2017 All Area Boys

2017 Tri State Cross Country Coaches Boys All-Area Team

Written by Jared Schmidt - Tri State Cross Country Coaches Committee Member

Illini West Senior Jacob Bryan is your 2017 Runner of the Year (Photo Credit: Russ Tate)

Runner of the Year - Jacob Bryan, Sr., Illini West

Most athletes would be pretty excited to finish 29th in the state as a junior but, for Illini West's Jacob Bryan, it wasn't exactly the fairy tale ending he had hoped for heading into the 2016 season. Unfortunately for Bryan it had been a long and stressful season and after he finished, a deep sigh may have been more from relief of the roller coaster season being over than the quality finish he was able to achieve. Bryan, throughout the 2016 season, struggled to finish multiple races, sometimes crawling across the finish line and needing medical attention. He was forced to sit out meets while his family and himself questioned doctors on what could possibly be wrong with the extremely fit distance runner that couldn't finish a three mile race. "The health/iron issues were definitely stressful for all of us (coaches, his parents, teammates, and Jake). We weren't sure if or when the episodes would happen. Once he figured it out medically, we at least had an answer" said Illini West Head Coach Ryan Bliss. The answer was an iron deficiency that lead to Bryan becoming fatigued during strenuous times of exercise. Thankfully, the cure was an iron supplement to boost his iron stores in his blood which allowed his body to carry more oxygen an allowing his body to function properly. For Bryan the diagnosis came with several weeks left in the season, just enough time to properly recover and prepare for a post season run. Although he missed training, he was still able to capture his 29th place finish and narrowly miss an All-State honor. 2016 was done. 2017 had to be better.

Fast forward to the Fall of 2017, following a Spring track campaign that included 4 All-State track medals (4x8-1st, 800m-3rd, 1600m-4th, 4x4-2nd)and a team state championship Bryan was poised to show the state what he was actually capable of on the cross country course. Jacob started with a bang and never looked back. Bryan won 10 different meets in the Fall of 2017 including the Running Raider Invite, Tom Oakley, and Liberty Invitational's. "Once he got a couple of meets under his belt this season, his confidence started to climb and he got more dominant with each race," said Blliss. His confidence hit its apex as the post season arrived where he was able to win the West Central Conference and Aledo Regional Individual titles while helping his team qualify for the Elmwood Sectional. At Elmwood, Bryan placed 6th overall earning himself, his 2nd straight trip to the IHSA State Meet and his shot at redemption. With the past behind him Jacob Bryan toed the line at Detweiller Park in Peoria on November 4th to show everyone that 2016 was a fluke and he was a better runner than he was a year prior. That's exactly what he did. He saved his best race for last, running 15:08 to place 8th overall and set a new personal record. It's likely that Bryan also took a deep breath and sighed that day when he crossed the finish line at the IHSA 1A State Meet . He probably also smiled a little bit knowing that he had shown the state what he was truly capable and that 2016 really was a fluke.

Bryan signed a National Letter of Intent to run collegiate track and cross country at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL earlier this Fall. For his efforts on the course in the Fall of 2017, Jacob Bryan has been named this year's Tri-State Cross Country Coaches Boys Runner of the Year.

First Team All- Area - (Alphabetical Order)

Max Brandenburger, Jr., Bowling Green - The Bowling Green had a stellar Junior season with quality finishes throughout. Ending his season with a 3rd place finish at the EMO Conference meet, 5th at the Missouri Districts, and a 91st place finish at the Missouri State Meet netted him 1st team All-Conference and All-District accolades. The 2016 Tri-State Honorable Mention, worked his way on to the 1st team in 2017 with solid performances throughout the 2017 season.

Dalton Ellingboe, Sr., West Hancock - A now 3 time 1st Team All-Area selection, Ellingboe was yet again one of the most consistent runners in the Tri-State area. Always willing to put himself in the race netted him great results throughout the 2017 season. 6th at the QND Running Raider and 3rd at both the QHS Tom Oakley and West Central Conference meets were just a few of his top performances. To cap his Senior season, Ellingboe placed 5th at the Aledo Regional and 18th at the Elmwood Sectional running 16:07, narrowly missing an individual state qualification.

Noah Fleer, Jr., QHS - The Junior leader for the Blue Devils jumped from Honorable Mention to 1st team honors from 2016 to 2017. A 12th place finish at QND and a 5th place finish at the Tom Oakley Invitational show he belonged at the top of any local race. He placed 7th at the Western Big-6 Conference meet to earn All-Conference honors. Leading the Blue Devils in the post season, Fleer placed 15th at the 3A Belleville West Regional and 70th overall in 16:31 at the always loaded Granit City Sectional. Look for Fleer to continue to improve in 2018 and be in the running again for 1st team honors.

