2026 Pre-Season XC Preview: 2A Boys Individual Rankings

Class 2A has developed into one of the deepest and most competitive classifications in Illinois, and the 2026 season promises to continue that trend. With returning All-State finishers, state qualifiers, and a talented group of athletes coming off impressive track campaigns, the battle among the state's top runners should be fierce from the opening weekend through the IHSA State Finals. Our preseason rankings highlight the top 25 individuals entering the 2026 cross country season based solely on performances achieved prior to July 1st, 2026, meaning any races or results after that date were not considered in the evaluation. These rankings provide a snapshot of where the field stands entering the fall, but as every cross country season has shown, there will be plenty of opportunities for athletes to make their mark and climb the rankings.

1. Thomas Jochum (Sr., Glen Ellyn [Glenbard South])

800m: 1:56.60

1600m: 4:10.67

3200m: 8:59.9*

3 Mile: 14:15.80

Thomas Jochum of Glenbard South has gotten the short end of the stick at state meets for 2 years in a row, this year will be his year to hopefully chase down a state title. Jochum comes into the season with the fastest 3200 PR in the classification, with an 8:59 from NBIN. He is also the top returner in the 1600 with his 4:10 performance from IIC, where he took 5th in the fastest mile field we saw all year. His season didn’t end the way he wanted it to, as he competed at the state meet with the flu. Even with sickness holding him back, he still worked his way onto the podium in the 3200 for an 8th place finish. His track season was the best out of anyone’s this year, but his cross country season is really what puts him here. Last fall, he took fourth at the 2A state meet with a time of 14:15, which was his only loss of the season*. His most impressive performance was his mark of 14:49 at Bensenville Fenton, where he replaced Donald Sage of York as the new course record holder. Donald Sage was a legendary runner for the York Dukes, he’s the current 3200 state meet record holder (set at a ridiculous 8:40) and he has a Detweiller PR of 14:03, set in a race where he was almost completely solo. This year, Jochum is returning with a healthy track season beneath him, and with competition to push him to new heights. His gutsy racing tactics have earned him a reputation as the front runner of all front runners, so if he wants to go break 14, he absolutely could. 

3200 PR from a full 2 mile conversion

2. Carson Kaiser (Jr., Maple Park [Kaneland])

3200m: 9:07.47

3 Mile: 14:12.90

One of the most talented runners in the entire state is returning to the grass with a chip on his shoulder, we could see some nasty things from Carson Kaiser of Kaneland this fall. Kaiser had one of the most successful sophomore campaigns in the history of Illinois, setting his 3 mile PR at a ridiculous 14:12 to take 3rd at the 2A state meet. That mark currently stands as the second fastest sophomore 3 mile in history, following only Lukas Verzbicas of Orland Park Sandburg. He then went on to take seventh at NXR Midwest, with a time of 14:55 at LaVerne Gibson. That 14:55 was his most impressive result throughout the season by far, and he backed it up even further with a 6th place finish at the Runninglane Championships. He is an absolute unit on the grass, and he is capable of contending with Jochum, but there are question marks surrounding his ability to stay healthy. Kaiser spent the majority of the track season in a boot, which means he missed out on the state meet this spring. He only ran 3 times this season, and still clocked a huge PR of 9:07 to take fourth at the 2A Top Times championships during the indoor season. Being able to run 9:07 after just 5 weeks of training shows just how much talent is living inside this kid, imagine what he could do with an entire summer. So long as he stays healthy, the future is bright for the Kaneland star. 

3. Gabriel Greer (Sr., Marion)

1600m: 4:15.31

3200m: 9:00.43

3 Mile: 14:10.1

Gabriel Greer of Marion has one last chance to earn a state title, can he take home the win this year? Greer has been an all-stater in cross country for every year of his career, capping off last season with a runner up finish. During the track season, he was third in the most talented 2A 3200 field we’ve ever seen, and fifth in an equally talented 1600 field. He boasts some of the top marks coming into the season, with a blistering 3200 PR of 9:00 which he set during the indoor season. His 1600 of 4:15 is also not to be overlooked, because it shows that his aerobic engine is so strong that he can brute-force his way to a fast mile. His 3 mile from last year is a devious 14:10, and it’s the top returning mark from last year’s state meet. On paper, this kid is equal with Jochum and Kaiser, but his biggest area of discrepancy is in the final 200 meters. Time and time again, you will see the Greer’s lead a race for 3000 meters, and then lose in the final 200 to either Quaid Berger, Liam Bettis, Cuyler Swanson, or Max Weber. When it comes down to a kick, Greer has some room to improve, which can be solved in two ways. One; he could spend the summer developing competitive speed that should help him in the final stretch or two; he could become so aerobically fit that he decimates the rest of the field. With the progression that Greer has had over his 3 years, it’s entirely possible that he reaches a new level in just one summer. If Greer can take his fitness to a higher plane, he’s gonna be incredibly hard to beat this fall. 

