ILXCTF 2024 Individual Runners Season Previews: Class 3A Boys

By Michael Newman

 

Who will leave Detweiller Park this November as the new Class 3A champion replacing two time champion Aden Bandukwala who is now at Duke University.

 

There again is enough talent in the state of runners that are anxious to claim the state title as their own. Ben Crane of New Trier is one of those runners. He is the top returning runner finishing third a year ago and then finishing second in the 3200 and eighth in the 1600. The runner that defeated Crane at state track is Joe Bregenzer. He had an up and down season last fall finishing 50th at state. Bregenzer is running with more hunger and confidence to claim the title as his own.

 

Dylan Maloney finished eighth at state last year but his exploits nationally in the 5000 will put him on the doorstep of a win/ Phillip Cupial was the top runner for Downers Grove North last year and third returning runner back. Thomas Czerwinski is second returning runner back. This junior could be a surprise in this class. Rory Gaan suffered an injury at the end of track season and looks recovered and ready to go.

 

14 all-state runners are back from the 2023 3A State Meet, Here are some of the runners to watch for in Class 3A in this upcoming season.

 

3A Boys

1 Ben Crane -SR – Winnetka (New Trier)

XC: 3-3A, 24-FLN; 8-FLMW; TF: 2-3A 3200; 8-3A 1600; Season Bests: 4:14.60, 8:57.34.

 

2 Dylan Maloney -SR – Plainfield (South)

XC: 8-3A; 16-3A (’22); TF: 3-3A 3200; 11-3A 1600: 5-NBNI 5k; Season Bests: 2:01.17, 4:14.01, 9:03.21, 14:29.93.

 

3 Phillip Cupial – JR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 7-3A; TF: 1-3A 1600, 1-3A 4x8, 1-NON 4x8; Season Bests: 2:03.00, 4:10.17, 9:13.91.

 

4 Joe Bregenzer – SR – Barrington

XC: 50-3A, 24-3A (’22); TF: 1-3A 3200; 10-3A 1600; Season Bests: 1:59.17, 4:12.79, 8:58.10.

 

5 Thomas Czerwinski – JR – Plainfield (North)

XC: 5-3A; TF Season Bests: 159.9s, 2:00.24i, 4:25.34, 9:22.53

 

6 Rory Gaan – SR – Palatine (Fremd)

XC: 9-3A: TF Season Bests: 1:59.52i, 4:16.14, 9:09.31

 

7 Grant Schroder – SR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 10-3A; TF: 1-3A 4x8, 1-NON 4x8. Season Bests: 1:56.63, 1:54.0s; 4:17.50, 9:22.50

 

8 Josiah Narayanin – SR – Wheaton-Warrenville South

XC: 12-3A; TF: 6-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:02.44, 4:18.72, 9:08.94.

 

9 Jacob Barraza – SR – DeKalb

XC: 11-3A, 27-3A (’22). TF: 3-3A 1600. Season Bests: 1:56.93, 4:11.38, 9:38.26.

 

10 Alex Krieg – JR – Palatine

XC: 63-3A; TF: 5-3A 3200; Season Bests: 2:00.66, 4:19.47, 9:07.56.

 

11 Tommy Nitz – SR – Huntley

XC: 21-3A (has run at state all 3 years) TF: 7-3A 3200 & 1600; Season Bests: 1:57.39, 4:11.97, 9:10.27.

 

12 Evan Parker – SR – Skokie (Niles North)

XC: 14-3A. TF: 10-3A 3200. Season Bests: 4:25.54, 9:12.63.

 

13 Liam O’Connor – SR – Oak Park-River Forest

XC: 17-3A. TF: 14-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:03.15, 4:25.73, 9:16.32.

 

14 Zach Thoman – SR – O’Fallon

XC: 16-3A. TF Season Bests: 1:54.66, 4:20.24.

 

15 Aidan Murphy – SR – Wheaton (North)

XC: 23-3A (run at state all 3 years). TF Season Bests: 2:06.6i, 4:21.88, 9:33.74i.

 

16 Aidan Noel – SR – Wheaton-Warrenville South

XC: 49-3A. XC: 18-3A. Season Bests: 2:03.97, 4:25.45, 9:21.07.

 

17 Quinn Davis – SR – Plainfield (North)

XC: 22-3A, 64-2A (’22); TF: 3-3A 4x8. Season Bests: 1:56.7s, 4:16.52, 9:21.62.

 

18 Will Surratt – JR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 30-3A. TF: 1-3A 4x8, 1-NON 4x8. Season Bests: 1:57.63, 1:56.9s, 4:17.29.

 

19 Ammar Bhanpuri – SR – Naperville (North)

XC: 37-3A. TF Season Bests: Did Not Run 2024 season.

 

20 Cole Tupper – SR – Elgin

XC: 38-3A; 3-NXR MW Open. TF Season Bests: 2:04.95; 4:28.86i; 9:39.87.

