800m-
2019 State Champion: Riley Wells (Rockford [Christian]) 1:56.02
Key Athletes: Patric Natindim (Arlington Heights [St. Viator]), Andrew Hutchinson (Sr., Popular Grove [North Boone]), Jackson McAlister (Sr., Waterloo), Eli Ward (Sr., Waterloo), Gyvanziel Quinonez (Sr., Rochelle), Matt Speidel (Sr., Centralia), Parker Kistner (Sr., Stanford-Olympia), Jake Shumaker (Sr., Mt. Zion), Nick Martin (Sr., Tinley Park), Rafael Pantoja (Sr., Streator), Spencer Lindstrom (Sr., Geneseo), Trevon Buchanan (Sr., Chicago Lindblom), Ben La Prad (Jr., Macomb), Tommy Zettl (Sr., Burlington Central)
Outlook: Could this be the year of Patric Ntandim of St. Viator? He is the top returner from the state meet last year when he took 4th running 1:57.04. Natindim stayed consistent throughout the year breaking 2:00 in four of his five races outdoors as well as taking 2nd at Top Times during the indoor portion of the year. After an excellent xc season that saw him take 31st at XC State, can sub 1:54 be possible for the rising star?
Jackson McAlister has the top returning time in the classification going 1:55.54 last year at the Collinsville Boys Invite. The University of Missouri commit has the grit and experience to be the best when the dust settles. Metaphorically speaking, we could see several clashes between McAlister and Natindim. It could be the Top Times meet at the end of March and the end of the indoor season.
The X-factor for McAlister could be that he has the best training partner in the state in the form of teammate Eli Ward. Ward ran a 1:57.00 last year and is expected to be a top-three performer.
The dark horse could possibly be Andrew Hutchinson who is the second-fastest returner from the state meet and a man that is protruding with potential. Hutchinson's 1:57.91 is nothing to snooze at and improvement is a perfect trajectory, he will be well under 1:56 and ready to roll with the big dogs.