Neuqua could get better still
Not a mystery, rather a riddle. The health of second runner Jim Riddle is about the only thing unproven for Neuqua heading into Saturday's Class 3A state meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Riddle suffered a stress fracture a few weeks into the season.
After two races the Wildcats senior was the best runner in the area not named Chris Derrick. If Riddle's leg can hold up, the Wildcats could put three runners in the top 10 along with Derrick and Danny Pawola.
Keep an eye on sophomore Aaron Beattie. The Wildcats' dominant top trio didn't miss a beat with him stepping in for Riddle. Neuqua is making its seventh straight state appearance.
Its highest finish was fourth in 2003. It will be an upset if the Wildcats don't improve upon that historic finish.
The Wildcats don't have to look far to find their stiffest competition, Naperville North. The Huskies cruised to the regional crown and then won the loaded Schaumburg sectional, avenging one of its two losses this season to DuPage Valley Conference foe Wheaton North and beating York by 15 points in the process.
Huskies coach Dave Racey has called this team the best he's ever had. Naperville North needs to close the gap between its fourth and fifth runners to upset the Wildcats.
They have dynamic front runners in Kyle Gibson and John Newman, with David McWilliams and Tyler Jerman providing power in the 3-4 spots.
Wheaton North is another team to watch for, but after surviving Geneva to win the St. Charles East regional, it barely survived the Schaumburg sectional, claiming the fifth and final spot.
Watch out for Waubonsie Valley. David Severance's squad is finally getting healthy and has a knack for delivering in clutch situations. After an impressive fourth-place finish at Schaumburg, these Warriors are ready for battle.
And then there is York. The Long Green Line always seems to find magic come November (refer to 26 championships overall and five straight state titles as proof), but even the mighty Dukes won't be able to overcome the significant dropoff after their powerful 1-2 punch of Tom Achtien and Steve Sulkin.
Palatine is best non-area team with a chance to win it all. Palatine senior Mat Smoody is almost guaranteed to give Palatine a low first point, but it won't be a top-three overall finish.
The individual title could come down to Derrick, Hersey's Kevin Havel and Achtien. Havel entered the season as the favorite after three straight top-five performances at state, but the tide has shifted to Derrick.
Neuqua's dominant senior has been unchallenged, yet has still put up record-setting numbers despite running alone. If Mother Nature cooperates, we could see three runners break 14:10 and possibly challenge the elusive 14-minute barrier.
Havel is hoping to follow in the footsteps of former champions Matt Withrow and Evan Jager. Both Withrow and Jager put up top finishes without winning as underclassmen before finally winning the title as seniors.
But Derrick's talent is borderline scary. He ran an 8:54 in the finals of the 3,200-meter run at state last year … as a 16-year-old.
His personal best on Detweiller is 14:22, but he should obliterate that time. Achtein opened many eyes after narrowly missing York legend Donald Sage's conference record time.