 

Other 3A Boys Runners to Watch

Greyson Ellensohn – SR – St. Charles (East)

XC: 90-3A. TF: 16-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:03.34, 4:18.48, 9:14.02

 

Francesco Benelli – SR – Batavia

XC: 72-3A. TF: 11-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:04.10i, 4:22.48, 9:13.40

 

Brian Hatoum – SR – Highland Park

XC: 69-3A; 3-3A Sec. TF Season Bests: 10:13.44.

 

Jack Jennings – SO – Palatine (Fremd)

XC: 41-3A. TF: 17-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:01.63, 4:22.80, 9:16.63i.

 

Owynn Garrelts – SR Park Ridge (Maine South)

XC: 47-3A, 1-NXR MW Open 2. TF: 22-3A. Season Bests: 4:29.01, 9:19.61.

 

Aidan Connors – JR – Plainfield (North)

XC: 40-3A. TF: 31-3A 3200. Season Bests: 4:27.91, 9:28.61.

 

Riley Fink – SR – Plainfield (South)

XC: 52-3A. TF Season Bests: 2:08.1i, 4:40.98, 9:43.75i.

 

Brady Travers – SR – Downers Grove (North)

XC: 19-3A Reg. TF: 29-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:01.06, 4:19.09, 9:27.75

 

Owen Horeni – JR – Yorkville

XC: 58-3A. TF: 4-3A 800, 19-NON 800. Season Bests: 50.00, 1:52.34, 4:25.65i.

 

Max Sudrzynski – SR – Algonquin (Jacobs)

XC: 23-3A Sec. TF Seasonal Bests: 1:56.90, 1:56.2s, 4:23.84i, 9:55.96.

 

Ethan Scott – SR – Barrington

XC: 31-3A. TF Sectional Bests: 2:07.81i, 4:35.38, 9:54.36.

 

Benjamin Wuggazer – SR – LaGrange (Lyons Township)

XC: 67-3A. TF: 39-3A. Seasonal Bests: 2:12.46, 4:35.41, 9:33.15.

 

Brayden Kloeppel – JR – O’Fallon

XC: 81-3A. TF: 25-3A 3200, Season Bests: 4:29.45, 9:27.63.

 

Jack Galminas – SR – New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)

XC: 82-3A. TF Seasonal Bests: 2:08.7, 4:29.52, 9:41.17

 

Gavin Hall – JR – Plainfield (North)

XC: 74-3A. TF Season Bests: 2:03.56, 2:02.2s, 4:30.71i, 10:07.32

 

Justin Hurtado – SR – Barrington

XC: 98-3A. TF Season Bests: 2:00.08; 4:39.86, 9:55.71

 

Zach Saltiel – SR – Elmhurst (York)

XC 115-3A, 6-NXR MW Open 2; TF Season Bests: 4:33.44i, 9:32.98.

 

Jackson Amick – SR – Edwardsville

XC 132-3A. TF Season Bests: 4:36.86, 10:04.25.

 

Landon Harris – SO – Granite City

XC: 149-3A. TF: 21-3A 1600 pre; Season Bests: 1:59.18, 4:21.97.

 

Luke Atzman – SR – Orland Park (Sandburg)

XC: 111-3A. TF Season Bests: 2:08.36, 4:41.20. 9:45.47.

 

Alex Batsala – SO – Plainfield (South)

XC: 55-3A. TF Season Bests: 2:02.32, 4:33.17, 9:35.70.

 

Jameson Tenopir – JR – Cary-Grove

XC: 86-3A. TF: 12-3A 800. Season Bests: 1:55.19, 4:23.38, 9:53.98.

 

Colin Thomas – JR – Edwardsville

XC: 73-3A. TF: 28-3A 800 pre.  Season Bests: 1:58.21, 4:29.17

 

Alex Rodriguez – JR – Berwyn-Cicero (Morton)

XC: 39- 3A Sec. TF: 12-3A 3200. Season Bests: 1:59.14, 4:22.82, 9:15.63.

 

Mateo Ramiro-Garcia – JR – Orland Park (Sandburg)

XC: 84-3A. TF: 11-3A 4x8. Season Bests: 1:56.86. 1:56.7s, 4:22.60.

 

Nathan Gehrmann – JR – Aurora (West Aurora)

XC: 71-3A Sec. TF: 13-3A 800 pre; Season Bests: 1:55.69, 4:28.70, 9:48.49.

 

Emmett Bradford – SR – Elmhurst (York)

XC: 141-3A. TF: 17-3A 1600 pre, 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 1:59.77i, 4:18.00, 9:55.30i.

 

Nico Cimino – JR – Minooka

XC 37-3A Sec. TF: 3A 4x8 pre. Season Bests: 2:01.13, 4:30.74, 9:48.13.

 

Sean Hanrahan – SR – Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)

XC: 45-3A Sec. TF: 24-3A 1600 pre, 23-3A 3200. Season Bests: 2:04.94, 4:23.06, 9:24.35.