2025 IHSA XC State Previews: 3A Boys

The stage is set for the IHSA Boys 3A State Cross Country Championship, taking place this Saturday at the legendary Detweiller Park. The state’s largest and most competitive division once again features powerhouse programs and elite individual talent ready to leave their mark on Illinois cross country history. With several top-ranked teams peaking at the right time and a handful of challengers eager to disrupt the hierarchy, the 3A race is shaping up to be a fast, fierce, and unforgettable showdown.

3A State Preview Podcast

Team Projections -

Team Preview -

The team race is going to be electric, with three teams holding legitimate chances to win the state title. Plainfield North enters as the favorite after winning their sectional. They were the consensus No. 1 team in the state this preseason and will look to capture their first state championship. The Tigers are led by the dynamic duo of Thomas Czerwinski and Aidan Connors, both capable of finishing inside the top 10 individually. Dominic Frigo and James Maso ran terrific at sectionals and should be in the 14:40s at state. The key for the Tigers will be keeping Gavin Hall within 10 seconds of Maso and Frigo; if they can do that, they’ll be tough to beat. Plainfield South has battled their rivals all season, including wins at the Plainfield City Championships and SPC Conference Championships. The Cougars are led by Dylan Buturusis and Alex Batsala, who have been on fire lately. Buturusis didn’t have his best race at sectionals, but a bounce back is expected here. South’s 20 second 1–5 split at sectionals was huge, and they’ll need a similar gap to win the state title. Kellan Hernandez had a breakout race and will need to beat both Maso and Frigo, while Austin Cory and Ethan Ensign must stay close to that group for a shot at the crown. Downers Grove North, the two time defending state champions, will aim for a third straight title. They haven’t looked quite as sharp as they did in early September, but if they return to that form, they’ll be dangerous. Philip Cupial will likely contend for the individual title, while Will Surratt is a key question mark after missing sectionals with a tight hamstring. If healthy, he’s a top 10 threat. Stephen Cox, returning from injury, showed promise with a 15:08 at sectionals. If he can match his early season form, it will be huge for DGN’s chances. Their fourth and fifth runners will need to be within 15 to 20 seconds of Cox for the Trojans to pull off the three peat. This has once again shaped up to be a three team race, much like the past two seasons, though several others could sneak onto the podium if one falters. York has been running well, highlighted by a conference win over DGN and a strong regional performance. This is a very young team made up of one senior, two juniors, three sophomores, and a freshman. They are led by Patrick Hill and Carter Olsen, both of whom will need to be in all state contention for York to trophy. Their 17 second split at regionals was impressive, and they’ll need something similar from Harrison Manternach, Michael Gurgone, and Jacob McKillop or George Knott. Youth and inexperience at the state level could be a factor, though their potential is immense. Lake Zurich is peaking at the right time after a strong sectional. They are led by Karanveer Patil and Gordy Libby, who should both finish inside the top 10 if healthy; Patil was battling illness at sectionals but is expected to improve. Luke Marshall will look to earn all state honors as their third man, while Sushant Kesavan and Carson Porter will be key to their trophy hopes. If Kesavan can break 15:00 and Porter can go under 15:20, the Bears could very well leave Peoria with hardware. Lane Tech has struggled to regain its Richard Spring Invite winning form but remains dangerous. Samuel Assefa is a potential top 10 finisher, and Quinn Anderson provides a strong second runner. For Lane to contend, Hugo Ayala and Gary Angelo need to finish ahead of Alex Fitzpatrick. Angelo, who recently returned from injury, and Ayala, who’s been off his best lately, both need strong showings for Lane to reach the podium. Prospect had an excellent sectional showing, highlighted by Luke Robinson, who could be an all stater after running 14:43 for seventh. The trio of Landon Samp, Brody Cushing, and Quinn Davis ran tightly together, just two seconds apart. The key for the Knights will be getting Collin Ryan or Bobby Wintermute back into the low 15 minute range. A trophy path won’t be easy but isn’t impossible. Hersey looked great from Naperville Twilight through regionals but had a rough sectional, finishing behind Lane Tech despite earlier wins over them and Prospect. The Huskies are led by Mateus Salomao, an all state contender, and Nathan Marotta, who had a strong sectional race. Their 3–5 pack needs to close the gap to within 10 seconds for a top five team finish. Other programs such as Sandburg, St. Charles North, Hinsdale Central, Glenbrook South, Lincoln Way Central, Morton, Neuqua Valley, and Fremd will be fighting for top 10 finishes at Detweiller.