4. Raphael Greer (Sr., Marion)

1600m: 4:14.83

3200m: 9:00.21

3 Mile: 14:40.9

The second part to the Marion equation is Raphael Greer, who is technically also ranked third. You can’t separate the dynamic duo, so Raphael will come directly after his twin brother Gabriel. Greer has an almost identical resume to his twin, with PRs of 9:00 and 4:14 from this track season. He had an unfortunate early ending to his cross country season, where he suffered an injury that caused him to take 105th at the state meet last fall. However, as we saw this track season, a healthy Raphael is the same as a healthy Gabriel, which means you can expect him towards the front at the state meet this year. Unlike his brother Gabriel, Raphael has a little more speed in his legs towards the end of the race. He took third in the 2A 1600, only losing out to Cuyler Swanson and Liam Bettis, who both have excellent kicks. With his season coming to a close early last fall, you can bet that Greer will be looking to find his way back on the podium this fall.

5. Quaid Berger (Jr., Olney [Richland County])

1600m: 4:16.18

3200m: 9:01.6*

3 Mile: 14:18.70

One of the gutsiest racers in the state of Illinois, Quaid Berger of Olney will close out our 2A top 5. Berger had an excellent sophomore campaign on the track, posting PRs of 9:03 and 4:16 in the 3200 and 1600. His time of 9:03 earned him a Top Times title in the 3200, where he took down Raphael Greer, Gabriel Greer, and Carson Kaiser. All three of those names are ranked ahead of him, which shows that he can truly compete with the next tier up. His outdoor season was just as exciting as his indoor season, as he snagged two medals in the 3200 and 1600 at state, taking 4th in the 3200 and 6th in the 1600. His post-season success largely went unrecognized, as he ran 9:05 for the full two miles. That roughly converts to a 3200 PR of 9:02, which puts him as one of the top returning 3200 runners by PR. His sophomore campaign on the grass was nothing short of legendary either, he took 5th at the state meet with one of the top sophomore marks in history of 14:18. His accolades and his marks both speak to his proficiency in the long events, and his sights should be set on a state title this year. 

3200 PR from a full 2 mile conversion

6. Cuyler Swanson (Sr., Morris)

1600m: 4:15.23

3200m: 9:11.02

3 Mile: 14:28.4

After quitting basketball, Cuyler Swanson of Morris took his game to a new level this spring. The last few years, we’ve seen Swanson dominate on the grass, but struggle to hang with the big names on the oval. This year, he flipped that narrative on its head, taking home the 2A state title in the 1600, and taking 6th in the 3200. Swanson ended the season with two huge PRs of 9:11 and 4:15, which is a huge improvement from last year’s track season. On the grass, he was 8th at the state meet with a time of 14:28, so just imagine what he could do this year after dropping so much time during the spring. There is a new level of competitiveness in this guy, if left unchecked, it could earn him a state title.

7. Everett Swanson (Sr., Morris)

1600m: 4:15.55

3200m: 9:06.68

3 Mile: 14:54.1

Arguably the biggest surprise of the track season was the explosion that we saw from Everett Swanson of Morris. Twin brother of Cuyler Swanson, Everett has spent 5 seasons of his career trailing his brother. He had a really strong finish to his cross country season, running 14:54 at the state meet, but he was still almost 30 seconds behind his brother. This spring, he decided to make it an even playing field, dropping his 3200 time from a 9:46 to a 9:06. His 9:06 performance came at the most crucial time as well, as it pushed him all the way to a second place finish at the 2A state meet. His final mile in that race was a blistering 4:23, which is the 4th fastest 1600 HE’S EVER RAN! The last person in recent memory who made an improvement like this was Josiah Narayanan of Wheaton Warrenville South, who went from 9:37 to 9:08 between his sophomore and junior year. Narayanan’s following cross country season ended up being a dominant early season showing, where he was taking down big names like Joe Bregenzer and Finn Richards. The jump that Swanson has made this track season is a once-in-a-lifetime meteoric rise and he could be on to a way bigger season than what Narayanan had. We can’t be sure where Everett will end up on the podium, but with such an amazing track season, you can bet that he’ll be in the hunt for a state title. 

