Deerfield showed they were one of the best overall teams in the state earlier this year at the Palatine Meet of Champions (Laura Duffy photo)
Date: 11/8/2025
Location: Detweiller Park; Peoria, IL
Course: 3.0 miles
Race Time: 12:00p; awards ceremony: 1p at the Detweiller Park venue
Weather forecast: 50°F, cloudy
MileSplit IL 50 Rankings: Read Here
The qualifying teams: #1 Dixon, #2 Deerfield, #3 Mahomet-Seymour, #4 Peoria (Notre Dame), #5 Morton, #6 Mt. Vernon, #7 Taylorville, #8 Bethalto (Civic Memorial), #9 Aurora (Central Catholic), #10 Crystal Lake Central, #11 Morris, #12 Normal (University), #13 Highland, #14 Herrin, #15 Marion, #17 Niles (Northridge Prep), #19 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South), #22 Aurora (Marmion Academy), #24 Washington, Chicago Lake View, Chicago (Latin), Darien (Hinsdale South), Elmhurst (Timothy Christian), Geneseo, Metamora, Lagrange Park (Nazareth Academy), Maple Park (Kaneland), Lombard (Montini)
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Outlook: This will be one of the best team races of the day. There are five teams with a legitimate chance to bring home the state title.
Dixon wasn't in the perch seat during the pre-season, but the Dukes steadily worked their way to the top and have looked the best of the bunch over the past few weeks and come in as the favorite. At the Lakes Sectional, it was a dominating 30-second split over #2 Deerfield that prevented any thought of an upset. Dean Geiger (Jr), Averick Wiseman (Jr), and Keegan Shirley (Sr) were top 10 finishers for the squad.
Mahomet-Seymour has the firepower to take the Dukes down with great pack running. If they are clicking on all cylinders, it will be close. Top runner Henry McMurry (Sr) will need to be the low stick, mixing it up with all of the other top dogs.
If this were a race where seven runners scored, Deerfield would be the heavy favorite as they have the best 6-7 runners in the class. But it's not. Jamie Chandler (Sr) has been the team ace all season long, and he was fourth at sectionals. The scoring pack will need to find a way to close the gap on him.
Morton and Peoria Notre Dame are also both absolutely loaded and could walk away with a state title if anyone has an off day. They are primed and ready for this epic team battle. Again, the 2A boys' race will be the highlight of the day!
My top 10 teams: 1
Dixon, 2
Mahomet Seymour, 3
Deerfield, 4
Morton, 5
Peoria (Notre Dame), 6
Aurora (Central Catholic), 7
Normal (University), 8
Washington, 9
Bethalto (Civic Memorial), 10
Taylorville
The individual race will have so much firepower, it is entirely up in the air as to who will bring home the title. Some will say that Max Weber will come in as a marginal favorite after mowing through the competition this season. He dispatched most of his main rivals at the Mattoon Sectional, beating outstanding foes Quaid Berger (So., Richland Co) and Gabriel Greer (Jr., Marion).
Carson Kaiser (So., Kaneland) deserves more respect than he has been given. He has looked incredible over the past couple of weeks, with a dominating victory at the Lakes Sectional, which produced a state-leading time of 14:16. Although he won the very early-season First To The Finish Invitational in 14:28, he hasn't raced much or against the competition like some of the other candidates. However, he will be a force with the leading pack.
Thomas Jochum (Jr., Glenbard South) has come on strong the past couple of weeks and will also be in the mix for the individual title. Don't discount Greer, Max Kirby (Jr., Peoria Notre Dame), or Judah Binger (So., Belvidere North) as these three have the talent to bring home the win as well. A sleeper pick is Liam Bettis (Jr) from Taylorville. He has been looking at this race all season as his goal, and is primed and ready to go for it. This is a battle royale that will keep fans on the edge until the finish!