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2014 NXN Midwest Regional Preview - DyeStat IllinoisPublished by
By Michael Newman DyeStat Illinois Editor
The hopes for the NXN Midwest Regional Sunday at Lavern Gibson National Cross Country Course in Terre Haute on Sunday are that there is less drama then there was a year ago on the weather front. 70 degree temperatures with threats of tornados last year sped the awards up forcing an evacuation from the grounds. It will be colder this year with temperatures hovering in the mid 30’s. But with little to no winds could ensure some great racing on this fabled course.
The Girls Championship race will be missing some of the region’s top runners. It does have defending champion team Carmel IN looking to make another trip to the NXN Nationals. There are many quality teams that are looking to knock off the Greyhounds. The Boys Championship race is the opposite. There are up to eight teams with a chance to qualify in the first two spots. The individual race is lights out with a great individual field that could ensure some fast times.
Here is a look at each of the two championship races that will take place Sunday afternoon in Terre Haute. Two open races will precede the main event with the Girls Open starting at 12:00 PM EST with the Boys Open going 30 minutes after that.
Girls Championship – 1:00 PM EST
Teams – Does Carmel make it five in a row to Portland?
We could have the same storyline in the team competition of this race as we did a year ago. The rest of the teams in the competition were chasing Carmel IN for the team championship. None of the other squads could catch them as Carmel IN won nearly doubling the point total of their nearest competition scoring 66 points.
The Indiana state champions should be the team to beat again in this race as they try to make their fifth trip to Portland in a row. They dominated the state meet on this course two weeks ago putting 5 runners in the first 32 led by the seventh place finish by Hayley Harris. Their split on five runners at state was only 21 seconds. With Harris’ challenging for a top 10 finish, it could be tough for other teams to catch the Greyhounds.
Naperville North IL won the 3A team championship at last week’s Illinois state meet using an extremely tight pack and running the third fastest team time ever on the Detweiller Park course. The Huskies had 3 all-state runners led by Judy Pendergast and Elly DeTurris. Just like Carmel, North likes the tight pack. Last week in Peoria, the split was only 26 seconds. If Pendergast and DeTurris or one of the Naperville North runners can place in the top ten with a similar split, they could make their third straight Portland trip.
A team that could find themselves in one of the top two qualifying spots is Palatine IL. The Lady Pirates were only 18 points behind Naperville North in last week’s 3A race and could be closer in this meet. They were the first Illinois team to put all seven of their runners under 18 minutes for three miles on the fast Detweiller Park course. Kelly O’Brien could be in the top five in this race. Their split last week was 42 seconds with only a 19 second spread between their second through fifth runners. If they are not in the top two, I could still see this team in Portland with an at-large bid.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) relaxed some of its post season rules in regards to Michigan high school teams in meets like this one. Division 1 Champion Seaholm took at advantage of it and could be in the hunt for the top two. Audrey Belf will be the individual favorite in this race and leading her team. Rachel DaDamio finished second in the D1 race two weeks ago and could challenge for a top five finish. Their split was 101 seconds off of the front running of Belf in that state race. That will need to come down in order for this team to be in the mix up front.
The one team that could be a surprise in the meet is Yorkville IL. The 2A state champs have been competitive against the bigger schools in Illinois all year. They finished 18 points behind Palatine at the Palatine Invitational at the end of September. Alexis Grandys finished 2nd and Skyler Bollinger finished 5th in last week’s state race with the team having a 65 second five runner split off of their front runners. Both Grandys and Bollinger could be in the first 15 in this race. If their split comes down, their fortunes could grow in this race.
Centerville OH won the Ohio Division 1 championship two weeks ago behind the individual win of Lainey Studebaker. She could challenge for a top five finish in this race. Their second through five runner split at state two weeks ago was only 25 seconds. Their pack needs to be within 20 seconds of Studebaker for them to be in the top three.
Two Missouri schools could factor in the top ten in this meet. Class 4 state champions Nernix Hall MO will have Sophia Racette possibly in the top five. Their pack was 30 seconds at last weekend’s state meet. The 75 second gap between Racette and the team might be too big to overcome for this team to factor in the top five. Class 4 runner-ups Lafayette MO could also factor in the top ten in this meet. This young squad could be a year away from being a regional power house in this meet. Anna West and Sarah Nicholson finished within a second of each other last week and could finish in the top 20 in this meet. The over 2 minute five minute split needs to come down for this team to challenge in the front.
