Joey Kasch of Maine South, Jake Allen of Naperville North, Charlie Wetzel of Normal West, Ben and Will Giblin of Sandburg, Jack Ehlert of Lyons Township, and Daniel Klysh of York are some of the runners that you could see in the front.
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St. Charles (East)
Preview – This team has been on a mission all season lazar focused on what they need to do. Saturday will be what they hope will be a culmination of eliminating last year’s memories. Bob Liking is the top runner on this team with hopes of challenging for the individual state title. Micah Wilson has been a constant as the team’s second runner all year. He was 18 seconds behind Liking last week which was the biggest gap between the two runners all season. Aidan King and Zach Loomis have been interchangeable making this team even stronger. King was within three seconds of Wilson last week. Loomis was another eight seconds back. Luke Schildmeyer has been the team’s fifth runner after their second race this fall in Peoria. Their top five split has been over 40 seconds twice this season. Both of those races were run at Lake Park. The rest of the time the Saints have run splits between 33 to 35 seconds on their scorers. This pack might need to be closer together in this meet especially the way that York, Wheaton-Warrenville South, and Sandburg have been running. They could have three to four all state runners in their finish but that still might not be enough. A split of 30 seconds or faster might be the ticket for this team if they want to make their dreams come true.
Elmhurst (York)
Preview – After strong races in the past three weeks, York has found its mojo and is ready to take their racing to the next level. The Dukes had high expectations at the beginning of the season. Those were dashed with early season so-so type races. Their door opened with a win at Nike Valley Twilight when the team ran a 34 second top five split. That meet also singled the return of all-state runner Ethan Kern to the lineup. The senior missed the first month of the season to a minor injury. The emergence of Daniel Klysh as the team’s top runner has been a plus for the group. Kern is improving in every race and will be a threat in Saturday’s race. The name of the game for York is how tight can they make their pack and stay close together. The split in their regional race was only 22 seconds on their first runners. That split closed to 19 seconds last week when they won the sectional at Lake Park ahead of Wheaton-Warrenville South by 22 points. Klysh, Kern, and Colin Hill were separated by less than a second. Michael Moriarty, Brian Pratt, and Will Yasdick give this team a solid pack behind their top three. York could have as many as four runners in the top 25 in this race. The key for York is not to do anything different than to run with togetherness. The challenge for York is strong but not impossible. Getting three runners in before St. Charles East’s second runner and their pack in before any other team’s fifth runner crosses the line. The sky is the limit for this team on Saturday. This team is starting to realize that there are no limits in the way that they are racing.
Wheaton (W.-Warrenville South)
Preview – The defending state champions were not in the best of moods after their sectional race when they finished second behind York. The week before at the regional race they had won by six points ahead of the Dukes. That changed last week but maybe it got this team’s attention heading into Saturday’s state race. Billy Hauenstein has been the team’s top runner all season and could have his sights on a top five individual finish. The key for this team will come from their next three runners David Zeller, Jared Peaslee, and Ethan Seng. The three runners were separated by 13 seconds with Zeller a second behind Hauenstein when the Tigers finished two points behind St. Charles East in their conference meet. Zeller was 19 seconds behind Hauenstein at regionals, but their group of three was only separated by three seconds. It was different last week when Seng was the second runner 24 seconds behind Hauenstein but separated by 14 seconds. That gap needs to close in this race. Jacob Kluckhohn was only two seconds behind the group last week but 12 seconds in the regional race. Any of their top four runners could finish in the top 30 in this race. The Tigers know how to win a state championship. That is something that neither of their top competition knows how to do. The Tigers could come back for a second state title but will need to let ghosts of races past bother them when they step to the starting line.
Orland Park (Sandburg)
Preview – One of the bigger surprises in last week’s sectional race at Lyons Township was that race favorite won the sectional title by only eight points ahead of Hinsdale Central. Sandburg was ranked as high as second this season. This team has the confidence to make a run at one of the three state trophies on Saturday. The Eagles had run their best race of the season in their conference meet when they had only a 35 second split on their top five. It grew to 66 seconds in the slop and mud at Lyons Township. Will and Ben Giblin usually finish within a second of each other in most of their races this season. Expect the same on Saturday with both runners finishing in the top 20. The key is the pack behind the two brothers. Their pack between their pack and the front I the conference meet was only 26 seconds. The next three runners in that pack, led by Sam Rodriguez, were only separated by six seconds. It was different last week. The pack split, led by Ismail Tineh, was only 12 seconds. The split between the pack and the front was 54 seconds. Sandburg has a chance to finish among the top three teams only if they run a race that they ran previously, not the one that they ran last week.
