A feisty boys field in 2019 was greeted with tons of natural elements that
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Key entrants: CO- Zane Bergen (Sr., Niwot), Matthew Edwards (So., The Classical Academy); IL- Micah Wilson (Sr., St. Charles East), Nick Falk (Sr., New Trier), Ryder James (Sr., Paxton-Buckley- Loda), Luke Wiley (Sr., Warren), Riley Newport (Sr., Dekalb); IN- Izaiah Steury (Sr., Angola), Krishna Thirunavukkarasu (Sr., Brebeuf), Kole Mathison (Jr., Carmel); IA- Jackson Heidesch (Jr., Dowling Catholic); MI- Riley Hough (Sr., Hartland), Hunter Jones (Jr., Benzie Central), Caleb Jarema (Sr., Pinckney), Luke Venhuizen (Sr., Traverse City); MN- Nick Gilles (Jr., Minnetonka), Noah Breker (Jr. Robbinsdale Armstrong); MO- Andrew Hauser (So., Columbia), Ethan Lee (Sr., Liberty North), Connor Burns (Jr., Southern Boone); NE- Gabe Hinrichs (Sr., Elkhorn South); OH- Kiefer Bell (Sr., Talawanda); SD- Simeon Birnbaum (Jr., Rapid City Stevens), Sawyer Clarkson (Jr., Belle Fourche); WI- Owen Bosley (Jr., Homestead)
Outlook: It could be one of the deepest fields in meet history and a great way to kick off the newly named Eastbay Championships. There will be three MileSplit 50 national performers and a fleet of state champions from 13 states entered. Remember there are 10 slots destined for the warm climes of San Diego.
Colorado's top runner Stanford University-bound Zane Bergen is US#9 and entered and of course ready to keep his undefeated streak (4th in a controlled dual meet don't count) on the line after big wins at the prestigious Desert Twilight "Sweepstakes" and the state championship.
Illinois will bring its usual big haul of entrants and talent to Kenosha. Among the flock to watch is big-school state champion Micah Wilson. Wilson put the hammer down on the competition late in the season and appears ready to make his first appearance on the national cross country stage. Luke Wiley is another one with a chance to make it to San Diego, he has run 15:05 on Wisconsin soil this season. Nick Falk is the big school state runner-up (14:14 3m) nearly equal to Wiley and Wilson. Don't sleep on Riley Newport. If he hasn't lost his fitness since the state meet, he could be among the top 10-15 finishers.
Indiana doesn't appear to be as strong as it has in the past. However, keep in mind regardless of the volume of talent entered, quantity is there. Izaiah Steury is a big talent for sure but which guy is going to show up? Will it be the state-leading 14:51 dude or the one who let a state championship slip through his fingers? Foe Krishna Thirunavukkarasu is a newer name on the season. His claim to fame is leading his team to a state title. He has also broken 15:00. Kole Mathison is top talent from the Hoosier state.
If there is a state that always performs to its best ability in the post-season, it's Michigan. Its very own icon Dathan Ritzenheim holds the course record with an orbit like 14:35 (2000). Well, the US#1 Riley Hough is ready to uphold that tradition. He is 14-0 on the season. With a deadly finishing kick, Hough may just hang tough with the leaders and push for the win in the final half-mile for the win. Hunter Jones make his name by winning the adidas Indoor National 5k last March. His consistency has continued to be on display as he took third in the big class state meet and runner up at the NXN MW title bout. Caleb Jarema and Benne Anderson will battle for berths in San Diego.
Minnesota state big school champion Nick Gilles is a guy you want to keep an eye on. Although he placed 12th at the NXN Heartland Championship, he will be among the top placers.
Andrew Hauser surprised the NXN Midwest field several weeks ago. Not many people outside of Missouri thought it would happen. Could he shock the field once again and punch his ticket to San Diego?
Nebraska's Gabe Hinrich may be underrated because his state is not a cross country powerhouse. But Hinrich who has signed on to Notre Dame University won the NXN Heartland Regional title over a strong field in 15:00.
Owen Bosley will lead the Wisconsin charge. He was third in the big class state meet but then fell to 31st at NXN Heartland. Hopefully, he put the bad race behind him.