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1A Boys ranked field: #1 Chicago Latin, #4 Elmwood, #6 Elgin Harvest Christian, #7 Wheaton Academy, #8 West Hancock, #9 El Paso-Gridley #10 Stanford Olympia #12 Normal University #14 Aurora Central Catholic #16 Decatur St. Teresa #17 Rockford Christian #22 Eureka
1A Girls ranked field: #1 Winnebago, #3 Tolono Unity, #4 Eureka, #6 Wheaton Academy, #8 IC Catholic, #9 Urbana University, #14 Stanford Olympia, #15 Rockford Christian, #18 DuQuoin, #19 Clinton, #20 Williamsville, #21 Elmwood, #22 Pleasant Plains #23, El Paso Gridley, #24 Tremont
-Boys: this might be the closest thing to the state championship. This will be Latin's first real test of the season. The Romans ran one of their top runners down at the freshman level. After showing off as a hotshot middle-schooler, the talented Benjamin Gibson appears to be ready for his first three-miler to show what he can do. He will have a veteran cast to buffer him including junior Akili Parekh. The race to the tape should be a good one. Miles Sheppard of Hamilton West Hancock is the class leader with a time of 15:11. As one of the state's elite runners, Sheppard has always been a front runner. To beat him, the competitors will have to go under 15:00.
Among the six other top ten ranked schools, Elmwood and Harvest Christian Academy seem to pose the most danger. They both have demonstrated strong front running packs in the past. This will be the first time this season that the test will be displayed.
Girls: Winnebago is the heavy favorite even if they are missing a top runner in Katie Erb. She is apparently out with an injured foot. Can Unity put up a good fight against the Indians? How about Eureka? Individually, we know that it's going to be a solid one. Anna Perry of Eureka will get it started because she is the reigning top runner of this class. Kate Ahmari of Urbana UHigh has put her name in the fast action mix. Of course, there will be a few surprises along the way.