Nathan Frazee, So., Clark County - Frazee was able to continue where he left off in 2016 with another solid season in 2017. The Clark County Sophomore was 4th at the Tom Oakley Invitational along with winning the Centralia Invitational and the CCC Conference Meet. Frazee also placed 2nd overall at the Missouri District Meet and earned All-State Honors at the Missouri State Meet where he ran 17:23 to place 12th overall.

Zach Haley, Sr., QND - Haley had a rough and tumble season. Derailed early in the season with a broken hand due to a football injury, Haley continued to train despite missing most of the 2017 races. He ran well in the early season placing 2nd at the PORTA Invitational and 7th at the QND Invitational. After missing a lot of time, Haley returned for the post season and capped his Senior season with a 20th place finish at the Elmwood Sectional, narrowly missing an individual State qualification.

Corbyn Harper, So., Clark County - The 2nd Sophomore to earn 1st team honors from his team, Harper was a vital part of helping Clark County qualify for the Missouri State Meet for the 2nd straight year in 2017. He placed 2nd at the CCC Conference meet and was 4th at the Missouri Districts before he placed 54th overall in 18:14 at the State Meet. Harper also placed in the top 10 at 5 other meets for Clark County throughout 2017.

Cole Kirchner, Sr., Clark County - A lot of Clark County's team successes this year was because of their trio of runners near the front. Kirchner was a vital and consistent part of that trio. A strong end to his Senior season netted him 1st team honors at both the CCC Conference meet and the Missouri Districts where he placed 3rd overall in both. Kirchner was also a top 10 finisher at 4 other meets throughout 2017 and finished his high school career with a 43rd place finish at the Missouri State meet in 18:03 for 5k.

Dalton Melvin, Sr., Illini West - Melvin was a 2016 All-Area Honorable Mention selection, but propelled himself to 1st Team honors in 2017. A consistent top 10 performer Melvin had quality finishes of 9th at QND and 7th at both the QHS and Liberty Invitational's. He placed 4th overall at the West Central Conference Meet and 12th at the Aledo Regional to cap off a consistent high school career that saw him improve steadily from start to finish.

Avery Mudd, Sr., Bowling Green - Mudd was a 1st team All-Conference and 1st team All-District selection after placing 5th at the EMO Conference Meet and 6th at the District Meet. Helping the Bobcats qualify for the Missouri State Meet, Mudd was able to end his 2017 season with a 62nd place finish in a time of 18:26 in Jefferson City.

Devin Neff, Sr., Mark Twain - When it comes to Tri-State Cross Country, you cannot have a conversation without including Neff among the top. A constant presence at the top for his entire high school career, the Mark Twain Senior didn't disappoint in his final season. Neff was able to finish with 5 meet victories in 2017 including the EMO Conference Championship and the Missouri District title before capping his high school cross country career with a 7th place finish at the Missouri State Meet to earn his 2nd All-State honor in a time of 17:15 for 5k.

Ayden Nichols, Sr., Hannibal - Nichols finished his stellar high school career with yet another quality season. The 2015 Tri-State Runner of the Year was top 3 in every meet this year until late in the season when a sickness hindered him from advancing in the post season. His sickness may have hindered his Senior season, but Nichols has left his mark on the Tri-States in the last few years. Season highlights include meet championships at the Fleet Feet 2 Mile and Palmyra Invitations, and a runner up finish at the QHS Tom Oakley Invitational.

Eli Ten Eyck, Sr., Pittsfield - The reigning 2016 Tri-State Runner of the Year was set back by a stress fracture in his ankle during the summer. Not willing to throw in the towel, Ten Eyck worked his way back slowly to be at his best at the end of the 2017 season. His planned worked, as Eli was able to qualify for his 2nd straight IHSA State Meet by running 15:29 at the Elmwood Sectional to place 5th overall. A week later he added a 2nd straight All-State performance to his resume with a 18th place finish at the IHSA Class 1A State Meet. Ten Eyck also placed 3rd overall at the Carlinville, Jacksonville, and Macomb Invitational's throughout the season.

All-Area Honorable Mention -

Highland- Joshua French, Sr., Collin Nelson, Jr.

Illini West- Kevin White, Sr.

Macomb- Alex Dranes, Sr., Dakota Shepler, Jr.

Palmyra- Brock Boulware, Sr., Brett Griesbaum, Jr., Spencer Locke, So., Nick Mudd, Sr.

QHS- Jacob Spooner, Jr., Carson Triplett, Jr.

QND- Nathan Haxel, Jr.

Rushville- Dylan Crook, Fr., Conner Davidson, Jr., Nick Seaver, Fr.