Arlington Heights (Hersey)
Preview – The Huskies are a team to watch for as we found out last year when they finished second at state, then qualified for the Nike Cross Nationals. They do have defending state champion Josh Methner to lead them. The two-time All-American enters Saturdays race as the individual favorite. Max Svienty was the team’s third runner last week but has been at #2 most of the season. The senior could find his way to a top 15 finish. The team ran an 84 second split in their conference meet and only 71 seconds last week. The gap between the second through fifth runners was 47 seconds last week. Hersey could surprise again in this race but will need a top five split at 65 seconds or under off Methner’s lead. A split of under 35 seconds for the next four runners would be something to keep an eye on for this team.
Winnetka (New Trier)
Preview – This team showed a lot last week at Lake Park finishing third with only a 32 second split on their top five runners. They accomplished that without one their top five runners (JD Shelly) running. Nick Falk displayed he could be among the top 20 runners in the state after finishing fifth last week. Charlie Siebert finished within eight seconds of Falk. Seibert could be close to a top 25 finish. The Trevians had a 28 second split in their league championship. A similar type of race puts this squad near a top five finish, maybe within reach of a trophy.
Oswego (East)
Preview – The Wolves might be one of the teams to keep an eye on this weekend. They started the season with top five split at and over 60 seconds. In their sectional race last weekend in St. Charles, Oswego East only had a top five split of 21 seconds in their second-place finish. Their first four runners are interchangeable with Luke Wentz, Heriberto Alvarez, Brad Wiggins, or Nick Bozarth capable of being the team’s top runner. One or two of the runners could be in the top 25. It will be important for this team to have a 30 second split on their scorers. The Wolves tend to push the pace early and then hold their position. Keep an eye on that on Saturday as the race develops.
Park Ridge (Maine South)
Preview – The Hawks have the runners up front to challenge for a finish in the top five. Joey Kasch will be one of the runners you could see among the top 10 runners. Adam Christopher could be among the first 25 runners. Maine South had a 51 seconds on their top five runners last week. The split from two through five is a tough 35 seconds. The team ran a 46 second split in their regional race. A split of 40 seconds or faster moves this team up.
Naperville (North)
Preview – The Huskies have been on the rise the past three weeks and could be in a position for a higher finish after placing third last week at St. Charles. Jake Allen finished second last week behind Bob Liking. Their pack behind usually starts 30 seconds behind Allen. It was 32 seconds last week led by Tommy Paltzer. Their top five split was 59 seconds but only 27 seconds between Paltzer and fifth runner Gabe Ryan. The split was similar at Naperville Twilight with that group but 55 seconds behind Allen. North could threaten to finish in the top 10 but needs to have their pack stay within 27 seconds of their top runner for good things to happen for this team.
LaGrange (Lyons Township)
Preview – The Lions could be a threat possibly among the first six teams. Jack Ehlert has been tough in big races. He was only 10 seconds behind York’s Daniel Klysh in their conference meet. Ehlert is capable of finishing in the first 15 runners. The team ran their best pack race of the year last week with a split of 42 seconds on their first five runners. Sawyer Madell ran even with Ehlert last week. Staying within seconds of their top runner could Madell close to a top 25 seconds. This team looks to have found their fifth runner. A split of under 33 seconds led by Ehlert could move this team among the top six schools.
Downers Grove (North)
Preview – The third of four WSC-Silver teams in this field. The Trojans stepped into the spotlight after finishing second behind York in their conference meet. The team kept close together on the muddy course at Lyons Township with only 29 seconds separating their top five runners. Their conference meet split was only 24 seconds. Evan Cummins has been the team’s top runner most of this season. If he finishes in the top 40 and the Trojans run a similar tight split, this team could challenge for a top10 finish.
Hinsdale (Central)
Preview – The Red Devils were the surprise team last week. They finished eight points behind sectional champion Sandburg running only an 18 second split on their top four runners. Their top fie split in their conference race was 59 seconds. The addition of freshman Daniel Watcke along with sophomores Colin Hill and Colby Revord to the varsity means big things are ahead for this team in the future. It could also mean that keeping a 35 second better split off Carter McCarroll and Watcke could mean a top ten finish for this group.
Minooka
Preview – The champions of the Normal Sectional, Minooka could finish in the top 10 in this meet but will need some things to happen. Jason Hoffman has been one of the team’s top runners most of the season. He finished as the team’s fourth runner last week 26 seconds behind Hunter Phillips and Vincent Van Eck. The Indians ran a 31 second split on their scorers last week. Moving that pack closer to the front with Phillips, Van Eck, or Hoffman in the top 30 would mean big things for this team.
