We transition to our final part of our awards voting with our Runner Of The Year Voting! We had a great year overall across the state and had some great performances from some great runners throughout the year. Our 4 best runners from the entire year are up for voting.
Ben Crane (Winnetka [New Trier]) - Crane never lost to an Illinois runner during the entire year of competition. He won the IHSA Class 3A State Meet in 14:03 which is one of the fastest times in history. His best performances aside from state were at the Red Devil Invite (1st, 13:58 [2.9]), FTTF Invite (1st, 14:26), Nike XC Town Twilight (4th, 14:49 [5K]), CSL Conference Champion (1st, 14:15), Glenbrook South Regional (1st, 15:07), and Hoffman Estates Sectional (1st, 14:14). He won NXR Midwest in 14:46 and was 3rd at Foot Locker Midwest. He took 14th overall at NXN.
Finn Richards (Lisle [Benet Academy]) - Richards was undefeated against 2A competition during IHSA season this year and it resulted with a 2A State Championship win for the Redwing star in 14:21. Some of his best performances outside of the state meet were the Red Devil Invite (3rd, 14:15 [2.9]), Larry Eddington Invite (1st, 14:12 [2.92]), East Suburban Catholic Conference (1st, 14:51), Hinsdale South Regional (1st, 14:24 [2.9]), and Hinsdale South Sectional (1st, 14:10 [2.9]). He was also 16th at NXR Midwest and 25th at Foot Locker Midwest.
Phillip Cupial (Downers Grove North) - Cupial has really emerged since the Track State Meet last year where he was the 3A 1600m State Champion. He had a great season overall which saw him take 4th at the State Meet in 14:12. Some of his best performances outside of the state meet were at the EIU Showdown (3rd, 15:31), Mike Kuharic Invite (1st, 15:31 [5K]), FTTF Invite (4th, 14:42), Naperville Twilight (1st, 14:24), WSC-Silver Conference (1st, 14:38), and Hinsdale Central Sectional (1st, 14:07 [2.9]). He was 7th at NXR Midwest in 15:05 and qualified for Foot Locker Nationals as he took 4th at Foot Locker Midwest in 15:03.
Dylan Maloney (Plainfield South) - Maloney had a great overall year setting new course records and being one of the fastest runners in history on some historic courses. He was 5th at the IHSA 3A State Meet in 14:15. Some of his best performances outside of State were at the Normal West Invite (1st, 15:12), Plainfield City (1st, 14:30), FTTF Invite (5th, 14:43), Palatine Invite (1st, 14:28), Nike XC Town Twilight (6th, 14:53), SPC Conference (1st, 14:27), and Normal Community Sectional (1st, 14:36). He was 12th at Foot Locker Midwest in 15:15.
Boys Runner Of The Year
Ben Crane (New Trier)
Finn Richards (Benet Academy)
Phillip Cupial (Downers Grove North)
Dylan Maloney (Plainfield South)
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