Boys-
Look for Sandburg senior Dylan Jacobs to make a return trip to the warm climes of San Diego
It will be interesting to see how things play Saturday morning at the National Course on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The weather should play its part with slightly better than average temperatures that should reach the middle to upper 40s. Hopefully, the course is not too muddy or slick in the hilly or downhill sections. Secondly, the cast will have to be strong in order to bring out the desired results Illinois are used to.
Defending seeded race champion Dylan Jacobs is back and ready to run well. Although this is not the national championship he understands the importance of securing one of the ten coveted spots to San Diego. Survive and advance will be the order of the day. The senior from Sandburg High School in Orland Park plans to do that and maybe a little bit more. Just in case he forgets, the fans like history and want to see sub 15:00 efforts and kids from all over the midwest running well.
Chicago Whitney Young senior Clayton Mendez will look to continue his great season in his debut effort. Mendez is placed second in the Illinois 3A state meet and fifth two weekend agos at the Nike Cross Midwest Regionals. Mendez is a smart runner who likes to get out with the top pack and methodically run his way through like a surgeon. He will have to be weary of the course conditions and not overestimate his peers in the final mile due to inexperience.
It appears that a late entry by Illinois 3A champion Danny Kilrea is for real. The senior from Lyons Township would be one of the key favorites to advance to nationals if he follows protocol and runs his race. One would think that Kilrea could drop a surge somewhere prior to the second mile and secure his spot. Kilrea has already advanced to NXN so this would be an additional treat.
Other key state athletes with an opportunity to place in the top 24 are Athens senior Wyatt McIntyre, Maine South junior Tommy Brady, Sterling senior Jacob Gebhardt, Maine South senior Brandon Christopher, Neuqua Valley junior Zach Kinne, Downers Grove North senior Jacob Ridderhoff, and Jack Becker of Crystal Lake South.
Regionally, the field looks to be solid. The #2 returner Gabe Fendel of Hamilton Southeastern, IN will be more alert after fading late at the NXN MW. Fendel, the one-class state champion, indicated that he has been looking forward to getting back to San Diego where he placed 12th a year ago. Indiana has entered its top 7 state placers which includes runner up Cole Hocker of Indy Cathedral.
Ohio will send several of its state champions to Kenosha in an attempt to show the Buckeye state can compete. The US #1 5k leader is Zach Kreft of Buckeye Valley at 14:29. Kreft's only loss was to D1 winner Dustin Horter of Lakota East. Kreft should be in the mix along with state pal Chad Johnson of Galion. Johnson along with Kreft are state champions at D2 and D3. Michigan will send its top three runners: Nick Foster of Ann Arbor, Cole Johnson of Rockford, and Harrison Grzymkowski of Commerce Township. Wisconsin big league state champion Drew Bosley will be a threat.