Date: 11/5/2022
Location: Detweiller Park; Peoria, IL
Course: 3.0 miles
Race Time: 2pm
Awards ceremony: 3pm at the Detweiller Park venue
Weather forecast:
MileSplit IL 50 Rankings: Read Here
The qualifying teams: #1 Plainfield South, #2 Hinsdale Central, #3 Oak Park-River Forest, #4 Downers Grove North, #5 Winnetka (New Trier), #6 Plainfield North, #7 Park Ridge (Maine South), #8 LaGrange (Lyons), #9 O'Fallon, #10 Naperville Central, #11 Palatine, #12 Naperville (Neuqua Valley), #14 Barrington, #15 Wheaton-Warrenville South, #16 Lake Zurich, #17 Yorkville, #18 Arlington Heights (Hersey), #20 Oswego East, #21 Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East), #23 Hoffman Estates (Conant), #24 Chicago (St. Ignatius), Chicago Lane, Downers Grove South, Oswego, Mt. Prospect (Prospect), Rockford Guilford, St. Charles East, Wheaton North.
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Outlook: 22 of 25 ranked teams are in the field assuring a sense of competitive balance in the field. In other words, the very best teams advance for the right to compete in the state championship. It happens to be that top-ranked Plainfield South is that team teetering on something great. Why? Three boys under 15:00 from the second week of September and the fifth runner at 15:09. The Cougars led by junior Camyn Viger could have five boys under 14:50. If so, that's 2000 York-type material.
However, weather conditions could dictate things. There was a heavy rainstorm on Friday afternoon. It is supposed to rain some more overnight which may hamper things severely by the time the big boys run in late in the day. Regardless, racing in a championship is about placement. If the Cougars' scoring split is under 45 seconds, they will be victorious.
Downers Grove North is a team that could throw a wrench in the program because they also have a nice pack. They also have three sub 15:00 performers to date, Topher Ferris, Asa Gaspar, and Caden Weber. All three must be canceled out Plainfield South's trio plus add in Grant Schroder as a key runner at #4. But as you know, races are often won at the fifth spot. Whoever, it is must be here!
Other teams to seriously consider for a trophy is Hinsdale Central, Oak Park-River Forest, and Lyons Township- all WSC Silver teams by the way. The Red Devils are led by Dan Watcke and Aden Bandukwala. They are top five to top ten options in a good situation. They are going to need help from the back of the scoring pack.
OPRF is like the other teams when it comes to firepower, they have a stud in Liam Newhart who is a lowstick runner with the potential to win it all. There are three others who broke 15:00 this season. The Huskies are going to have to be that team from mid-September if they want to break into the top three podium positions.
Lyons is trending well as a dark horse team that is surely ticketed to place inside of the top five or better. Nicholas Strayer and Cillian Henning are the front runners and possibly could be top 10 finishers. But like the other top contenders, it has to be a complete effort by all members.
The individual race will feature some of those previously mentioned like the classification leader Camyn Viger who has run 14:22. How about Riley Newport of Dekalb who is undefeated since early September? Then add in Dan Watcke who broke 15:00 for 5K in Terre Haute last month. Liam Newhart is tough as is Lake Zurich's Dylan Myers. There is always a dark horse lurking that could steal the show. Let's put Zac Close of Neuqua Valley's name on it. How fitting would it be for him to win it in Coach Paul Vandersteen's last ever cross country race as a legendary coach?