Place-Runner (School)-Last Years Place-Description
1. Evan Jager (Jacobs)- (3rd) 9th in the nation in xc, a 4:08 full mile, and 8:50 full two mile, Jager has put himself miles ahead of the competition
2. Kevin Havel (Hersey)- (4th) With a 14:26 last year, and 14th at Footlocker, Havel confirmed his status as a prodigy. His preference for longer distances may put him closer to Jager than he was in track.
3. Luke Ryan (Downers Grove North)- (12th) After running a 1:57/4:24 in track on extremely minimal training, Ryan is hungry to return to the top echelons of cross country. With a 4:18/9:25 as a sophomore his pedigree is undoubted.
4. Ryan Jacobs (Hononegah)- (23rd) After aggressive two mile performances at sectionals and state, Jacobs is looking to confirm his talent. His two-mile performances place him among the best in state.
5. Dave Grange (Marmion)- (22nd) A 4:16 mile in track, strong half marathon performance in August, and extreme dedication to good training put Grange near the top of the list of returners.
6. Mike Fry (York)- (15th) With a breakout performance at state last year, Fry established himself as a frontrunner for York. Despite unspectacular track results he remains a favorite. Those at the York summer camp have raved about his speed this year.
7. Tom Achtien (York)- (17th) As York's second returner, Achtien looks to prove he belongs at the top. His track performances were excellent though unspectacular, but Achtien's performance at state and at NTN prove that he is a great cross country runner.
8. Mark Battista (Lincoln Way Central)- (10th) Despite being the third returning runner, Battista's 2006 season has been placed under a little doubt because of injuries during track season. Despite setbacks he still ran an excellent 9:24, and could battle for as high as third place this season.
9. Kevin Adamowski (Sandburg)- (49th) Always a great regular season performer, Adamowski was by far Sandburg's best runner until he choked at state. If he can put it together towards the end of the season this year, Adamowski is another runner who could battle for top 5 placement.
10. Dan Chenoweth (Geneseo)- (35th) A good cross country season last year was followed by a great track season as Chenoweth proved himself amongst the top two milers in the state. His excellent over that longer distance should translate to a high finish this cross country season.
11. Nick Kuczwara (York)- (26th) An outstanding 800 runner with 1:52 speed, Kuczwara was inconsistent as a junior in cross country. If he can remain solid all year Kuczwara's speed will place him high at the end of the state meet.
12. Mat Smoody (Palatine)- (24th) An all-state in cross country as a sophomore, Smoody has blazing 800 speed also. What remains to be seen his how he'll handle being the number one runner for a strong Palatine team. Chances are that he'll do well as the replacement for the departed senior leaders Finley and Morris.
13. Chris Derrick (Nequa Valley)- (43rd) As a sophomore Derrick lead a strong Nequa Valley squad in cross country, and ran a 9:24(?) in track. He should continue his success for the 2006 season.
14. Chase Kadlec (Wheaton North)- (55th) Last year sophomore Kadlec spearheaded the charge from a very young Wheaton North team. His 4:19 1600m time in track only add to the belief that he can be a front runner in cross country.
15. Kyle Kirchner (Lincoln Way East)- (125th) Despite being Lincoln Way East's third runner at Detweiller last year, Kirchner had a breakout race in the two mile at state track. He looks to carry that success into cross country and lead his team to a trophy.
16. Ryan Hoklas (Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge)- (38th) Hoklas combined a strong cross country season with some excellent mile performances in track. If he is healthy towards the end of the season he should do even better than last year.
17. Chris DeSilva (St. Charles North)- (n/a) Now fully dedicated to running, SCN's sub 4:20 miler should lead a young and mostly unproven version of the team that won a trophy last year.
18. Justin Smith (Sandburg)- (19th) Smith's breakout race last year was at state, and if he can even match the result this year, it should place Sandburg no worse than second as a team.
19. Noble Schermerhorn (Deerfield)- (36th) Noble ran strong throughout cross country last year, and strong track times only add to his bid for all-state in his senior season.
20. Steve Couch (Naperville Central)- (n/a) As a sophomore, Couch narrowly missed individually qualifying for state cross country. However, it was in track where he truely found his legs, running a 4:18 1600. Inside sources tell me Couch looked very strong earlier in the summer, and seems likely to continue his ascendence to the top.