8. Liam Bettis (Sr., Taylorville)

800m: 1:55.74

1600m: 4:09.8*

3200m: 9:05.00

3 Mile: 14:22.7

Liam Bettis of Taylorville is the best 2A #8 in history, and it doesn’t even come close. We have made it all the way to #8, and we’re still talking about title-contending runners. Bettis had a fantastic season on the oval, posting PRs of 9:05 and 4:09 in the 3200 and 1600 respectively. His 1600 PR is the top returning mark in the classification this year, just narrowly topping Thomas Jochum’s 4:10 from IIC. Bettis took home two all-state medals in the 3200 and the 1600 at the state meet, placing 8th in the 3200 and taking the runner-up spot in the 1600. His 3 mile mark from last fall is extremely solid, falling at 14:22. He was 7th at the 2A state meet during the cross country season, just narrowly beating Cuyler Swanson of Morris. He has everything that he needs to put himself in title talks, but he’ll need to take a win over one of the names ahead of him before he can be put higher than #8. This is an incredibly talented athlete who just has the rough luck of being in the fastest state title race in 2A history, so don’t sell him short by any means. 

1600 PR from a full mile conversion

9. Ben Gorsage (Sr., Washington)

800m: 1:48.60

1600: 4:19.62

3 Mile: 14:33.4

This is where the gap starts to form between title contenders and top 10 contenders. Ben Gorsage of Washington is one of the most talented athletes in the state, but he’s just outside of the range of the top 8. Gorsage had one of the best track seasons out of anyone from the class of 2027, dropping his 800 PR from a 1:54 to a whopping 1:48.60. He pulled out one of the gnarliest kicks I have ever seen to take home the 3A state title in the 800, he was 1:49.88 in his state title performance. His 1600 also saw decent improvement, with a mark of 4:19. With such an explosive jump in the 800, his 3 mile will likely see some similar improvement. While Gorsage isn’t quite as proficient in the longer distances, his 3 mile from last year was still a disgusting 14:30 and it wouldn’t be a shock if he shaves a few more seconds off of that mark. He also has the advantage of being on a team that could definitely strike the top 5, which will add motivation for him to push higher on the podium. With all of these factors in mind, Gorsage should be set up for a great season on the grass.

10. Maxwell Kirby (Sr., Peoria [Notre Dame])

1600m: 4:28.58

3200m: 9:28.66

3 Mile: 14:20.6

Maxwell Kirby of Peoria Notre Dame is one of the most interesting cases in cross country running. If you look at some of his results from the track season, you might be confused why he’s so high on this list. His 3200 time of 9:28 is solid, but he wasn’t an all-stater in the 3200 at state and his 9:28 wouldn’t have made the podium either way. His mile PR of 4:28 is what most of the top guys opened their 3200s in throughout the season. And yet, without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of the toughest competitors in the classification. Kirby defines the term “Grass Merchant” better than anyone I have ever met, as he is an absolute warrior when it comes to the cross country course. Kirby threw down a disgusting 14:20 last fall to take sixth at the 2A state meet, beating names like Liam Bettis of Taylorville and Cuyler Swanson of Morris by almost ten seconds. He was a top competitor in almost all of the preseason Detweiller meets, taking 7th in the 2A race at FTTF and taking 10th in a loaded Richard Spring Invitational. He ran a blistering 15:36 at Laverne Gibson at the Nike Twilight Invite, finishing around names like Jackson Miller of St. Louis University and David Moore of Palatine Fremd. Every year, Kirby has flipped the switch after the track season and is lights out on the grass. After a sixth place finish at the state meet, who knows just how high this kid could go. 

11. Judah Binger (Jr., Belvidere [North])

1600m: 4:13.53

3200m: 9:23.01

3 Mile: 14:37.2

A great talent from the class of 2028, Judah Binger of Belvidere North should be chasing a top ten finish this year. Binger didn’t really kick into high gear until outdoors, but he smashed his 1600 PR running 4:13 in the 3A state prelims. He was an all-stater at the 3A level, taking 9th in a great 1600 field. His 3200 from indoors was a 9:23, which he used to win the 3A Top Times championships. Last year, Binger finished 11th at the state meet with a time of 14:37, which was one of the top sophomore marks in the state that year. He is someone that could definitely make the jump to the top group, but he’s gonna have to find a new aerobic level to reach it. 