Avon IN finished a distant second behind Carmel in their state meet and could be a surprise in the first five behind the front running of Taylor Nicholson and a 36 second split by their two through five pack could push their team up front. West Lafayette IN ran an 86 second split at state to finish third. The front running of Lauren and Kristen Johnson could place this team higher.
Other schools that will factor in the top ten include New Trier IL, Lockport IL, Mason OH, Northville MI, and Blue Springs South MO.
Individuals – Belf the big favorite
The individual field will be missing some top runners with defending champion and Missouri Class 3 champion Taylor Werner, Missouri Class 4 State Champion Hannah Long, Indiana State champion Anna Rohrer, and Illinois state champions Maryjeanne Gilbert and Lindsay Graham opting not to run. I do not think that would have mattered to Audrey Belf (Seaholm HS, Birmingham MI) anyway.
The Michigan Division 1 champion should be the big favorite in this meet. She is coming off of a strong state win running 17:11 on the 5k course at Michigan International Speedway course. The Georgetown University signee has been undefeated all season. It is tough for me to see her being bested on this day.
The one runner that could push Belf is Anna Sophia Keller (St. Anthony HS, Effingham IL). The sophomore won the Illinois 1A state championship last weekend by close to 25 seconds. She ran the seventh fastest time ever at the state meet for three miles (16:27) despite windy conditions. Keller finished sixth a year ago in this race qualifying for the NXN Nationals but did not run in the race to concentrate on club swimming obligations. She said if she finishes in the top five this year, she will make the trip to Portland. I also seeing her close to Belf throughout the race.
The race for the three to five spots will be up for grabs. Runners that I would keep an eye on include:
Illinois: Kelly O’Brien (Palatine HS), Mimi Smith (New Trier HS, Winnetka), Mary Clare Leonard (Marist HS, Chicago).
Indiana: Taylor Nicholson (Avon HS), Lauren Johnson (West Lafayette HS), Haley Harris (Carmel HS), Kristen Johnson (West Lafayette HS).
Michigan: Cayla Eckenroth (Northville HS), Rachel DaDamio (Seaholm HS, Birmingham).
Missouri: Sophia Racette (Nernix Hall HS, St. Louis), Hannah Pierson (Marquette HS, Rockwood), Anna West (Lafayette HS, Wildwood).
Ohio: Lainey Studebaker (Centerville HS), Maegan Murphy (Mason HS), Anne Heuerman (Upper Arlington HS).
Boys Championship – 1:30 EST
Teams – Illinois teams may find their way to top two spots in deep team field
There are no clear favorites in the team competition of the Boys championship race. That is how the season has gone in this region. It may come down to Illinois schools battling for the top spots in this meet. It will take a team with a tight pack to get one of those two spots.
Hinsdale Central IL won their second straight 3A title last weekend in Peoria behind 3 all-state runners. Even with a dominating performance and a 74:27 team time at Detweiller Park, the Red Devils mysteriously dropped in the DyeStat national rankings. They could make a step back up in this race. Blake Evertsen and Chris Brenk could be the front runners for this team. Their split was 24 seconds last week. It will take the same kind of effort with a runner in the first 15 for this team to make a return trip to Peoria.
Sandburg IL ran their worst race of the year last week at the state meet getting slowed down on the first turn 500 meters of the course. The Eagles never recovered getting second in the 3A race with no runners in the first 25. The week before at the Marist Sectional Meet, Sandburg got out beautifully and easily won the race with only a nine second five runner split. At last week’s state meet, the split was only 11 seconds. Tom Brennen will lead the pack that could end up on top in this meet.
West Lafayette IN won the Indiana state championship two weeks ago and have their eyes set on Portland. Cooper Williams was third in that race to lead his team. They had a tight 7 second split between their second through fifth runners. That pack needs to get closer to Williams for this team to have a chance in the top 2. Carmel IN won this regional a year ago and would like to make a return trip to Portland. The Greyhounds were seven points behind West Lafayette at state on this course. Ben Veatch was the state champion in that race. Carmel’s split in the meet was 80 seconds on five runners and 36 seconds on two through five. Both splits need to come down on Sunday.
We could see a Missouri school in the top five or perhaps maybe the first two. Festus MO has been dominant on the Missouri scene easily winning the Class 3 championship last weekend placing 4 runners in the first 11. Michael Karls is having a standout senior year. He was the individual winner last week and should challenge for a top five spot in this race. Their overall split on five last week was 101 seconds and 65 seconds on two through five. That might not be enough to get this team to Peoria. Lafayette MO easily won the Missouri Class 4 championship placing four runners in the first tem with only a 20 second split. Austin Hindman and Dylan Quisenberry should be in the top 20 in this race. Their five runner split was 55 seconds. There is a chance they could finish in the first three.
