It was a downright wet, cold, and nasty day at the IHSA State Cross Country Championships
The 2022 Season in a nutshell could be termed a comeback on its own. For the first time since 2019, there was a true sense of ambition in the air. That ambition meant that previous restrictions and concerns from Covid-19 would be behind us.
And it was.
2022 provided excitement from all over the cross country realm from the beginning of August until the end of the season in November and some in the month of December. Let's get to it!
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Athlete of the year-
Dylon Nalley (Jr., Marion)- perseverance was the name of the game for Nalley whose trials and tribulations as a sophomore caused him to miss the official IHSA season. However, he produced a glimpse of what was to come with a solid 5000m (15:32) performance at the RunningLane Cross Country Championships. After dropping 9:28 (3200m) on the track during the spring, the Nalley camp was ready to turn up things for the 2022 season.
Nalley enjoyed a very active summer in which he ran many miles that built his confidence to the max. He ran 14:48 at the Detweiller at Dark meet on 85 miles per week during the summer peak.
It is hard to win one cross country race or invite, but Nalley went undefeated against the state competitors, his only loss was to Missouri's Ian Kemey at the Granite City Invite.
Nalley's defining moment of the season was the Peoria Invite on October 1. In that race, he was set on torching the state's top mark (14:22)... and he did from the gun, busting the first mile in 4:28. The biggest headline from Detweiller was midway through the race and the course was blocked by a flock of runners. Nalley had to scream out to them to move which slowed his progress. Amazingly, he was still able to complete the run in a lightning fast 14:03!
Nalley completed the deal by winning the 2A state championship easily in 14:46. The conditions were about as atrocious as its been in meet history. Still, he was able to cop the fastest overall time and cement himself as the best runner in the state.
Honorable mention: Gavin Genisio (Jr., Benton), Aden Bandukwala (Jr., Hinsdale Central), Liam Newhart (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest), Dale Johnson (Jr., Sterling), Dan Watcke (Sr., Hinsdale Central), Dylan Myers (Sr., Lake Zurich), Riley Newport (Sr., Dekalb), Isaac Teel (Jr., Pinckneyville), Oliver Burns (Sr., Plainfield North), Grant Giblin (Jr., Orland Park Sandburg), Tommy Murray (Sr., Port Byron [Riverdale])
Newcomer of the year-
Alexander Krieg (Fr., Palatine)- The freshmen class was excellent this year and Krieg was a key reason. The future Pirates star was able to develop well on the undercard card circuit. Krieg won his first three invites: Hinsdale Hornet-Devil, Peoria Richard Spring, and Palatine Meet of Champions. It was the latter race that Krieg broke the 2.5 mile meet record in 12:41. He was promoted to varsity and produced his best effort of the season as the team's #2 man at the Hoffman Estates Sectional. Alex ran 15:05 to take fifth and only five seconds in the back of his big brother senior Mason Krieg.
Alex was among a handful of top newcomers who competed in the state championship. In very rough conditions, he placed 86th overall and was the third finisher for the Pirates. He was also the third freshman in the 3A field. The trajectory is definitely something we all be looking forward to seeing in the future for Mr. Krieg.
Honorable mention: Owen Horeni (Fr., Yorkville), Caleb Mathias (Fr., Champaign Central), Thomas Czerwinski (Fr., Plainfield North), Adan Cordova (Fr., Grayslake Central), Harrison Schroeder (Fr., O'Fallon)
Most improved runner of the year-
Aden Bandukwala (Jr., Hinsdale Central)- It was an incredible season for "Bunny" who felt no pressure running the majority of the season as the team's #2 runner behind Dan Watcke for almost the entirety of the season... until winning the prized 3A state title in 14:46. Bandukwala rode a big wave from racing selectively and performing at optimum levels. Arguably the biggest race of the season was at the Nike Twilight Invite. He took 12th in 15:05 (5K) on a very challenging Terre Haute, IN course. It proved he could rock with some of the best runners in the Midwest.
Back to the state championship, Bandukwala of all runners was able to sustain abnormal weather and course conditions through the crucial first half of the race. He was with the lead pack with less than a mile to go, and with his tremendous leg speed from championship level 4x8 and 4x4 relays, the previously unimaginable could be achieved. Bandukwala, with all of his mental and physical strength, inched past conference foe, Liam Newhart, for the incredible win.
Honorable mention: Julian Baker (Jr., Mt. Zion), Dylon Nalley (Marion), Mario Torres (Sr., Buffalo Grove), Ethan Hogan (Jr., Columbia), Samuel Teppo (Sr., New Trier), Grant Schroder (So., Downers Grove North), Joe Bregenzer (So., Barrington), Rory Gaan (So., Palatine Fremd)