Illinois Distance Running 360: How Did 2015-16 Class A Boys Do?

Jon Davis completed a monster season and prep career with Brooks PR Mile win in 4:07.52 victory (Image of sport photo)

High school sports are 360 in nature- a full circle if you will. Most long distance runners will begin their quest during the early months of summer training for cross country. The three months of training that kids put in are an attempt to run in the state championship in November. For the few lucky ones, they will go on and compete in Nike Cross Nationals, Foot Locker or some other post-season meet. But what has been lost in the sauce is the entire school calendar which runs through the winter indoor campaign and finally back around to the all important outdoor track and field season.We wanted to chronicle the very beginning and end. Obviously athletes get lazy after cross country or hurt. Some play other sports in the spring like lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, etc. 

Below are the 2015 top 25 Class A cross country all-state placers. Some of the finishers below moved up to 2A for the track season. We chronicled indoor and outdoor track seasons as appropriate.


1. Jon Davis (Sr., Oakwood) 13:59.3
-The Illinois male athlete of the year completes one of the most consistent school years in IHSA history. Jon Davis repeated as 1A 3200 and 1600 state champion. Davis completed a monster year which included second place at the Arcadia Invitational 3200m in 8:51.17- which rates US #10. Davis took the St. Louis Festival of Miles Mile title as well as the Brooks PR Mile title. His 1600 time ranks as US #2. Davis graduates as one of the best distance runners to ever come out of Illinois.

2. Andrew Warnes (Sr., Tolono Unity) 14:45 
-Competed in 2A for track, Warnes ran 1:56.95 and 4:19.90 for 800/1600; earning all-state honors in both events; did not compete in any 3200m

3. Brayden Hamblen (Jr., Rock Falls) 14:52 
-1:58.85 personal best at the 800m state prelims; Hamblen went on to finish 12th in the 800 final (2:07.84)

4. Marcus Skinner (Sr., Shelbyville) 14:56
- Ran 9:40.70 season best; placed 10th in state 3200m running 10:01.47

5. Matt Stelmasek (Sr., Johnsburg) 14:57
- Produced a 9:26.17 personal best in the 3200m and qualified for 2A state meet; placed second at state in the 1600m running a personal best 4:20.14

6. Cory Landon (Sr., Carlinville) 14:57 
-Busted out with a monster track season and rated #2 overall behind Jon Davis. Landon placed second in the state 1600 and fourth in the 800 at state. His 1:56.01 and 4:10.81 personal bests. The latter ranked #7 in Illinois. Landon also ran 9:16.46 in the 3200m which rated him #3 in Class A. 

7. Tyler Johnson (Sr., Pleasant Plains) 14:58
- Was undefeated in the 3200 leading up to the state meet and finished 32nd (ran injured 10:39.06); ran season best 9:33.24 at sectionals

8. Getch Eisenmenger (Sr., Tolono Unity) 14:59
- Oddly did not run anything above 800. But he did run on the team's 4x8 relay as well as 2:00.54 in the 800

9. Hunter Cobbley (Sr., El Paso-Gridley) 14:59 
-Took third in the state 1600 w/4:30.27; did not contest the 3200 at state but ran the second fastest Class A time (9:14.27); third in Illinois Top Times 3200

10. Alex Morris (Sr., Tolono Unity)  15:02 
-ran 9:55/4:38/2:08 open times; ran on sectional 4x8 team

11. Dawson Dodds (Sr., Tolono Unity) 15:06 
-Finished 10th in 2A 3200 state final (9:46.42); ran personal best 9:38.06 at Champaign Central Sectional; Dodds ran the 1600m a few times indoors logging 4:37.95 and once outside in 4:36.70

12. Sirlaurence King (Sr., Chicago (Leo) 15:08 
-Clocked 9:39.83 and 4:25.45 as personal bests during the outdoor season; placed 4th in the state championship 3200m

13. Skyler Yunk (Sr., North Boone) 15:09
-Did not run in any post-season meets; ran personal bests 9:52.61 and 4:39.15

14. Austin Woodard (Sr., Tolono Unity) 15:09
-Finished 17th in the 2A state 3200; ran personal best 9:40.63 and 4:33i

15. Seth Williams (Sr., Rock Falls) 15:09
-Competed in 2A for track and field; ran a solid 4:20.80 in the 1600; placed 12th in the state 1600; ran the 3200 once and clocked 9:44.9

16. Rolando Aguilar (Sr., Kewanee) 15:12 
-Competed in 2A but did not make it to state; ran 4:38.78 and 9:57.79- both at Mendota Sectional

17. Noah Tennison (Sr., Robinson) 15:13 
-Ran 10:16 and 4:32; finished 21st in the state 1600m prelims

18. Matt Osmulski (Sr., Elmwood [Coop]) 15:15
-Ran 10:31/4:39/2:05.34; ran state prelims in the 1600m and 4x800 relay

19. Brennan Guido (Sr., St. Joseph-Ogden) 15:17
-Never competed in an event over 1600m; ran 400 in 53.32, 800m in 2:08.98, 1600m in 4:41.05; ran leg on state runner-up 4x400 relay
 
20. Logan Hall (So., Arthur.-Lovington-Atwood) 15:20
-9:34.93/4:26.97; state runner-up in 3200m to Jon Davis; 5th in state championship 1600m
 
21. Derek McCoy (Jr., Elmwood [Coop]) 15:21
-Did not run track
 
22. Jonah Coyle (Fr., Peoria Christian) 15:21
-Completed the school year as one of the top freshman milers in the state; placed 14th over in the 1600 in 4:30.43; ran 10:09.53 for 3200m

23. Alex Helmuth (So., Monticello) 15:22
- 9:43.17/4:43.32 personal bests; competed in pole vault with a personal best of 10-0; placed 20th in 2A 3200m

24. Justin Phillips (Jr., St. Joe-Ogden) 15:29 
-Ran personal best 1600 at the Palatine at Night meet in 4:26.24; finished 17th in the state 1600 prelims

25. Zach Mesplay (Sr., Monticello) 15:31 

-Competed in the Illinois Top Times 3200 & 1600 as well as the IHSA 3200m where he placed 7th; ran 9:30.64 indoors