3A race action at Hinsdale (Steve Bugarin photo)
Individuals-
[3A]
The collapse of Irwin Loud (Oak Park) just a couple hundred meters from the end of the Lake Park sectional changes the look of the individual race this weekend- the likely pacesetter for the race now watches from the outside in, where a gaggle of talented runners close to each other will move quickly in unison. With Loud, the tactic seemed clear. Without Loud, this is no longer the case.
Four sectional race winners pop out immediately- Sean Torpy (Sandburg), Matt Pereira (Lake Zurich), Keagan Smith (Huntley), and Charlie Kern Jr (York). Each of these young men are dangerous in their own way. Torpy has the motivation of a possible team title, and maybe even teammates running alongside him among the All-State pack, giving Torpy support that his individual competitor may not have. Pereira, now healthy, would not consider himself a favorite, but one of the most talented runners in recent Illinois history with ample Detweiller experience will put himself in the right position when it matters. Kern seems to be running at a dominant level when the season is winding up, and a season of hard training is now culminating.
Smith, however, has maybe the most compelling motivation. His Huntley team, viewed as a top team in the state before the season, missed the state qualification just by a point at the hands of Naperville Central. Smith will be running for the teammates that could not run, as well as his teammates Seth Conroy and Mike Grocholski, who will be joining him in the race. This is a motivation that should not be overlooked…and Smith is also a 4:10 1600 runner. That means he has motivation AND wheels.
But the race is just so much wider open than just that. Not far behind Pereira at Schaumburg was Kevin Salvano (Buffalo Grove), a two-time All Staters with the fastest three mile time entering the 3A race. Many consider Salvano still to be the state favorite and certainly can pull away from the pack if need be. Dustin Macuiba from Warren has torn up courses in northern Illinois and will test his mettle against the rest of the state this Saturday. The Neuqua Valley pack, particularly Aidan Livingston, Scott Anderson and Jake McEneaney, have led races all year long and finished just seconds behind Smith at West Aurora. Lyon's Danny Kilrea, Vince Zona and Connor Madell represent a similar strength. We have already mentioned Blake Evertsen as well, who despite finishing third, is viewed as another favorite for the state title as well. Alec Danner has improved consistently and quickly throughout the year and is pushed by the qualification of Downers North. Somewhere, Soren Knudsen (Minooka) is raising his hand saying "Hey, I won a sectional too?"
Convinced that it is open yet? This state race does NOT provide us with the clear favorite at all. The field may have been thinned out a little bit by the misfortune of injury and disqualification. But the depth of the state remains considerable. And I think that we should consider just for a moment the gravity of the talent at this meet. Sandburg brings one of the greatest teams in Illinois history to Peoria and yet we are not certain they will win this race. Salvano ran 14:22 early this year- and is not even close to the prohibitive favorite. And even with all this analysis, the race will surprise us in ways we cannot even fathom quite yet. If that alone does not get you beyond excited for this meet... well, show up to Detweiller Park anyways. You won't regret it.
[2A]-
No clear favorite has established himself in 2015, but coaches' consensus across the state pegs Jack Aho (Grayslake Central) as the likely front runner for the individual championship, and his accomplishments tend to agree. A handful of race wins came at the hands of many 3A competitors, and Aho owns the fastest 3 mile time in the division this year--however, he does only by .4 seconds, followed as closely behind by Alex Keeble, running with the motivation to help his team win a state championship. Aho and Keeble have run similar seasons with similar racing styles, running for the win just a little ahead of a dominant team pack for those schools. Surely heavy hits will be laid throughout the course of the race and an aggressive race is more likely than not. Aho's versatility and consistent success does make him the favorite but he will be closely followed.
Runners find ways to emerge from the fold, and Shane Williamson (Vernon Hills) did exactly that last year. Williamson was quiet throughout track but is loud once again this fall--his 14:41 at First to the Finish is the third fastest time in 2A this year. The first set of teammates likely to make a supporting appearance should be Roman Drabchuk and Charlie Nodus (Hinsdale South), an advantage that few others should have that far into the race. Jack Franklin (Normal U) and Ben Flowers (Jerseyville) represent the late-season success of emerging individuals, and both have defeated several state favorites to establish themselves as well. Luke Beattie (Woodstock) finished shoulder-to-shoulder with Williamson at sectionals.
