Boys Runner of The Year
1st Josh Methner (Jr., Arlington Heights [Hersey]) (7 first place votes)
Methner was the most consistent runner in Illinois during the regular season. The junior only lost once and it was the first race of the year to Rory Cavan of Glenbard West at the Fenton Early Bird Invite. Cavan's win came with controversy, as Methner took a wrong turn during the race thereby losing some ground on Cavan. But Methner had some huge wins throughout the rest of the season, including wins at the Richard Spring Invite, the Palatine "Meet of Champions" Invite, the MSL Championship, and Hoffman Estates Regionals and Sectionals. His performance at the MOC invite may have been his best all year as he defeated the defending Palatine "Meet of Champions" Boys champion Tommy Brady of Maine South by ten seconds and running a new course record time of 14:32.2.
As Methner entered the state series it seemed as if he was doing only what he needed to do, conserving energy and merely advancing, until the state meet where he was locked into an amazing battle with Brady. The two ran the race side by side breaking off from the pack about a mile and a half into the race. They were together until about 200 meters out from the finish where Methner decided to go for it and put six seconds on Brady with a 14:11.50 to win his first state title. Congrats to Methner as he is the 2018 Milesplit IL Illinois Boys Runner of The Year.
Other nominees: 2nd Mathias Powell (Sr., Mahomet-Seymour) (1 first place vote), 3rd Rory Cavan (Sr., Glen Ellyn [Glenbard West])