By Michael Newman

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3A Boys

There were so many runners that could be considered for this honor. So many of the 3A runners made huge strides forward this season.

I wish we had a Comeback Runner of the Year. The two runners that I believe deserve this would be Nathan Mroz (York HS, Elmhurst) and Peter Cotsirilos (New Trier HS, Winnetka). Mroz finished 5^th this year in the 3A race after not being able to run in 2012 due to a stress fracture in his hip. Mroz started that 2012 season as York’s #1 runner before coming down with the injury. In his sophomore season in 2011, Nathan finished 21^st in the state meet. Cotsirilos finished 17^th this year. He was unable to run cross country for the last two years. He ran the last two races of the year with a stress fracture in his leg. Both student/athletes should be commended for their perseverance in what they have fought through for success.

There were five runners that were considered for this award. Four of the runners competed in the 2012 state meet. One runner did not.

TJ Caveney (Central HS, Hinsdale) made a huge jump this season after finishing 126^th a year ago. In 2013, Caveney finished 25^th. He was the 3^rd man on the Red-Devil team that captured its first state championship. Jack Carpenter (Maine South HS, Park Ridge) qualified as an individual for this year’s state meet after running with his teammates in 2012 placing 129^th. In the 3A race this past November, Carpenter proved he was one of the elite runners in the state placing 6^th.

Brydon Groves-Scott (Edwardsville HS) was one of the key reasons his team was competitive with state power O’Fallon this season. This included coming within two points of the Panthers at the Southwest Conference Meet and winning the Quincy Regional. Last year, Groves-Scott placed 138^th at the state meet. This year, the Edwardsville junior earned all-state honors by finishing 23^rd.

Joseph Emmanuel (North HS, Wheaton) had a great season. He shocked some by winning the DuPage Valley Conference Meet over crosstown rival Nolan McKenna (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) by two tenths of a second. He vindicated that win by winning the Waubonsie Valley Sectional over McKenna two week later. Emmanuel finished 14^th at this year’s state meet after finishing 145^th a year ago.

He was the seventh man on a team that placed 11^th at the 2012 Marist Sectional. In that race, Ryan Clevenger (North HS, Downers Grove) finished 91^st. During track last spring, Clevenger’s confidence started to grow as he lowered his personal best in the 1600 Meter Run to 4:20. He was one of the big surprises this season as he teamed with Zack Smith to have the state’s fastest duo. At the state meet, Smith finished 3^rd, Clevenger 7^th. The junior was one of the reasons why Downers Grove North finished second in the 3A state meet.

We congratulate Ryan Clevenger of Downers Grove North HS as the DyeStat Illinois 2013 3A Boys Most Improved Runner of the Year.

2A Boys

Just like in 3A Boys, there were a number of runners that could be placed as the most improved in the state. There were so many runners that showed improvement.

Zach Hird (Alleman HS, Rock Island) had to deal with the fact that his school moved up from 1A to 2A for this 2013 Cross Country Season. In the smaller class in 2012, he placed 36^th in the state meet. This season, he was one of the dominant runners in 2A. He finished 6^th in November at Detweiller. Cody Sodgeroth (Dixon HS) showed improvement from his 60^th place finish in the 2012 state meet. The senior earned all-state honors by finishing 17^th in 2A state race this year.

Kyle Whitney (Vernon Hills HS) was one of the reasons why his school finished 3^rd in the 2A State meet. He improved from his 52th place finish of 2012 by placing 8^th in the 2013 2A state meet.

There were two runners that I felt possibly improved the most. Bryan Quinonez (Kennedy HS, Chicago) did not qualify for the state meet in 2012. He finished 45^th at the Wheaton Academy Sectional. Times changed for Quinoez in 2013. He was one of the top runners in the Chicago Public League finishing in the City Championships. He was one of the surprises in the 2A state race finishing 15^th.

Ben Richter (Triad HS, Troy) finished off on a tough note at the end of 2012 finishing 68^th at the Decatur MacArthur Sectional. It was a 180 degree turn around this year. He had two invitational wins including a win at the Madison County Invitational over 3A All-State Runner Brydon Groves-Scott (Edwardsville HS). He qualified for the state meet by finishing 6^th at the Decatur MacArthur Sectional. In the 2A State Meet, he finished 16^th. The senior from Triad HS showed the most improvement out of all the 2A Boys Runners in the state.

We congratulate Ben Richter of Troy Triad HS as the DyeStat Illinois 2013 2A Boys Most Improved Runner of the Year.

1A Boys

Michael Cook and Cody Baele (Wethersfield HS, Kewanee) were the top duo in 1A Boys this year. Both runners were all-state runners in 2013 with Cook finishing third and Baele seventh.

Both runners showed the most improvement in 1A Boys this season. In 2012 when he was a sophomore, Cook qualified for the state meet finishing 42^nd. Baele did not make it that far as his teammate finishing 66^th at the Oregon Sectional.

Baele was in the shadows most of this year finishing as the second runner on the team behind Cook. When it comes to improvement, Cody showed a little bit more.

Congratulations to Cody Baele of Wethersfield HS as the DyeStat Illinois 2013 1A Boys Most Improved Runner of the Year.