Everyone thought that Hasty, Mwauru, or Kilrea had the race in the bag. But the hidden Troutner had other ideas (Bryan Deibel photo)
The opening pace of the boys race was set by an excited Robbie Cozean of Middlesex, CT. He led for the first few minutes before giving way to the real challengers. As it were, the race was much more competitive with the pre-meet favorite Brodey Hasty leading the charge. The senior from Brentwood Academy in Tennessee crossed the first mile checkpoint in 4:52. But there was a tight stream of runners who followed under 5:00.
In the early process Hasty was joined by fellow seniors Dylan Jacobs of Sandburg, Danny Kilrea of Lyons Township, Clayton Mendez of Chicago Whitney Young, and Dustin Horter of Lakota East, OH. But later it was James Mwaura of Tacoma, WA and Aidan Troutner of Timpview, UT pushing the pace at two miles under 9:50. Kilrea went for broke prior to the 4k mark as he did his regional run and Footlocker Regional victory. It is the way that he races. Unfortunately the surge was short lived as Mwaura and Hasty broke away and then finally Troutner taking matters very late in his hands for the win in 15:04- just holding off Hasty for the stunning victory. Kilrea led the Midwesterners in 5th (15:14). Horter (6th- 15:21), Conant Smith of Middleton, OH, Jacobs (13th- 15:30), and Mendez (18th- 15:32) closed out a great run, perhaps the best in Midwest history.