2019 Class 2A Boys Pre-Season Distance Preview


Will there be a Gilbreath-Glaub vs. Powell rematch in May?

3200m-

2018 State Champion: Adam Gilbreath-Glaub (Metamora) 9:20.62

Key Athletes: Mathias Powell (Sr., Mahomet-Seymour), Adam Gilbreath-Glaub (Jr., Metamora), Dawson Smith (Jr., Rock Falls), John Bruce (Jr., Marion), Garrett Dixon (Sr., Monticello), Sam Mickelson (Sr., Galena), Ethan Cherry (Sr., Carbondale), Austin Ames (Sr., Charleston), Julio Arellano (Sr., Woodstock)

Breakdown: Adam Gilbreath-Glaub is the returning state champion, but there are many in the crowd appear to have forgotten about him. An injury that kept Gilbreath-Glaub at bay for most of the summer and through the first half of the cross country season, relegated him to 22nd place at state. It has been three months since that time frame and hopefully, things are on the mend for one of the state's premier emerging distance runners.

Whether you want to hear it or not Powell is the man here. His first claim to the harrier throne means a lot when it comes to track and it will be hard for anyone to pry away his intents this spring. Intents? Powell ran 9:14.76, making him the 8th fastest returner regardless of class. That mark is surely going to drop which further makes the outlook bleak for others. Dawson Smith and Garrett Dixon were great Class A performers who placed in the top five cross country championship. Dixon is an athlete that could challenge Powell and the main boss players this season. Dixon ran 9:39 as a sophomore and just a few ticks in back of Powell and Gilbreath-Glaub at state. This is something to think about when prime time rolls around.