Boys cross country: Antioch's Smith has sights set on state title
With two all-state performances behind him in cross country and one in track, Antioch senior Charlie Smith expects the 2019 season to be a successful journey.
After missing out on a berth to the state cross country meet by one place as a freshman at sectionals, Smith has been nothing sort of spectacular.
"That race, more than anything, pushed him and challenged him for the next whole year because he was crushed by that," said coach Chris Bailey, who is beginning his 11th season with the Sequoits. "Charlie is a contender for the state championship. His mindset is to win a state championship. He knows it is not going to be easy, but he is one of the mentally toughest kids I've ever been around."
With Lake Forest moving back to Class 3A this season, Smith is the No. 2-ranked returning runner in Class 2A behind Burlington Central senior Anthony Farmer, who edged Smith by just 1.17 seconds for third place last year.
Despite a recent shin injury that has prevented him from running more than 400 miles like he did last summer, Smith is still confident that he will ultimately be 100 percent and ready to go when the 74th annual IHSA state meet takes place on Nov. 9.
"Before the injury I was planning on 55 to 60 miles a week, but with my cross training I think it's about 350 miles for the summer," said Smith, who also ran to second place in the 1,600 meters in the Class 3A state track meet last spring. "Definitely my goal is to win it. I have always wanted to qualify as a team and step up to the line with my team. And it's about getting a good group of guys who are committed and willing to work the whole season."
Smith emerged as an elite runner by placing 10th in the state meet as a sophomore before his fourth-place finish in 2018.
"The key for me is to really get consistent racing in before the state meet, and I have to practice racing different strategies so when I get to state I can succeed no matter how fast or slow the race goes out," Smith said. "I'll definitely do both (cross country and track) in college, and right now I feel I'm more geared to be a miler."
Bailey can coach and teach from his own personal experiences as he reached the IHSA cross country mountain top not once, but twice by finishing first in the state when he was a junior and senior at Westmont (1993 and 1994). Bailey also put together a great cross country and track career at ISU, where he was a Division I all-American at 10,000 meters as well as a 10-time Missouri Valley Conference champion in the two sports.
Parents Jennifer and Mark have also been there every step of the way for Smith through all of the ups and downs that go along with the demanding training schedule that is needed to make it in distance running.
"This whole process, they know how much it means to me, and they also help me realize life isn't just all about running, but I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't love it," added Smith, whose fourth-place finish is tied with Antioch graduate Andy Napier, who placed fourth in Class AA in 2003. "Sometimes there are times when you need to step away, and it helps you refuel your love for the sport."
Antioch sophomore Lucas Baronello placed 17th for Antioch in the NLCC last year, and junior teammate Owen Lane has the potential to be Top 10 in the conference this fall. The Sequoits' depth will be hurt by the loss of Mikey Volkmar (third in NLCC) to graduation. NLCC rival Lakes made the state meet for the first time in school history last year, but the Eagles lost their top two runners to graduation so repeating that feat will not be an easy task.
Only time will tell, but there could be a state champion in the making if the stars align for Smith.
"Charlie has all the tools, we talked about his speed and strength, he's focused and determined, and he knows what he wants," said Bailey, who also placed 10th in the state in cross country as a high school sophomore. "He has to get 100 percent healthy and peak at the right time, he has taught me how to trust athletes in terms of what they want, and it's about the big picture so we're excited."
Lake County boys cross country at a glance
Top returning runners: Mundelein - senior Dillon Blake (12th in Class 3A); Lake Zurich - junior Jack Gilboy (37th in Class 3A), junior Jake Myers (46th in Class 3A); Libertyville - senior Will Gordon (78th in Class 3A), Stevenson - senior Anthony Rodriguez (eighth in the NSC); Warren - junior Griffen Pasha (10th in NSC), sophomore Luke Wiley (15th in NSC)
Top teams: Lake Zurich - 23rd in 2018, reached state meet with only one senior ... Led by senior Jack Gilboy, junior Jake Myers, senior Adam Cupples, senior Patrick Hart; Mundelein - 19th in 2018 ... Led by returning all-stater Dillon Blake, senior Carter Schorr (fourth in NSC)
Top meets: Lake County Invitational (Sept. 4 at Waukegan Sports Complex), First to the Finish Invitational (Sept. 14 at Peoria's Detweiller Park), Wauconda Invitational (Sept. 14 at Matthews Middle School in Island Lake), Bill Dawson Invitational (Sept. 21 at Warren's O'Plaine campus), Palatine Invitational (Sept. 28 at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve), Pat Harland (Antioch) Invitational (Oct. 5 at Fox River Park, Burlington, Wis.)