2020 ILXCTF.com Illinois Track & Field Previews - 3A Boys Distance Events

By Michael Newman

[email protected]

The end of last cross-country was big for Class 3A runners and teams. Three schools making it to the Nike Cross Nationals. Two athletes earning three All-American honors including Josh Methner of Hersey winning the Foot Locker National Championships in December.

It is the promises and the what could happens are the thing that will drive us during this long 2020 track season.

Expect The Unexpected

George Harrison was considered “The Quiet Beatle”. He did not make that much noise while he was with The Beatles. He just made great music.

Consider Josh Methner in that same role in Illinois High School distance running. He does not make much noise. He is not all over social media. He is humble with his accomplishments and just goes out and runs. He is the “Quiet State Champion/State Record Holder”.

We never thought on that November morning that later that day, Methner would throw down that 13:49.87 on the hallowed grounds of Detweiller Park. We should have considering what he ran earlier in the year.

So we approach his final high school track season before he heads to the University of Notre Dame next fall.

8:42.89? 8:42.6?

Donald Sage holds the IHSA State Metric Record of 8:42.89. Craig Virgin ran 8:42.6 for the 2-Miles imperial distance in 1973. Both times are in the record books. Does Methner reach out and touch those when we get to May?

We did not think it was possible last November. He did. The question will be answered sometime during this spring season. When it happens, this Hersey senior will do it quietly.

Eight Laps Around the Track

What makes Josh Methner the runner that he is comes from his tactical approach to his racing. He learned from the Distance Night in Palatine race where Jared Kreis of Lincoln-Way Central edged Methner at the line by seven hundredths of a second. They met next at the state meet the following month where Methner just waited letting everyone make their moves. Methner made the final move. Checkmate.

There are six athletes that finished in the top nine last year are back. Brett Gardner of Lincoln-Way East was within two seconds of Methner last September in Peoria but was felled by an injury before state in November. Gardner finished fourth last year and could push Methner. Bob Liking of St. Charles East made the step up during cross-country earning All-American honors at the Nike Cross Nationals. We should see his time drop down from the 9:17.25 that he ran a season ago. Kreis is someone that I will always think will be near the front. The same should hold true this spring with him.

Ian Geisler of Huntley and Jake Allen of Naperville North could be among the surprises in the top three. William Hauenstein of Wheaton-Warrenville South is ready to make his next step up. Ethan Kern of York, Jacob Kluckhohn of Wheaton-Warrenville South, and Tyler Cushing of Bolingbrook all went through injury problems last spring. All could be factors in this event. Cushing’s 14:14 last November. He’s ready to make the next step up.

Four Laps Around the Track

Last year, we waited until the final 500-meters of the state race before Andrew O’Keefe made his move to win the state title that eluded him the year before. We all knew that season that the Granite City runner would claim it.

That is not the same feeling that we have as this season starts. Four all-state athletes are back. However, there are so many quality runners that could step in to win on May 30. Charlie Smith of Antioch is the one runner that I will keep my eye on this season. He finished second last year making him the top returnee. Smith overcame injuries this fall to capture the Class 2A State Cross Country title. That confidence show flow over to this spring where he could run sub-4:10.

Ben Rosa of Lake Forest did not have his best of fall seasons. He should bounce back this spring. He does have a third-place state finish to his credit. Brett Gardner has the fastest returning time in the event (4:11.44). Will he double or concentrate on just one event? The same holds true for Josh Methner, Jared Kreis, and Ian Geisler. All three runners have quality times in both of the longer distance events. Joey Kasch of Maine South and Daniel Occhipinti of Kaneland both were all-state. Both should be ready to take the next step to the next tier.

York’s Michael Moriarty, Ethan Kern, and Daniel Klysh all ran under 4:20 at the end of last season at Magis Miles. All three could be factors in this event if any of decide to do it. Again, it is only February. There is plenty of time for those questions to be answered.

Two Laps Around the Track

The one thing that we have noticed over the past few years is the number of runners competing in the 3200 Meter Relay and then qualifying for the 800 Meter Run to state. Then at state, there are so many scratches after their team qualifies for the finals. Fans that know more than the coaches and the expert complain. Then we have that to talk about all summer

The dynamics of this event have changed and the importance of the 4x8 have grown higher. There are four runners back that earned all-state honors. None of them had seasonal bests under 1:56 last year.

Jason Hoffman of Minooka is one of the runners that I think can seize this event. There was more focus on the relay for Hoffman last year. He has the top returning time (1:54.33) of all the runners back. Ben Rosa does have a 1:54.59 from last year to his credit. Does he double in the 800/1600 or does he just focus on one race at state series time?

The other runner that I would keep an eye on is Austin Adams of Kaneland. He took the next step up last spring when he finished fourth in the finals. The confidence that he had grew within him during cross-country. He earned all-state honors while helping his team win the Class 2A state championship. His best was 1:56.48 last spring. It would not surprise me if he went under 1:53 this May.

Cassius Havis of Alton finished eight last year. I have a hunch that he will challenge for the win in 2020 in this event. Aidan Donohue of DeKalb finished fifth while teammate Juan Castro also made the finals. Both could be near the front again in Charleston. The York duo of Michael Moriarty and Daniel Klysh have personal bests of 1:56. They could be in here or focus with their teammates in the relay.

Two Laps Around the Track Four Times

One of the feature events of the IHSA State Track & Field Championships happen in the beginning of the meet with the 3200 Meter Relay. The history of this event in this distance running crazy state make it the one race that you cannot miss. The times usually start to drop at the beginning of May. But when we get to state series time and then to Charleston, the times fall dramatically.

There are two teams that I would keep a close eye on in 2020.

Batavia returns three runners (Joseph Knanishu, Damian Rodriguez, Adam Kennedy) from their quartet that finished third in the state meet. They are a deep team that should have no problems finding a fourth runner to make it back to the front in Charleston.

The same holds true for York who finished fifth at state and returns their entire state finals quartet (Daniel Klysh, Mickey Vreeland, Ethan Kern, Michael Moriarty). They also welcome back Brian Pratt who ran in the prelims plus three more runners that could go under two-minutes for 800-meters.

Both schools could push each other to great times perhaps taking under a 7:40 time to win this race.

We can’t forget about St. Charles East who finished second last year and have the depth to add to lone returnee Luke Schildmeyer. Lyons Township and Wheaton-Warrenville South are other teams to watch as this season develops.

Top Returning Class 3A Boys Distance Event Runners

800 Meter Run

1600 Meter Run

3200 Meter Run