2021 ILXCTF.com XC Season Awards - Boys XC Runner of the Year

By Michael Newman [email protected]

Congratulations to Micah Wilson of St. Charles East High School as the 2021 ILXCTF.com Boys Runner of the Year.

Nick Falk of New Trier and Alex Partlow of Carbondale were strongly considered in this category. All three runners had great seasons. It was an extremely tough decision to choose just one runner.

Falk and Wilson raced each other three times during the season with Falk finishing ahead of the 3A state champion in Peoria and then at the end of November at the Eastbay Midwest Regional. Falk was the only Illinois runner to advance to the National Finals by finishing fourth in the race in Kenosha. He finished 19th in the Nationals race in San Diego. Wilson missed qualifying at Eastbay by finishing 14th overall.

Wilson did not lose to an Illinois runner besides Falk during the season. Falk was consistent during the year finishing no worse than second in his races. He did finish second in three races. The state race between the two with Wilson winning was the difference maker between the two runners in this decision.

Partlow went undefeated this season which included winning the 2A State Championship. Wilson and Partlow did not race against each other this season. The biggest comparison is from the State races at Detweiller Park where the two raced in within hours of each other (Wilson and Partlow also raced in the Peoria Invitational on October 2 but in separate races). Wilson’s state time was 14:11.18. Partlow’s state time was 14:11.96.