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#15 Williamsville

Williamsville enters the season with arguably the strongest one-two punch in central Illinois. Lucas Hollinshead (15:00) and sophomore Ryan Patrick (15:12) both return after outstanding seasons and immediately give the Bullets two runners capable of competing near the front of nearly every invitational this fall.

The challenge will be replacing graduation losses and strengthening the remainder of the scoring lineup. Juniors Griffin Gwaltney and Gavin Cook, and freshman Nate Alessia, all return with valuable varsity experience after finishing inside the team's top five a year ago, while juniors Noah Bliss and Joshua Armor provide additional depth.

If Williamsville can close the spread behind Hollinshead and Patrick, the Bullets have enough firepower at the front to surprise several teams during the postseason. Few teams in Class 1A can match their low-stick potential. 

#14 Edwardsville (Metro-East Lutheran)

Metro-East Lutheran returns four of its top five scorers and another talented front-runner in senior Lucas Abbott, who posted an impressive 15:32 at the state meet last season. Abbott gives the Knights a proven All-State caliber leader entering the new campaign.

Joining Abbott are senior Dean Hemmer (16:06), juniors Henry Reiseck (16:35), Luke Bright (16:53), and Elijah Ball (17:32), providing valuable experience throughout the scoring lineup. Senior Mathias Askins and sophomore Ronan Askins also return to strengthen the team's depth.

If Metro-East Lutheran can tighten the gap between its front four and fifth scorer while continuing to build depth, the Knights have the pieces necessary to remain a strong postseason contender throughout southern Illinois. 

#13 Delavan

Delavan may possess one of the most dangerous low-stick combinations in the entire classification. The Panthers are anchored by returning star Coriell Green, whose outstanding 14:50 performance last fall made him one of the fastest returning runners in the classification and an athlete capable of challenging for an individual state championship.

Supporting Green are experienced veterans Evan Lemme (16:00) and Drew Toland (16:28), while Jace Toland and Soyier Balsimo round out the returning scoring five. Delavan's success this season will depend on continued development from the back half of the lineup as the Panthers attempt to close the gap behind their outstanding frontrunner.

With Green capable of taking points away from every contender in the field, Delavan remains a dangerous postseason team that few opponents will overlook. 

#12 Bloomington Central Catholic

Bloomington Central Catholic returns an experienced lineup after placing 12th in the returning team rankings. While the Saints may not have a front-end scorer capable of carrying the team alone, they possess the kind of balance that often leads to significant improvement over the course of a season.

Leading the group is Nicholas Jelinek (15:50), followed by junior Jude Bordewick (16:33), senior Jonathan Blankenship (16:35), senior Paul Koetters (16:42), and sophomore Liam Kohn (16:53). With every scoring runner returning, Central Catholic has a solid foundation entering the fall.

Depth also appears to be a strength with junior Ian Bryson and junior Simon Hamaker returning after gaining valuable varsity experience last season. If several members of the middle pack continue to drop time, the Saints could outperform their preseason ranking by season's end.

#11 Murphysboro

Murphysboro has quietly established itself as one of the most consistent programs in southern Illinois, and the Red Devils enter 2026 with another veteran group capable of making noise at the state meet. After finishing 14th at Detweiller last fall, the focus this season is clear: crack the top ten while adding regional and sectional championships along the way.

The team is led by one of the top returning runners in Class 1A, senior Edgar Garcia, whose 14:47 personal best and back-to-back 13th-place finishes in the Class 2A 3200-meter run showcase his championship pedigree. Garcia gives Murphysboro a legitimate All-State contender capable of finishing near the front of every race this season.

Joining Garcia are returning varsity contributors senior Hunter Douglas (15:37), junior Logan Cowan (10:10 3200 PR), and sophomore Landon Smith, who is expected to step into a much larger scoring role as a sophomore. One of the biggest additions to the team is Noah Cook, a junior newcomer to cross country who helped Murphysboro qualify for the Class 2A state meet in the 4x400 relay and owns a blazing 50.2 relay split. His speed gives the Red Devils another intriguing weapon as he transitions to distance racing.

Summer training has been extremely consistent, with strong attendance and steadily increasing mileage throughout the roster. If the supporting cast continues to improve behind Garcia, Murphysboro has the talent necessary to push well into the top ten at the state meet this November. 

#10 Downs (Tri-Valley)

Tri-Valley returns an experienced lineup that should once again compete among the better teams in central Illinois. The Vikings welcome back all five scorers, led by junior Ryan Garneau (15:44) and sophomore Evan Brown (15:54), giving them a strong veteran foundation entering the new season.