12. Andrew Aldeman (Jr., Normal [University])

800: 1:55.26

1600m: 4:13.89

3200m: 9:26.27

3 Mile: 15:11.5

Andrew Aldeman of Normal University had an extremely solid year on the track, we should see a big jump from him this season. Aldeman slandered his previous PRs this year, running a wicked 4:13 in the 1600 as a sophomore. His 800 split was a gross 1:53 at the state meet, which was a huge improvement from his previous best of 2:01. His speed wasn’t the only thing that improved, his 3200 time dropped to a solid 9:26 showing that his aerobic strength has increased as well. Aldeman’s 3 mile time currently sits at 15:11, but his most impressive performance from last fall was his race at the sectional meet, where he tied Ben Gorsage of Washington for fourth. He beat several returning all-staters in that race, including the Morton trio of Keyston Beyer, Maxwell Carter, and Abe Martin as well as Zach Born of Metamora. He’s got a ton of upside as we head to the grass, so watch out for Aldeman this year. 

13. Zach Born (Sr., Metamora)

800m: 1:51.18

1600m: 4:15.93

3 Mile: 14:39.2

When you think of 800 runners that can translate to the grass, Zach Born of Metamora is a name you should be thinking of. Born has been an elite level talent in the 800 for his entire high school career, with a 2A state title to prove it. He ran a 1:51.18 at the 2A state meet to claim his first career state title this spring, which was a big PR from last year’s 1:55. His 1600 also saw improvement this season, as he took his mark all the way down to 4:15. While he’s not a 3200 warrior like many of the names above him, he has one of the best kicks in this classification, and it consistently shows up at Detweiller when it matters. He’s been pretty consistent on the grass, with a 14:42 at state his sophomore year and a 14:39 at state his junior year. Normally, we would book him for another high 14:30s and call it a day, but the fact that his 1600 improved the way it did shows that he could be on to a big season. Born is a highly talented juggernaut who is very scary in the final 400, so expect big things from him this year.

14. Dean Geiger (Sr., Dixon)

800m: 1:54.29

1600m: 4:18.01

3 Mile: 14:40.3

Dean Geiger of Dixon is looking to lead the way for one of the best teams in 2A. Geiger had a great track season, taking his 800 PR from a 1:57 all the way to a 1:54. His breakout race was at Distance Night in Palatine, where he took the Main Event Section 1 in a 1:54.90. He was all-state in the open 800 with that 1:54, and he anchored his 4x8 to second place with a 1:54 as well. His 1600 saw some improvement as well, with a new PR of 4:18 from this season. Last fall, he was 14th at the state meet in 14:40, which spearheaded the title-winning Dixon team to first place. He is as solid as they come, and he’ll be a reliable #1 for the Dukes this season. 

15. Averick Wiseman (Sr., Dixon)

800m: 1:57.67

1600m: 4:14.9*

3200m: 9:43.55

3 Mile: 14:44.9

Averick Wiseman of Dixon made the jump from good to great this spring, he should be primed and ready to help his team win another state title. Over the course of the track season, we watched Wiseman develop speed that we haven’t previously seen from him. He dropped significant time in his 1600, taking home a big PR of 4:14 in a post-season race in Iowa. He also brought home an all-state medal in that event, as he took fourth in the 2A 1600. He was a big factor for Dixon’s 4x8 that took second at the state meet; he split a wicked 1:54.7 to put them in title conversation. His 3 mile from last fall is a strong 14:44, and he’s a returning all-stater in that event as well. With the way that he’s progressing, there is a pretty high likelihood that he ends up in the top 15, maybe even as Dixon’s #1. This is a runner who has some of the most upside out of any competitor in the classification, you should be excited to see what he can do this fall.

1600 PR from a full mile conversion

16. Maxwell Carter (Sr., Morton)

1600m: 4:16.54

3200m: 9:18.85

3 Mile: 14:45.8

Maxwell Carter of Morton is someone who could potentially make the jump to a top ten spot this year. Carter showed up this track season and proved he could hang with some of the top names, running 9:18 at Top Times and crushing his 1600 PR to run 4:16. He just missed the podium in the 2A 3200, but was all-state in the 1600 with a 9th place finish. He’s a returning all-stater with a 3 mile PR of 14:45, but with the breakout that he’s had this spring, we could see that go down quickly. The most useful improvement Carter has made this season, however, is his kick. Carter won several races over speed demons like Zach Born and Abe Martin in a sit-and-kick fashion, which is something that we’ve never seen from him before. His 1600 PR at the state meet came by him closing in a 59.81, which is a ferocious final lap for someone who doesn’t usually exhibit any speed. This newfound kick is going to work wonders during the cross country season, as he only gets better at the longer distances. With a tanky aerobic engine and a dangerous kick, Carter is definitely a scary athlete coming into the season.

