The party spoiling Riley Wells is ready to revel things up in 2A
800m-
2018 State Champion: Jared Schuckman (Normal University) 1:53.87
Key Athletes: Riley Wells (Sr., Rockford Christian), Chris Gilbert (Sr., Peoria Notre Dame), Brent Brunner (Sr., Rockford Christian), Jacob Gray (Sr., Metamora), Terry Hendriex (Jr., Clinton), Payton Borich (Sr., Urbana), Scott Sikorski (Sr., Nazareth Academy), Micha Reed (Sr., Decatur MacArthur), Eli Steinbeck (Sr., Eureka), Chris Cherry (So., Taylorville)
Breakdown: Riley Wells and several other outstanding runners have moved in from 1A and 3A classes respectively. Wells is the name that immediately gets attention and is a threat to previously top dog Chris Gilbert. Wells was a two-time defending state champ and one of the elite half-milers in the state running 1:53.72.
Don't expect Gilbert to be a pushover though. He placed 8th in the state championship last year and has a winning bloodline running through his veins. Gilbert's older sister Maryjeanne was a multiple state champion who once finished second in the Footlocker Cross Country Championship. But if new competition is what's needed to see a vast improvement in Gilbert's 1:56.31 personal best, then so be it.
Riley's teammate Brent Brunner will have an opportunity to shine individually. Brunner has a personal best of 1:59.38, but he earned his bread and butter on the 4x800 relay and 1600m.
In general, this event is in the emerging stages after taking a big hit from graduation. Jacob Gray, Terry Hendrieix, Payton Borich, Scott Sikorski, and Micha Reed should be names that fans get accustomed to seeing on the stat sheet all season long.