21. Sagar Patel- (Palatine)- (52nd) Strong in cross country as a junior, Patel also ran well in track, with a 3200 time of 9:32. His mediocre performance at state track is the only thing naysayers should be able to hold against him.
22. Mike Spain (Schaumburg)- (61st) Spain ran excellently during track season, with some very impressive 3200 times. As the 26th returning runner, its not a stretch to imagine him moving a little bit higher this year.
23. Ryan Weber (Cary-Grove)- (51st) Never a consistent runner during cross country last year, Weber's performance at state still ranks him among the best.
24. Tom Robbins (Loyola)- (56th) A good cross country runner, Robbins is also known for his blazing 800 speed, which should be very useful coming into the finishing straight and fighting for an all-state position.
25. Brad LaRocque (Sandburg)- (41st) Sandburg's number 2 runner for most of the season, LaRocque was passed by Justin Smith. If he can stay close to Smith at state, Sandburg will be in the hunt for the team prize.
26. Graham Farnsworth (Wheaton North)- (153rd) Not even one of WN's frontrunners last year in cross country, Farnsworth suprised everyone with a 1600 time around 4:20. Hopefully he can reproduce that success in cross country.
27. Rob Eckardt (Stevenson)- (84th) A contender throughout the season Eckardt has the potential to be all-state if he can put it together for state. His two mile times this year were impressive.
28. Dave Anczyk (Prospect)- (45th) Ancyzk maybe should be placed even higher, considering that he often has defeated conference rival Sagar Patel.
29. Bill Wisser (Hersey)- (87th) One of the most talented runners in the state Wisser was considered an all-state contender last year, and should be much higher than 29th. If he can get over whatever leg problems it is that he has, Wisser might return to the top.
30. Myles Scott-Stirn (Lincoln Way East)- (65th) A strong runner who Sandburg is probably sorely missing in their quest for the state title, Scott-Stirn needs to place highly to give his team a trophy chance. His 4:24 in track was not quite what many expected.
31. Brian Lane (Johnsburg)- (34th) A 15:04 last year for 34th shows that Lane might be able to go much higher than 31st in state next year.
32. Ron Revord (Lincoln Way East)- (91st) The last of Lincoln Way East's strong top 3, Revord was often right with Scott-Stirn last year, until state when he moved back slightly. Another runner that must perform for his team.
33. Dan Kuhlman (Glenbard South)- (67th) Kuhlman ran well in both track and cross country last year, and looks to lead a very strong Glenbard South team that might suffer simply because they lack a frontrunner.
34. John Sadlik (Naperville North)- (58th) Many considered Sadlik a possible all-state last year, and he failed to meet those expectations. Look for him to be close this year as he leads a dangerous Naperville North team.
35. Brian Billie (Glenbard South)- (99th) Also a projected all-stater among many last year, Billie looked strong all-season until fading badly at state. He didn't make any notable waves during track, but must perform well to give Glenbard South hopes of a trophy.
36. Tim Jung (York)- (110th) Despite being injured periodically and having an inconsistent cross country season, Jung still performed well at state. His talent is unquestioned, and if healthy this year he could be a major player for the York team.
37. Nick Geyer (Benet)- (75th) Benet's top runner at state after a disappointment from Matt McCabe, Geyer is often overlooked in preseason predictions. He leads a Benet team that could surprise againt his year.
38. TR Pursell (Bartonville)- (59th) A strong performer last year at state, Pursell is a dark horse runner, that may be able to do much better than predicted.
39. Michael Haggerty (Wheaton Warrenville South)- (79th) Last year one of the best sophomore performances at state that often didn't get recognition was Haggerty's 15:25. He will look to make people notice him this year.
40. Aaron Silver (Downers Grove North)- (n/a) A fairly unknown runner, Silver ran a 15:57 as a sophomore, and was convinced to do track for the first time when he ran 1:58r and 4:27. Despite victories over Derek Ericson and Matt Clifford in summer events, Silver is still a bit of an uknown.
41. Derek Ericson (Crystal Lake Central)- (62nd) With a 15:17 last year, and as the 27th returner, Ericson might well go higher than 41st in state, depending on the extent of his summer training.
42. Jon Roberts (Schaumburg)- (98th) As the second runner for a surprisingly strong Schaumburg team, Roberts has to step it up this year to support the team.
43. Arthur Baptist (Prospect)- (73rd) Despite a strong XC performance last year, Baptist will most likely miss the leadership of Ryan Craven and Mike Murray.