17. Bryant Lester (Sr., Vernon Hills)

1600m: 4:17.78

3200m: 9:17.49

3 Mile: 15:06.2

There is big potential in Bryant Lester of Vernon Hills entering this season, his track times point to a top 15 contender. Lester had an unfortunate early exit last year, when he suffered a stress fracture just 3 weeks into the cross country season. He was running really well up until that point, taking a win at the Fenton Early Bird invite and taking 3rd at the Lake County Invite. Once he got healthy during the spring, he proved that he’s definitely a runner to watch this year. He dropped a 9:17 in the 3200 at IIC, and ran a 4:17 at the South Carolina Distance Carnival. His PRs are almost identical to Maxwell Carter of Morton, who is listed just above him. If he can stay healthy through the end of the season, he should be in a spot to compete for a medal. 

18. Cooper Summy (Sr., Lake Villa [Lakes])

1600m: 4:16.47

3200m: 9:20.03

3 Mile: 15:09.0

Cooper Summy is coming off of an electric track season that will hopefully turn into a strong campaign on the grass. Summy shaved a few seconds off of his PR in the 3200 from last year, running 9:20 at DNIP. His 1600 saw big improvement, with a 4:16 from the Wanner Knights invite. Last year, he ran great on the track but suffered a rough injury that held him back on the grass. His PR of 15:08 from last season was on a mere 6 weeks of training, which shows that he’s extremely untapped in the 3 mile. While 15:08 isn’t a mark that will compete for an all-state spot, his track times suggest that a big jump is coming. This is a kid that could go as high as the top ten if things go his way, the potential for success is that high. We’ve seen what he can do on the track, now he has to prove that he’s an animal on the grass as well. 

19. Luke Smith (Jr., Waterloo)

800: 1:51.98

3 Mile: 14:41.00

For two years in a row, Luke Smith of Waterloo has shown up on the day of the state meet and has absolutely decimated expectations. Last year, Smith was the runner up in the 800 with a 1 second PR of 1:54.57 (as a freshman). This year, Smith was third with a 2 second PR of 1:51.98. He is a serious competitor in the 800 and in the 3 mile, you just might not see it until we get to the state meet. Last year, he had a slow start to the cross country season. He didn’t even break 16 until late September, and his season best going into the state meet came at the regional meet where he ran 15:11. But once he got to Detweiller, he dropped a gear and ran 14:41 to take 15th. He shows up at the state meet consistently, and this year will be no different. Have patience with Smith, because eventually he’ll end up back on the podium.

20. John Reinbold (Jr., Aurora [Central Catholic])

1600m: 4:17.18

3 Mile: 14:46.9

Aurora Central Catholic basically prints middle-distance superstars, and John Reinbold is the next in line. Reinbold was on fire on the oval, dropping his 800 and 1600 times down considerably. His 4x8 split for the 7:42 state champions was a blistering 1:55.2, and he was the anchor for that elite ACC squad. His 1600 PR continues to be one of the top marks in the class of 2028, as he ran 4:17 during his sophomore campaign. He’s a returning all-stater on the grass with a 3 mile time of 14:46, and he’s an athlete that will come out swinging in early August. You will know right away with Reinbold whether he’s going to have a great season or not, and I would bet that his first few races this season are going to be fantastic. 

21. Abe Martin (Jr., Morton)

800m: 1:55.82

1600m: 4:23.09

3 Mile: 14:42.5

Abe Martin is one of the most talented athletes in the entire state, but there’s a little uncertainty coming into this cross country season. Martin is known for his middle distance prowess, with an 800 PR of 1:55.03 and a 1600 PR of 4:23. He was the anchor leg to the 2A state record holding 4x4, with a devious split time of 47.28. If we’re talking about pure speed, he is basically in his own category, not even Ben Gorsage of Washington can match that 4x4 split time. On top of that, he is the top returning 3 miler for Morton’s elite distance squad, with a PR of 14:42 from last year’s state meet. He has brain-destroying range, and he’s easily one of the scariest athletes to toe the line with, but he just can’t stay healthy. Martin only started racing last year in early October due to injury, and he got a late start to the track season because of injury as well. He only raced 4 times during cross country his freshman year because of a stress fracture that sidelined him until the conference meet. Staying healthy is a real struggle for Martin, and it’s holding him back from being the fully fledged nightmare that he could be. If Martin is able to put together a completely healthy season, he could genuinely end up in the top ten. But just to be careful and to mimic what we have seen so far, we have to put him at #21. With all of that said, even an unhealthy Martin is still a contending all-state athlete, so he deserves his place on this list. 

