There is nothing more exciting than the fan hype that surrounds cross country meets like the state championship (Steven Koch photo)
The build up to the official start date of the 2014 cross country season has already been in effect. It actually started as soon as the 2014 track and field season ended for the vast majority of the returning teams and individuals. Of course each new season begins with its own set of hypeness. Well MileSplit has decided to lauch its own hypeness attack. Check out a few salvos thrown out to the masses:
- Let's start with Class A girls. Can the four-time defending state champion Decatur (St. Teresa) win a fifth title? The Bulldogs have won their crowns by a tremendous margin during the streak. Class A contributor Alex Goodlab noted that although Coach Todd Vohland lost his key front runners Rachel Devereux and Audrey Vandercar to graduation, he will still have four returners on deck to greet any naysayers.
- ASK better known as Anna Sophia Keller was one of the state's top showstoppers regardless of classification in 2013. Not only did the then ultra-talented freshman steal the headlines for tiny Effingham (St. Anthony), she also possessed a bubbly personality that most newcomers shy away from. Keller blitzed the regular season with ease followed by a crushing state title that netted the second fastest time of the day (16:35) behind Mailin Struck of Riverside-Brookfield who ran 16:34. Will ASK go through growing pains that plan to stymie her physically and mentally? Remember this is common for girls who reach maturity after freshmen year? If her great track season (10:22, 4:52) was an indication to come, then rabbid fans will be in for a great sophomore treat.
- Six of the top ten boys from last Class A state championship return including defending champion junior Jon Davis of Fithian (Oakwood). Davis is the odds on favorite to repeat. He ran 14:47 last year in a race that turned out to be a laugher; Elmwood-Brimfield should be battling for top team honors all season long.
- The 2A girls will dodge a major bullet because Mailin Struck returned to her native Germany in January. If she had returned the race would have been for second. But don't fret there is enough talent to keep the palate wet. Six of the top ten girls are back including 3200m state champion Maryjeanne Gilbert of Peoria (Notre Dame). Gilbert, who enters her junior year, busted the track in 10:34.37. She will be on all alert all season.
- Don't even sleep on the Yorkville Boys and Girls teams. The Foxes are favored again we hear to double repeat as state team champions. The 2A bosses and boss ladies have a strong hold on things right now. The Hoffert twins Jake and Luke could go 1-2 and be mentioned among the great twins in IHSA history. You do remember the Torres brothers Jorge and Edwardo of Wheeling right? On the girls side, Skyler Bollinger may be ready for elite status again after an off season in 2013. We will see.
- Glen Ellyn is a sleepy little suburban town about 25 miles west of Chicago. Glenbard West High School is one of the two high schools in the district. The Lady Hilltoppers won the girls 3A title last year on the strength of superstar Madeline Perez. The legendary Perez has graduated and moved on to Georgetown University. Now it's time for Lindsay Graham and Lisa Luczak to step up and shine bright. The duo and their mates will look to repeat but don't expect Naperville North, New Trier, Palatine, etc. to bow down... watch some top individuals such as sophomore Alexa Haff of Hinsdale Central, senior Lauren VanVlierbergen of Algonquin Jacobs, Mimi Smith, the senior over at New Trier, and perhaps sophomore Mary Blankemeier of Oak Park-River Forest to step forward this fall as the queen of cross country.
- Elmhurst (York) is a name that is nationally recognized when it comes to cross country. The legendary Joe Newton is a wise old man who must be loving what the pundits are predicting for his Dukes. There has been talk of York missing out on another top three finish at state. Actually perhaps not even making the top five or even top 10. Sounds ludricrous right? It will be fun following the Dukesters this fall for sure.
- 3A stalwarts Jesse Reiser (McHenry) and Zach Dale (Hoffman Estates Conant) enjoyed super junior years that put them as virtual identical favorites as Illinois' top runners this fall. They are such great guys that a tie in the state championship would be acceptable. It does appear that the friendly duo will team up several times during the post-season for Footlocker and Nike Cross Nationals. But watch for faces in the crowd to emerge such as Matt Plowman (York), Ryan Clevenger (Downers Grove North), Matt Pereira (Lake Zurich)... can a guy like Graham Brown of Palatine reach the promise like some predicted that he would as a senior. Brown had an illness marred junior in track but don't forget he placed eighth in state cross country last year.
- Hinsdale Central blazed the competition during the state series on their way to a 3A boys team title with 99 points. Can the Red Devils repeat against a formable classification? Can they get back to Portland and represent Illinois in the right way once again? How about Downers Grove North? Do the Trojans have what it takes to be bosses again? Can New Trier get over the sectional hump and put together that super state championship race? O'Fallon has won a few trophies. Are the Panthers done now that Patrick Perrier has taken his talents to Stanford University? How about coach Paul Vandersteen and his Neuqua Valley team? The Wildcats have been simmering like an active volcano for the past several years. Active volcanos eventually erupt and destroy everything in its path.
--- Of course none of us know the answers to any of the puzzling questions above. Predictions are fun and it makes the storylines fun to read and follow. However, everyone is on equal footing on August 13. What ever happens after that moving forward will depend on the runners competing. One thing is for sure, MileSplit Illinois will be there in FULL EFFECT!
Good luck and happy running to you all this season!!!