Returning varsity contributors junior Corsin Shane (16:34), sophomore Carson Cattaneo (16:37), and senior Jacob Julian (17:01) round out the scoring five after gaining valuable postseason experience last year. Caleb Dunafin and Gabe Sutter also return to strengthen the team's overall depth.

The Vikings possess a balanced lineup with several athletes capable of taking another step forward this season. If that progression continues, Tri-Valley should remain firmly in the mix for another successful postseason run. 

#9 Monticello

Monticello enters the season with one of the deepest rosters in the classification and plenty of optimism after another productive offseason under second-year head coach Matt Miller. The Sages return an All-State front-runner and a roster loaded with upperclassmen while also adding one of the strongest freshman groups in the state.

Junior Eli Anderson headlines the lineup after earning All-State honors with a 13th-place finish at the state meet in 14:59. He'll again serve as one of the top low sticks in Class 1A. Fellow returners junior Tim Sikorski (15:18), senior Lukas Whitt (16:17), senior Owen Patton (16:53), and senior Jack Krumtinger (17:01) provide an experienced foundation, while several additional upperclassmen continue pushing for varsity positions.

Coach Miller noted that projecting a top seven is nearly impossible because of the team's depth. Freshmen Monty Owen and Patrick McClure arrive after outstanding middle school careers and are expected to compete immediately, while several other newcomers possess significant long-term potential.

The Sage's summer has featured outstanding participation across group run/cross-training, strength work, yoga, and pool workouts. That consistency has helped build both fitness and depth throughout the roster. If several athletes emerge behind Anderson, the Sages have the pieces necessary to move well up the state standings this fall. 

#8 Pinckneyville

Pinckneyville returns nearly its entire varsity lineup after another successful season and once again appears capable of contending for a top-ten finish at the state meet. The Panthers are led by one of Southern Illinois' top runners, sophomore Pacer Szopinski, whose 15:15 performance last fall established him as one of the premier front-runners in Class 1A.

Behind Szopinski, senior Jesse Winter (16:04), senior Zach Teel (16:13), RJ Degler (16:24), and junior Josh Gale (17:04) return with valuable postseason experience. The Panthers also welcome back senior Drew Schneider and sophomore Gage Arnett, giving the team experienced options beyond the top five.

Pinckneyville's outlook will depend on continued development behind Szopinski. If several of the returning veterans can continue making the same improvements they showed throughout last season, the Panthers should once again find themselves competing for another strong finish at Detweiller Park. 

#7 Cumberland

Cumberland enters 2026 with one of the state's best sibling tandems and enough returning firepower to remain among the top ten teams in Class 1A. The Pirates return four of their top five scorers from last season and should once again be difficult to beat if they can strengthen the back half of their lineup.

The front of the team is led by senior Cameron Roedl (15:11) and sophomore Colby Roedl (15:49), who consistently give Cumberland two runners capable of placing near the front of major invitationals. Juniors Gavin Whitaker (16:13), Damien Chardon (16:26), and Aydan Oakley (16:50) complete an experienced scoring five, while Clayton Altgilbers and junior Jacob Pierce provide additional depth.

If the Pirates can continue shrinking the spread between their frontrunners and fifth scorer, they have the experience necessary to challenge for another strong postseason finish. 

#6 Elmwood

Elmwood quietly returns one of the more experienced lineups in Class 1A after placing sixth in last year's preseason rankings based on returning times. The Trojans welcome back all five scorers from a squad led by junior Danny Sharp (15:23), sophomore Cole Cahill (15:35), juniors Kai Nelson (15:51), Oliver Funk (16:26), and Cooper Brown (16:53). With every scoring runner returning and another year of experience under their belts, Elmwood has the potential to climb the state standings if the pack continues to tighten throughout the season.

The Trojans' strength lies in their balance. Sharp and Cahill provide an excellent one-two combination up front, while Nelson gives the team a third runner capable of finishing well inside the top 50 at the state meet. Improvement from Funk and Brown, along with depth from sophomore Danny Ellen and senior Hason Hubbard, could make Elmwood one of the more dangerous teams in the second half of the season.

#5 St. Joseph-Ogden

St. Joseph-Ogden enters the fall with a veteran nucleus and a program built on steady improvement. The Spartans have consistently developed athletes over the past several seasons, and an experienced roster gives them an opportunity to remain among the top teams in Class 1A.

Returning leaders senior Colin Burnett (15:31), junior Eli Franklin (15:43), senior Nate Farney (15:58), sophomore Adam Bello (16:04), and senior Aiden Hundley (16:44) provide an experienced foundation after gaining valuable varsity experience last fall. Junior Sam Zadeh and sophomore Brady Johnson also return as important depth pieces who can move into the varsity lineup.