Individual Projections -

Individual Preview -

The individual race will be great, with the potential to see 30 to 40 runners in the pack at the two mile mark. Philip Cupial of Downers Grove North enters as the heavy favorite to take home the state title. He was fourth in this race last year and is the top returner, also placing 10th at Foot Locker Nationals last December. His 1:50 800m speed makes him lethal in this field, though he relies heavily on his kick. In such a strong field with other great sit and kickers, he’ll need to be in the lead pack with 1200m to go and can’t let the field get away from him as he sometimes does. Thomas Czerwinski of Plainfield North had a rough stretch between First to the Finish and Sectionals, posting some underwhelming performances for a runner who was fifth at state as a sophomore. He bounced back with a huge Sectional win in 14:39 but ran buried in the pack until two miles. That strategy won’t work here; he’ll need to be in the top 30 at the mile to have a shot at the top 10. He could finish as high as second but must be positioned well early. The Lake Zurich duo are completely different types of runners but both could finish inside the top five. Cameron Libby of Lake Zurich won the Hoffman Estates Sectional after some down races post Richard Spring, where he was crowned champion with a 14:18. Libby’s lethal kick could challenge Cupial’s; if he’s still in contention with 400m left, don’t be surprised if he wins. Karanveer Patil, also of Lake Zurich, was eighth at Sectionals but was recovering from illness. If he’s healthy, he may be the one runner who can press the pace mid race and create separation, likely the only way anyone beats Cupial. Santiago Chavez of Reavis had a great Sectional, finishing second just five seconds behind Cupial. Interestingly, Chavez led by seven seconds with 1200m left before Cupial surged back for the win. To contend for a top five spot, Chavez will need a more decisive move late. Jesse Gudauskas of Neuqua Valley will look to regain form after a tough Sectional. He’s been one of the state’s best this year, with big wins at the Red Devil and Palatine Invites and a 14:23 PR at Richard Spring. Will Surratt of Downers Grove North didn’t race at Sectionals due to a tight hamstring, which will be something to monitor. If healthy, he’s a top 10 contender; he won the WSC Silver over Cupial but hasn’t raced in three weeks. Aidan Connors of Plainfield North might have posted one of the best performances of the year with his 15:08 for 13th at Nike XC Town Twilight in Terre Haute, an extremely fast time for that course. He followed that with a strong Sectional runner up finish and could be a top five threat. Samuel Hill of St. Charles North has been electric this year, losing only once at Richard Spring and winning nine races. Expect a big performance from the junior. Jack Jennings of Fremd, the MSL Conference Champion, has been rolling lately, placing second to Libby at Sectionals and showing he’s ready to make his mark at the high school level. Samuel Assefa of Lane has also been on fire recently, finishing just behind Hill at Sectionals in 14:39 and should fight for a top 10 spot. Owen Horeni of Yorkville, with 1:51 800m speed, is dangerous. He tends to peak late in the season, he was 17th at state last year and should be in the top five mix as a senior. Dylan Buturusis of Plainfield South has been on a tear since his 19th place finish at Nike XC Town Twilight in 15:18, followed by a big SPC Conference win over Czerwinski, Connors, Horeni, and Batsala. Though his Sectional wasn’t his best, he’s a strong top 10 and possibly top five candidate. Conrad Saner of Downers Grove South has had an up and down year but flashed brilliance with his 14:20 runner up finish at Richard Spring. Replicating that would put him in top five contention. Alex Krieg of Palatine, last year’s eighth place finisher, has struggled this season but remains a proven championship performer who can’t be counted out for another top 10 finish.