It was tight at the Ohio D1 State Meet two weeks ago when Mason won the championship by three points ahead of Hilliard Davidson with defending champions St. Xavier in third. All three teams could figure in the top ten in this meet. Mason OH had a tight 11 second split on their second through fifth runners. That pack will need to get within 15 seconds of #1 runner Nick Grimser to have a chance in the top five. Hilliard Davidson should have Colin Burdette in the top ten at least. He finished second at state two weeks ago. They had a 57 second split off of Burdette at that meet. That gap needs to close for this race. 2013 NXN qualifier St. Xavier OH has D1 state champion Michael Vitucci to lead them. The 71 second five runner split needs to come down to 50-52 seconds for a Portland repeat.
There are three other Illinois schools that could factor in the team championship. Lyons Township IL was a surprise third place in the Illinois 3A State Meet after finishing fifth in their sectional race. Connor Madell is a talented junior that was all-state last week and could be in the top 20 in this meet. The Lions will need to keep their split under 30 seconds for a top finish. Lyons did defeat West Lafayette at the Culver Academies Invitational at the end of September. Neuqua Valley IL finished one point behind Lyons in the 3A race but could finish in the top three in this meet. Connor Horn finished 7th last week in the 3A race. The Wildcats had a tight 3 man split last week. Their fourth and fifth runners have to close the gap for this team to have a chance. York IL has been a perennial NXN finalist but the streak ended for the Dukes in 2013. Their up and down 2014 ended on a plus when they finished sixth in the 3A race after barely making it out of their sectional meet. Perhaps the top freshman in the country Charlie Kern leads this charging team. They ran a great race last week. They have a history of running good on this course. They could surprise with a top five finish.
Waterford Mott MI and Northville MI are the two Boys team from the state in the championship field. They finished 3-4 in their D1 meet two weeks ago. Also watch for Hersey IL, New Trier IL, Illiana Christian IL, Rock Bridge MO, and Columbus North IN to factor in the top ten in this tough team field.
Individuals – Outcome should be fast, fast, fast in this loaded field
Even though Grant Fisher chose to concentrate on defending his Foot Locker championship and did not enter in this race. The four other states have their state champions in the field making the front of this race rather exciting. With the conditions being cold but with little wind predicted for Sunday, this could be a fast race on this course that should be in great shape.
Jesse Reiser (McHenry HS) won the Illinois 3A state championship last weekend running a finishing 4:27 mile to cross the line in 14:11 on the 3 mile course. He will be among the leaders in this race. Ben Veatch (Carmel HS) ran 15:09 two weeks ago to win the Indiana state championship on this course. He will be up front. Stephen Mugeche (Blue Springs HS) ran 15:32 on a tough Oak Hills GC 5k course to win the Missouri Class 4 championship. Michael Karls (Festus HS MO) won the Class 3 Championship earlier in the day in a quick 15:23. Both runners should be battling for a top five spot.
Michael Vitucci (St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati) has been among the front all season. He won the OH Division 1 championship two weeks ago and should play a factor in the front of the pack. Zach Dale (Conant HS, Hoffman Estates), Matt Pereira (Lake Zurich HS), Ryan Clevenger (North HS, Downers Grove), and Kevin Salvano (Buffalo Grove HS) finished 2-3-4-5 behind Reiser in the Illinois Class 3A race which was very tactical. I expect all three up front challenging for a top five finish.
This is a who’s who of top Midwest runners in this field. Other runners to watch up front that could be in the top 15 in this race include:
Illinois: Dorrian Gordon (O’Fallon HS), Connor Horn (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville), Charlie Kern (York HS, Elmhurst), David Rodriguez (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights).
Indiana: Zack Snider (Breubeuf Jesuit Prep, Indianapolis), Cooper Williams (West Lafayette HS), Seth Williams (North HS, Columbus), Jacob Schmelling (Carroll HS, Ft. Wayne),
Michigan: Ryan Robinson (Waterford Mott HS), Nick Noles (Northville HS).
Missouri: Ben Naeger (Ste. Genevieve HS), Anthony Hindman and Dylan Quisenberry (Lafayette HS, Wildwood), Caleb Gaylord (Potossi MO).
Ohio: Kyle Mau (Hudson OH), Ryan Adams (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy), Collin Burdette (Davidson HS, Hilliard), Ben Ewert (Beavercreek HS). |