Coach Retz emphasized that the team's primary focus remains maximizing collective improvement rather than individual accomplishments. That culture has been evident throughout a summer marked by excellent attendance, consistent training, and outstanding leadership from the veteran runners. The coaching staff has been equally encouraged by the team's chemistry and accountability as preparations for the upcoming season continue.

With nearly its entire scoring lineup returning and another productive offseason behind them, St. Joseph-Ogden has all the ingredients necessary to remain firmly in the hunt throughout the 2026 campaign. 

#4 Eureka

The defending state champions once again possess the pieces to compete for another championship run. While graduation leaves several openings to fill, Eureka returns four varsity scorers from last year's title-winning squad and continues to benefit from one of the strongest distance-running cultures in Illinois.

Leading the returning group are junior Davin Dingledine, sophomore Adam Perry, junior Landon Wurmnest, and sophomore Hudson Leman, all of whom played major roles during last year's championship season. Junior Tate Leman also returns after contributing valuable postseason experience, while junior Daniel Bender, sophomore Luke Otto, and junior Gabe Heider are expected to push for varsity opportunities. Several freshmen may also emerge as the season progresses.

Head coach Olivia Morris has intentionally held off on establishing team goals until later in August, preferring to let the team's development determine expectations. That philosophy has consistently paid dividends, as Eureka has become one of the state's premier postseason programs.

The Wildcats have enjoyed another productive summer with excellent attendance and strong commitment throughout the roster. While this team may look different than last year's championship squad, Eureka once again appears well-positioned to compete among the very best teams this fall. 

#3 El Paso-Gridley

El Paso-Gridley quietly assembled one of the strongest seasons in school history last fall, narrowly missing a state trophy by fewer than ten points. Although graduation claimed two members of that lineup, including the team's top finisher, the Titans still return enough experience to once again contend among the best teams in Class 1A.

The strength of this squad begins with an outstanding trio of juniors Weston Hodel, Luke Hinthorne, and sophomore Alex Lartz. Hodel enters the season fresh off an All-State performance in the 3200 meters during track season and has continued to build momentum through a consistent summer of training. Hinthorne and Lartz also return after strong state performances, giving EPG one of the most balanced front threes in the classification.

Rounding out the returning varsity group are senior Chance Price and junior Elijah Webster, both of whom gained valuable state meet experience last fall. Seniors Roman Wenger, Marcus Wiegand, Cooper Romerberger, sophomores Hank Eastman, and Grant McKee have all enjoyed productive offseasons and will battle throughout the fall for the remaining varsity spots. Coach Michael Melick also expects incoming freshmen Drew Kingdon, Andrew Quam, and Logan Feit to strengthen the program's already impressive depth.

As has long been the tradition at EPG, summer training has remained relatively low-key, allowing athletes to train independently while maintaining consistency. Early indications suggest the Titans have accomplished exactly what they hoped, with their top runners entering the season healthy, confident, and prepared for another run toward the front of the Class 1A standings. 

#2 Clinton

Few programs in Illinois have climbed the Class 1A ladder as quickly as Clinton. After ending a 22-year state meet drought in 2023, the Maroons have improved their finish each of the past three seasons, culminating in an eighth-place trophy contender last fall. With nearly every key contributor back, Clinton appears poised to take another significant step forward.

At the front is one of the state's premier runners, junior Cayden Bostic, whose 14:58 state performance set another school record and produced the highest individual finish in program history. Bostic has proven himself capable of running with anyone in the classification and gives Clinton an elite low stick every time they toe the starting line.

Behind Bostic sits one of the deepest returning groups in Class 1A. Junior Brockton Sumner (15:49), senior Justin Droke (16:11), junior Brayden Dalton (16:19), and junior Joe Taylor (16:08) all return after contributing to last year's historic finish. Coaches Leann Sosamon and Rachel Lyons noted that determining the varsity lineup remains one of the team's biggest challenges-not because of uncertainty, but because of exceptional depth.

Veteran seniors Gavin Klein, Oliver Reed, and senior Shawn Ferguson continue to push for varsity positions, while talented freshmen Owen Troyer and Elijah Sutton have impressed throughout the offseason and could make immediate contributions.

The Maroons also benefited from an exceptional summer, highlighted by a week-long altitude training trip to Colorado Springs that included nearly 50 cross country athletes. The coaching staff believes the team's chemistry is stronger than ever, and with a roster committed to the process, Clinton enters 2026 believing another school-record finish is well within reach.