Ryder James roars his way to a state harrier title last fall
High school sports are 360 degrees in nature- a full circle if you will. Most long-distance runners will begin their quest during the early months of summer training for cross country. The three months of training that kids put in are an attempt to run in the state championship in November. For the few lucky ones, they will go on and compete in Nike Cross Nationals, Foot Locker, or some other post-season meet.
But what has been lost in the sauce is the entire school calendar which runs through the winter indoor campaign and finally back around to the all-important outdoor track and field season. We wanted to chronicle the very beginning and end. Obviously, athletes get lazy after cross country or hurt. Some play other sports in the spring-like lacrosse, club soccer, baseball, volleyball, etc.
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1. Ryder James (Sr., Paxton-Buckley-Loda) 14:16.89- completed in the 1600m state prelims (32nd), clocked 4:17.26 at Shelby Open; 3200m (9:18.31i PB)
2. Drew Rogers (Sr., Herscher) 14:29.00- competed in 2A; 3200m State Champion, 9:06.31; 1600m State Runner-Up, 4:14.55
3. Miles Sheppard (Sr., Warsaw) 14:31.96- 3rd/state, 9:20.68 PB; 9th/state, 4:25.49 PB
4. Daniel Winkelman (Jr., Elgin [Harvest Christian Academy]) 14:42.27- 3rd/3200m state, 9:20.68 PB; 9th/1600m, 4:25.49 PB
5. Issac Teel (So., Pinckneyville) 14:45.08- 1600m state champion (4:17.59 PB); 5th/state 3200m (9:34.85 PB)
6. Gavin Genisio (So., Benton) 14:46.97- competed in 2A; 800m State Runner-Up (1:53.15 PB); 5th/state 1600m, 4:07.71 PB; 3200m PB 9:18.44
7. Mason Stoeger (Sr., Minonk (Fieldcrest) 14:58.52-7th/state, 4:27.49; 3200m (9:50.52 PB)
8. Ryan Hardiman (Sr., Chicago (Latin) 14:59.19-3200m State Runner-Up (9:22.57); 6th/state, 4:18.96 PB
9. Tommy Murray (Jr., Port Byron (Riverdale) 15:17.01- 3rd/state, 4:19.25 PB; 4th state/3200m (9:31.76 PB)
10. Akili Parekh (Jr., Chicago (Latin) 15:18.08- 7th/state (3200m), 9:18.99 PB; 10th/1600m, 4:22.16 PB
11. Kieran Subra (Sr., Chicago (Lycée Français de Chicago) 15:18.35- 3200m State Champion (9:15.58 PB); 5th/state 1600m, 4:21.75
12. Cannen Wolf (Sr., Liberty) 15:18.91- 6th/state 3200m (9:35.50 PB); 11th/1600m state, 4:31.28 PB
13. Logan Beckmier (Jr., Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond) 15:20.73- 11th/3200m state, 9:53.56 PB; 14th state prelims (4:33.14 PB)
14. Ethan Walsh (Sr., Rockford Christian) 15:20.96- Ran on State Championship winning 4x800 relay; ran 1600m in 4:39.86
15. Landen Swiney (Sr., DuQuoin) 15:21.42- 9th/state (9:52.01 PB)
16. Mac Kittrell (Jr., Chicago (DePaul College Prep) 15:22.64- competed in 2A; 3rd/state 3200m (9:23.42 PB); 12th/state 1600m, 4:22.93 PB
17. Thomas Harmon (Sr., Elmwood) 15:25.74- 3rd/state 800m (1:54.77 PB); 1600m state/12th place, 4:27.32
18. Bryson Grant (Jr., Iroquis West) 15:27.14- 4th place/state 1600m (4:23.34 PB)
19. Weston Forward (So., Rockford-Christian) 15:28.69- 8th place/3200m (9:44.44 PB); 1600m prelims- 18th (4:36.08 PB)
20. Benjamin Gibson (Fr., Chicago (Latin) 15:29.44- 800m state prelims- 18th place; 1600m (4:27.10 PB)
21. Isaac Stanford (Sr., Flora) 15:30.66- 7th state/800m, 1:55.60 PB; 1600m (4:23.17 PB)
22. Eli Mojonnier (Sr., Bismarck-Henning) 15:31.33- 800m State Champion (1:54.33 PB); 15th state prelims/1600m, 4:21.48 PB
23. Camden Quarton (So., Litchfield) 15:33.11- 23rd state/3200m. 10:34.06; 1600m state prelims (4:39.40 PB)
24. Landis Musser (Jr., Port Byron (Riverdale) 15:33.91- 12th/state 800m; 13th state prelims- 1600m (4:32.77 PB)
25. Charlie Richardson (Jr., Chicago (DePaul College Prep) 15:34.12- Did not advance in any state meet events; 800m (1:57.58 indoors); 1600m (4:26.41 indoor)