Jon Davis was not pleased with his 2014 Footlocker National performance (Milesplit file footage)
Overall Remarks to adhere to-
The 1A boy’s individual race looks more potentially exciting than we have seen it in a long time. It is quite possibly the most exciting in all of 1A cross country period! First of all, we have Jon Davis (Sr., Oakwood) coming back to break at least a record or two of some kind! Think of this: putting aside the time he runs, just for winning the race, he would be 1A’s first three time champion and tied with former Wheeling legend Jorge Torres for the most state championships. Secondly, we have about 12 of 25 all-staters returning, in addition to others who have shown major potential from track or otherwise. If we were to guess, it will be quite the cluttered chase pack following Davis, and if weather allows, we might just have a sub-15 runner up!
1. Jon Davis (Sr., Fithian Oakwood): He is a returning unchallenged 1A triple crown winner going 14:20/9:07/4:15 in each event, making him the current class 1A cross country 3200 record holder and does not look to be challenged by anyone this year. He has furthermore made himself known in the national scene showing up eighth and 37th place at Foot Locker Midwest and Nationals, respectively. In track, he placed fifth at the Midwest Distance Classic 3200m (9:07) and won the Nike Festival of Miles with a mile time of 4:11. Let’s not let these achievements, however, completely overshadow his 1:55 800m time during track. The big talk of the season will be not only how much he will dominate the 1A competition and improve upon his own record, but also whether or not he is the best among an also very talented returning group of sophomores and juniors in both the 2A and 3A division.
2. Tanner Chada (Jr., Aurora Christian): His track season was sadly stopped by a knee injury, but being the second best returner and third place finisher with a time of 15:02 as a sophomore, we could see a chart topping performance from him if healthy.
3. Nick Monkemeyer (Sr., Rockford Christian): For the last two years he has cracked into the top ten at this state meet. He stands as the fourth place finisher and third best returner at last year’s state meet with a time of 15:10. He also ran a pretty good track season with a 9:41 3200 and 4:29 1600. He appears to be ready to go for this season with a 15:39 Detweiller at Dark race.
4. Tyler Johnson (Sr., Pleasant Plains): He returns as a top ten finisher and the fifth best returner with a time of 15:16. He is also one of the best out there in terms of track times with a 9:32 and 4:27 double placing 2nd and 7th in the 3200m and 1600m finals. He also ran a 4:21 prelim, making him the 2nd best seed going into the 1600 finals. After a big step-up junior year, watch for a good year of cross country from him.
5. Ross McCormick (Sr., Seneca): He has been showing consistently remarkable improvement over the years. He finished 15th place last year with a time of 15:23 making him the 7th best returner. During track, he ran 9:47 in the 3200, 1:59 in the 800, and raced 4:22 in the 1A 1600 finals, placing him 4th. Finally, he already ran 15:24 at Detweiller at Dark.
6. Seth Williams (Sr., Rock Falls): He ran quite a phenomenal cross country, concluding it really well with a 15:12 8th place finish. In the track, he ran 10:08 and 4:25 for the 3200 and 1600 of course competing in the 1600 among the tough 2A crowd. No reason to doubt why he’d finish farther back than this.
7. Andrew Warnes (Sr., Tolono Unity): While last year he fell off a bit at state, his season best of 15:13 shows he is very capable of being in the chase pack. He also has a great track record, running 4:22 in the 1600 and 1:56 in the 800, not to mention placing 4th in the 800. I definitely think Warnes’ senior year is going to be a big one.
8. Matt Omulski (Sr., Elmwood): Running a 15:18 12th place showing at Detweiller, he is the 6th best returner. And for whatever it’s worth, he ran a 4:35 1600 in track, but the better indicator of his potential is the fact that he’s consistently peaked at state for the past two years. He probably won’t stop with that anytime soon.
9. Marcus Skinner (Sr., Shelbyville): He managed to get all-state honors last year with 15:29, and should be doing well better than that this year. In track he ran 9:39, 4:30, and 2:03 for the 3200, 1600, and 800 respectively. At 1A state finals he placed 7th (9:44).
10. Rolando Aguilar (Sr., Kewanee).: If healthy, he ought to be a top 10 finisher. He ran 15:24 at the Patriot Invite 2 years ago as a sophomore and stands as last year’s 21st returner.
11. Hunter Cobbley (Sr., El-Paso Gridley): He ran a 15:24 at state finishing 16th place, which makes him the 8th best returner. In the track, he ran 9:56 in the 3200 (finishing 10th in the 1A finals) and 4:32 in the 1600.
12. Brayden Hamblen (Jr., Rock Falls): Running a 15:29 at Detweiller, he is an all-state veteran and the 11th best returner. He is known, though, to run with his teammate Williams, plus he ran a 9:45, 4:29, and 2:02 in track for the 3200, 1600, and 800.
13. Noah Tennison (Sr., Robinson): Tennison emerged as a great cross country runner, peaking the season very well with a 15:25 18th place performance at Detweiller, making him the 9th best returner. He also ran a 4:35 in track.
14. Matt Stelmasek (Sr., Johnsburg): He is the 10th best returner showing up all-state with 15:26. Also ran a 4:27 1600 in track.
15. Nick Porter (Sr., Paxton Buckley Loda): Unfortunately Nick missed out on state this year along with the year before due to the notorious Decatur sectional. With the sort of talent he showed in track, which includes bests of 9:46, 4:22, and 2:00 in the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m as well as 3rd place showing (4:24) at state finals. Porter should not have that sort of trouble this year.
16. Cory Landon (Sr.) Carlinville: As an all-state veteran, he is the 12th best returner with a 15:29 at that race. In track, he ran 4:26 in the 1600m 1A state finals finishing 8th.
17. Brennan Guido (Sr.) St. Joseph Ogden: The 18th best returner but he already is in good shape this summer running a 15:57 at Detweiller at Dark. He also ran 10:01, 4:38, and 2:05 track times for the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m.
18. Zach Mesplay (Sr.) Monticello: The 14th best returner who ran 9:57, 4:34, and 2:02 in track for the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m.
19. Getch Eisenmenger (Sr., Tolono Unity): Only going back to cross country running recently after two years of soccer, he is the 15th best returner. In track he ran a 2:00 for the 800m.
20. James Kilby (Sr.) Monticello: He is the 17th best returner on only his second year running. In track he ran a 4:44 1600m.
21. Derek McCoy (Jr.) Elmwood: Stepped up really nicely in cross country last year running tightly with teammates Herridge and Omulski. This year we should expect more of the same. In track he ran a 4:43 1600m.
22. Ryan Skowronski (So.) Shelbyville: As a sophomore, he comes back as the 22nd best returner and an 8th place finalist in the 800 (2:00) this passing spring. Track times of note are 1:59 in the 800 and 4:42 in the 1600.
23. Sirlaurenc King (Sr.) Chicago Leo: He stands as the 19th best returner with a 3200 and 1600 best of 10:00 and 4:42 respectively.
24. Dawson Dodds (Sr.) Tolono Unity: The 20th best returner with a 3200 best of 9:53.
25. Tyler Pasley (Jr.) Shelbyville: He is the 24th best returner running a 9:53 3200, a 4:37 1600, and a 2:02 800.