It stings to have to cut the preview off but all these athletes bring such unique strengths and experiences to the race. The historic skill of the state is finally on display and it would surely be a shame to miss it for something less exciting.
Jon Davis in motion (Beth Schied photo)
[1A]- by Alex Goodlad
1. Jon Davis (Sr. Fithian Oakwood)
Now get this: Jon Davis has been undefeated all season, by any athlete of any class division in the state of Illinois. At the Richard Spring Invitational, he ran an amazing time of 14:10 and at the Decatur Sectional he ran a 14:28 in nasty conditions. When asked in an interview after his race at Decatur he said he was planning on racing the opening mile in 4:36.5, and "see what (he) can do from there." Make of it what you will!
2. Tanner Chada (Jr. Aurora Christian)
He was the third place finisher from last year and should be the runner up this year. He has not raced most of the season from an injury he was recovering from, but the races he has raced at were all first place victories, even against Brayden Hamblen and his excellent season.
3. Andrew Warnes (Sr. Tolono Unity)
Andrew Warnes has gone the whole season undefeated by anyone whose name is not Jon Davis, and he has raced among some tough competition, including a lot of the East Central Illinois region invites, and then the Patriot invitational where he won in a time of 14:44. In the Decatur Sectional, he also went under 15 minutes in tough conditions. I would be honestly surprised if Warnes doesn't finish in the top three.
4. Brayden Hamblen (Jr. Rock Falls)
Brayden Hamblen has run a really good season and has been beaten only by Tanner Chada and higher division competition. He has never been beaten by his teammate Seth Williams. At sectionals, he more or less dusted the competition and won by a good 19 seconds. He finally ran a sub-15 at the Big Northern conference, so it definitely seems like he's prepared to race a sub-15 again at Detweiller.
5. Tyler Johnson (Sr. Pleasant Plains)
Like last year, we have seen a great season from Tyler Johnson, and we should see it end well, too. He has already broken the 15 minute barrier at the Patriot Invite and is once again the established Elmwood Sectional champion, even when contested by a tapering Matt Omulski. "Tyler is in the best shape I've ever seen him in," remarks Coach Derek DeBarr, "and he's been doing very well on his workouts. He's tapering and ready to go. If the conditions are right, he could be under 14:50. Regardless of place, that would be a very, very successful race."
6. Marcus Skinner (Sr. Shelbyville)
His winning record may not be the best ever, but that's only because he doesn't do every race at 100% effort. The races where he obviously tried at he has come on top, like the Spartan Classic, and most notably sectionals where he finished third place with his best time yet of 15:06 in subpar positions. This, to me, establishes him as a very likely top ten finisher and a top five contender.
7. Cory Landon (Sr. Carlinville)
He may have not always beat various runners in the East Central Illinois region, but a major selling point for Cory Landon is that he already went sub-15 at the Peoria Heights meet! So when it comes to running the strong pace at Detweiller that it will take to place in the top ten in this race, it will be nothing new to him.
8. Matt Omulski (Sr. Elmwood)
It can be really hard to rank Elmwood runners because they may not have the better times than their competitors prior to the state meet, but we all know at the end of the day that they tend to peak at that day of state and therefore are good at getting themselves into the mix of the large front group. Such is exactly the case with Matt Omulski. He finished twelfth pace last year and we should find him among the top ten this year.
9. Noah Tennison (Sr. Robinson)
He made it into all-state last year, and he has much improved this year, running a better time at every invitational so far, and most notably finishing fourth place at the Decatur Sectional. Do not be surprised if he runs another breakthrough race at state.
10. Matt Stalesmasek (Sr. Johnsburg)
In terms of his seasonal record, Matt Stalesmasek has a pretty good one: "Our #1 Matt Stelmasek has only been beaten by 4 other class 1A runners this year," remarks Coach Christopher Sletzer. "The way he's been racing he should be a top 10 individual at state and if he has a great day could crack the top 5." I would say that's accurate.