WATCH: THE CYUP MISFITS INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY HOKA ON MILESPLIT
Date: Saturday, January 20
Time: 2:05pm
The Misfits field:
1 Nicholas Strayer (Sr., Lagrange Lyons Twp, IL) 4:16.29
2 Dalton Lowery (Sr., Chicago Whitney Young) 4:19.99
3 Will Kozlowski (Sr., Chicago Lane Tech) 4:19.72
4 Camyn Viger (Sr., Plainfield South, IL) 4:10.75
5 Liam Naughton (Sr., Arlington Heights Hersey IL) 4:17.10
6 Parker Dewey (Sr., Eau Claire Memorial, WI) 4:16.83
7 Max Malloy (Jr., Elkhart, IN) 4:16.84
8 Tiger Bartlett (Sr., Ryle Union, KY) 4:16.95
9 Trey Sato (Sr., Grayslake Central, IL) 4:14.21
10 Jaden Merrick (So. Cedar Falls, IA) 4:16.27
11 Samuel Trumble (Sr., Montgomery Bell Academy; Nashville TN) 4:17.19
12 TJ Hansen (Jr., Freeland, MI) 4:07.99
Outlook: The boys' field flavor starkly contrasts with the girls' in terms of geography. Half of the field will represent the home state; only one runner is outside the Midwest in Samuel Trumble of Tennessee. Regardless of where each athlete comes from, it is a very talented field.
TJ Hansen made his presence known after winning the mile at the GVSU Bob Eubanks Open last weekend at Grand Valley State U with a time of 4:07.99. He is in to challenge fellow Michigander Hunter Jones' meet record (4:07.36).
If there is anyone capable of challenging Hansen, it could be Camyn Viger whose credentials are comparable. This will be Viger's season opener and it's plausible that he will be under 4:15 at minimum.
Assuming that times will be adequate, watch for Tiger Bartlett, who ran sub-4:20 in his final three races of last season. This will be his opening race of 2024.
Trey Sato enjoyed a terrific cross country in which he took second in the 2A division. His credentials of 1:53.1, 4:14, and 50.10 are very good. He could be in the running for a top-three spot.
This will be Jaden Merrick's biggest meet outside of his all-star performance last May. Merrick does come in with good momentum from the cross country season.