Athletes to watch: Owen Horeni, Carson Kaiser, Thomas Cierwzinski, Aidan Connors, Phillip Cupial, Conrad Saner, Max Weber, Tra'Monti Williams, AJ Ince
The distance events for the indoor season are hard to gauge overall, as some teams run hard indoors and some play possum a little bit.
Owen Horeni is an athlete who should turn some heads indoors in the middle-distance events as the top returner in the state. Carson Kaiser had a great indoor season as a freshman and further cemented himself as a true contender this cross country season. I look to both him and Max Weber to challenge the sub-9:10 barrier indoors.
The Plainfield North duo of Thomas Cierwzinski and Aidan Connors will be dangerous in the 3200 as well. The man, Phillip Cupial, is going to be a feared competitor in whatever event he chooses to focus on. He is a great miler and will likely serve as a relay runner for DGN as well. His half-mile speed is scary if he chooses to pursue that event as well. The 800 could be loaded indoors with Tra'Monti Williams, AJ Ince, and Horeni. It should be fun to watch!
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3200m-
Aidan Connors (Sr., Plainfield North)- The top indoor returner with a 9:12.21 and a 4th place finish at the Illinois Indoor Championships. Connors would eventually run 9:10.09 by season's end, but not quite in the all-state podium. He was about to return last fall and produce a great cross country season. It should spawn another refreshing run.
Thomas Czerwinski (Sr., Plainfield North)- Didn't race a ton during the indoor season a year ago, but went on to run 9:06.49 as a PB. Will no doubt be fighting for an individual state title this spring.
Karanveer Patil (So., Lake Zurich)- Right on cue from middle school to high school, rocked his foes during the winter of '25 with a time of 9:12.94.
Raphael Greer (Jr., Marion)- 2A state runner-up during the outdoor track season, but got roughed up during the cross country season at the end. R. Greer immediately stormed back early in the indoor season and posted an eye-opening 9:00.21
Gabriel Greer (Jr., Marion)- The 2A state xc runner-up in a blazing 14:10, recently locked horns with his twin brother Raphael at the University of Missouri open meet. He was just behind his bro at 9:00.43.
Max Weber (Sr., Civic Memorial)- 2A state champ deserves to be on the headline. Weber doesn't have a padded indoor resume. Look for that to change, for him to add this event to his docket, and for him to make himself a favorite to win the state title in May. He opened his indoor slate with a 9:08.80 win. Has a PB of 9:14.98.
Thomas Jochum (Jr., Glen Ellyn Glenbard South)- 2A cross country state champ in '24 is one of the top deuce runners back on the scene. He missed almost the entire outdoor season due to injury, but showed his potential with a 9:19.17.
Liam Bettis (Jr., Taylorville)- Opened season with a win in the Misfits Invite penultimate section, clocking 4:15.21. Bettis made it known out of the gate that he means serious business.
Miguel Flores (Berwyn-Cicero Morton)- A part-time performer here who ran 9:12. There may be some motivation to be a full-time player after missing cross country all-state honors by one spot.
Philip Cupial (Sr., Downers Grove North)- The state's best cross country runner deserves to be on this list, especially after running 14:03 for three-miles. His track coaches indicated that Cupial will run the event a few times during the indoor season and go from there. It will be a must-see event when this happens.
Alexander Krieg (Sr., Palatine)- Top overall time returning of 9:02.41 and finished 4th in the 3A state meet. However, a banner cross country season did not follow. There will be more than enough motivation to prove he is for real this spring.
Others to watch: Gordy Libby (Sr., Lake Zurich), Jack Jennings (Jr., Palatine Fremd), Samuel Hill (Jr., St. Charles North), Samuel Assefa (Jr., Chicago Lane Tech), Alex Batsala (Jr., Plainfield South), Edward Polaski (So., Batavia), Matthew King (Sr., Glenbard West), Miguel Flores (Jr., Morton Cicero), Brayden Kloeppel (Sr., O'Fallon), Chaz Oberkfell (Sr., Gillespie), Jameson Tenopir (Sr., Cary-Grove), Carson Kaiser (So., Maple Park Kaneland), Quaid Berger (So., Olney Richland County), Jesse Gudauskas (Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley), Amilo Rajandram (Jr., Chicago Whitney Young)
800m-
Philip Cupial- Ran the 4x8 in the state series and Nike Track Finals, netting state and national titles. Cupial did run one of the nation's top times, 1:50.08. He is expected to run this event a bit more this season. He is the odds-on favorite and best half-miler until further notice.
Tra'monti Williams (Sr., Chicago Payton)- Last year's 2A state champion was set up by an excellent indoor season that boosted his outdoor season. Williams ran 1:53.73, which ranks #2 for returners.
Owen Horeni (Sr., Yorkville)- The state's #1 returner for the undercover season is back with a shining 1:53.60. Horeni, of course, is preparing for a slick outdoor championship season, but he has already done some amazing feats heading into the deep winter, like running an all-time best 1:18.86 for 600m. That puts him on course to become a sub 1:49 or even 1:48 by season's end.
Mateo Ramiro-Garcia (Sr., Orland Park Sandburg)- An integral part of the Eagles' 4x800 relay,
Sam Wollak (Jr., St. Charles East)
Ben Gorsage (Jr. Washington)-Kicked the 2026 indoor season
Nathaniel Gabriel
Others to watch: AJ Ince (Sr., Normal Community), Caden Wolfe (Sr., Tinley Park Andrew), Gordy Libby (Sr., Lake Zurich), Mateus Salomao (Sr., Arlington Heights Hersey), Bryce Counihan (Sr., New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central),
1600m-
Will Surratt (Sr., Downers Grove South)- 4:12.55 PB and will be a major title threat in the 3A division this spring.
Bryce Counihan- Started the indoor campaign with a 4:17.61 winner.
Alex Kraig- #2 returner outdoors at 4:13.33. It will be interesting to see which way he goes in this event.
Philip Cupial- Like teammate Will Surratt, Cupial doesn't compete much during the indoor season, but is the top talent here with a lifetime best of 4:08.91y. He will be looking toward the spring and possibly regaining his title back from '24.
Jameson Tenopir- Top indoor returner with a 4:15.32 and will be a force throughout the winter; he took third at the IIC.
Owen Horeni- Has a 4:14.91 PB in very limited competition and might be the second-best "miler" behind Cupial. Horeni has indicated that he wants to run a few fast miles throughout the year. He might be prepping for the next level, where he could be a star in this event.
Thomas Czerwinski- #2 indoor returner with a 4:15.38 and a third-place finish at the IIC.
Others to watch: Tra'Monti Williams, Alex Rodriguez, Declan Slavin, Jack Jennings, Conrad Saner (Jr., Downers Grove South)