Lake Zurich
Preview – Lake Zurich could be a team that sneaks up on some other squads in Peoria. The Bears finished second at Hoffman Estates using a 51 second split off their top runner Jack Gilboy who could finish in the top 20 at state. What makes this team good is that their split between their second and fifth runners is tight. That split was only 19 seconds last week. Lake Zurich could be among the top 10 teams in this meet, but their split needs to go under 42 seconds to make that happen.
Wheaton (North)
Preview – The Falcons surprised even themselves after finishing fifth at Lake Park. They did that even without their top runner Josh Gorup not even in the top five. Gorup was sidelined at regionals due to a minor foot injury but ran at sectionals as the team’s sixth runner. The Falcons responded with only a top five split of 12 seconds. Wheaton North could duplicate that race on Saturday bit will need to move their pack closer to the front I they want to finish in the first 15 teams.
Aurora (Waubonsie Valley)
Preview – Pack running will be the key for success for the Warriors competing in the state meet for the first time in 12 years. Waubonsie Valley finished fourth at the St. Charles East despite the fact that their split on five was 54 seconds. For most of that race their five scorers were within 30 seconds of each other led by Zach Benziger. What could get Waubonsie Valley into the top 10 teams is Benziger or Wes Beitler finishing in the first 35 runners with the first four runners having a split under 24 seconds. A top five split of 34 seconds or faster will benefit this team in the final standings.
Barrington
Preview – The Broncos made it back to the state meet after finishing fifth at the Hoffman Estates Sectional with a group split at 29 seconds. The team’s top five split was 28 seconds at in their league championships. Their top four runners led by Patrick Furlong were only separated by 15 seconds. This team will need to move up their pack 10 to 12 seconds a man in order to get close to a top 10 finish.
Naperville (Central)
Preview – The Redhawks did not have their best race of the season but still advanced to the state meet with a fifth -place sectional finish. Arthur Graham has been their key runner al season as he was 39 seconds ahead of the rest of his teammates. Don’t be surprised if eh finishes in the top 25 on Saturday. Central ran a 67 second split on their top five. That split needs to decrease by 20 seconds in order for this team to finish among the first 20 teams.
McHenry
Preview – McHenry was one of two surprise teams to advance out of the Hoffman Estates Sectional. The Warriors finished third overall led by Jessi Garcia who could surprise some by finishing in the first 50 runners. The team has exhibited some tight pack running during this championship season. Their top five split was only 34 seconds last week. Getting the pack closer to the front could mean this team might finish among the first 18 teams.
Glenview (Glenbrook South)
Preview – It may have been considered a surprise that Glenbrook South made it to state as a team. They did finish only six points behind Hersey in their regional race. They could surprise more people in Saturday’s race. Will Kelly and Will Houser were only separated by 14 seconds in their sectional race. The Titans had a top five split of 72 seconds.
Yorkville
Preview – Yorkville is a team that I could see finish in the top 15 in this meet. The Foxes have been on the move over the past three meets finishing second last week at Normal. The team had a 61 second split on their top five, but only a six second split between top runners Ivan Westcott and Austin Popplewell. Both runners could lead this team finishing in the first 45 individuals.
Edwardsville
Preview – The Tigers got their top runner back in Jack Pifer who missed over two weeks due to a minor injury. Edwardsville ran a 65 second split on their top five in finishing fourth as a team overall. Their top three runners Ryan Watts, Geordan Patrylak, and Pifer were only separated by 30 seconds in their sectional race. A team split under 49 seconds on their scorers moves this team into the top 20.
New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)
Preview – All eyes will be on Jared Kreis as he will attempt to chase after a state individual championship Saturday afternoon. The Knights made it to state with the help of Kreis’ win and a 34 second split from their second through fifth runners.
Downers Grove (South)
Preview – It has been a rocky season for the Mustangs heading into this state series. Clouds blew away as South made it back to the state meet with a fifth-place sectional finish. This team has had a top five split under 35 seconds the past three meets. The sectional race the five runners were separated by only 34 seconds led by their top runner John Heneghan.
Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)
Preview – The good news last weekend is that the Griffins made it to the state meet with a fifth-place sectional finish. The bad news is they lost their top runner Brett Gardner as he will not run on Saturday due to a stress reaction in his leg. Nolan Rogers will step up as the team’s top runner. It could be tough for East to finish higher than 24th especially with the loss of a runner who could have challenged for the state title. More news |