22. Keyston Beyer (Sr., Morton)

800: 1:57.88

1600m: 4:19.24

3 Mile: 14:46.9

One of the more underrated athletes in the classification, Keyston Beyer quietly put together a great track season that should set him up for a great year on the grass. Beyer chopped 10 seconds off of his 1600 PR, running a 4:19 at the Morton Distance Gala. He also hammered a 1:54.6H split for the 4th place Morton 4x8 at the state meet, which was a huge improvement from his 1:59 the previous year. He was also a member of that 3:15 4x4 that Morton ran to set the 2A state record in that event, which means he was at least a 49 on the split for one of the three legs that weren’t Abe Martin. His speed has clearly taken a big jump from where it was last year, and that’s an underrated weapon to have on the home straightaway of Detweiller Park. He also happens to be a returning all-stater from last fall, with a 14:46 PR from the state meet. With the 3 mile PR that he’s already established, Beyer should be able to take his time down considerably and compete for a spot within the top 15 this year. 

23. Giancarlo Pietrasanta (Jr., Glen Ellyn [Glenbard South])

1600m: 4:17.72

3200m: 9:44.25

3 Mile: 14:53.4

Giancarlo Pietrasanta of Glenbard South is one of the most entertaining runners to watch and his fitness is finally in a place where he will compete for a top 25 spot this year. Pietrasanta was lights out during the indoor season, where he ran a huge PR of 4:17 in the 1600 at DNIP. His 3200 saw decent improvement as well, he ran 9:44 in the one time he ran it all year. His range down to the 800 is not terrible either, with a 1:56.42. His 3 mile from last year was extremely solid, he just missed out on all-state status by a few spots with his time of 14:53. One of the coolest moments of the entire track season was the IIC 1600, where names like Philip Cupial, Owen Horeni, and his own teammate Thomas Jochum, stood on the line next to Pietrasanta. Pietrasanta recognized that he wasn’t the top athlete in the field, but instead of letting one of the big dogs lead, Pietrasanta showed them how it was done, and led through the 600 in a wicked 1:33. He is not scared of big competition, if anything, it elevates him to another level. His unique ability to take a race out, guns blazing, and to hold on for dear life has been the deciding factor in a ton of races, and it will serve him well going into this cross country season.

24. Luis Coss (Sr., Chicago [Lake View])

1600m: 4:32.08

3200m: 9:37.66

3 Mile: 14:47.6

One of the most intriguing runners in the entire classification is Luis Coss of Chicago Lake View, who will be looking for a return to the podium this year. Coss was off of everyone’s radar last fall, with a PR of 15:45 coming into the state meet. His best race was at the CPS championships, where he placed 7th and he beat a few of the major Lane Tech scorers, but he wasn’t seen as someone who could come to the state meet and throwdown. He was 4th in his regional and 5th in his sectional, and he lost to Giancarlo Pietrasanta of Glenbard South by over 15 seconds at the sectional meet. Then, out of seemingly nowhere, Coss showed up at the state meet and dropped a ferocious 14:47 to snag the final all-state medal. He dropped almost a minute off of his 3 mile PR in just one week, putting up one of the most unpredictable performances I have ever seen. This track season, he has continued to shatter his PRs, running 1:58.37, 4:32 and 9:37, all of which are vast improvements from his sophomore year. This year, there will be no sleeping on Luis Coss, everyone knows who he is and are eagerly awaiting his next breakout. 

25. Andrew Calderon (Sr., Deerfield)

1600m: 4:18.01

3200m: 9:29.71

3 Mile: 14:57.0

When you’re on a great program and you progress the way Andrew Calderon has, eventually you end up on the podium. Calderon dropped his track times pretty considerably this season, running 4:18 for 1600 and 9:29 for 3200. His 3 mile from last fall was a solid 14:57, which he used to take 30th at the 2A state meet. He was a key part of the Deerfield team that took 3rd at the 2A state meet last fall, and he’ll be an even bigger part of the attempt at a rebound that Deerfield will put up this year. When you look at his stats year by year, he has continually dropped good chunks of time in every single event. If he continues to progress in the way that he has, he should be a strong contender for an all-state position.