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Class 2 Boys Preview
The Contenders
Brandon Shemonia, Scott City, SR
Last Year: 2nd, 16:17
Best - 15:26, AVG - 16:06
Shemonia has been a stud all season, running under 16 three times so far this year. He has yet to win a title but he is looking great to finally come out on top. He crushed the field at district, running 45 seconds better than the Herculaneum crew.
Ryan Jackson, Herculaneum, SR
Last Year: 6th, 16:52
Best - 16:10, AVG - 16:41
The Herculaneum duo has had a great season. Jackson and Coffman have been both finishing high up in meets but Jackson has had the upper hand the entire season. Coffman slipped in front of him at districts but expect both of these runners to race well at state.
Jacob Drilling, Lutheran (St. Charles), JR
Last Year: 10th, 17:06
Best - 16:04, AVG - 16:35
Drilling has shown he can compete in any class this year with a 13th place finish at the Parkway West Invite and a 23rd place finish at Forest Park. He is a solid competetior and has won his fair share of meets. He was 19 seconds behind Jackson at Hancock but finished ahead of Jacob Coffman by a small margin.
Jacob Coffman, Herculaneum, SR
Last Year: 7th, 16:59
Best - 16:11, AVG - 16:48
I feel for Coffman as I was in his situation last year. Coffman is a great runner but besides districts has been behind another great runner and his teammate, Ryan Jackson. He has finished well before and should be in the top five if he runs what he is capable of.
Cody Gorham, Richmond, SR
Last Year: 11th, 17:07
Best - 16:17, AVG - 16:44
Gorham has had a great season finishing no lower than second. He has run good times throughout the year and his 16:17 at districts, winning by a minute, shows that he is ready to compete against the best this weekend.
Brett Voss, Blair Oaks, JR
Last Year: 14th, 17:18
Best - 16:46, AVG - 17:04
Voss has consistently ran well throughout the year and is showing a good peak. He also won his district this past weekend. He ran a 16:57, winning by almost a minute. He will be a threat to crack the top five this weekend, possibly higher depending on how good of a day he has.
(Photo Credit: Michelle Wheeler)
Dustin Pate, Stockton, SR
Last Year: 29th, 18:03
Best - 16:20, AVG - 17:08
Pate is another district winner. He ran a PR this past weekend of 16:20 to claim the district title by over 20 seconds. The lowest he has finished this year is 7th and that was his first race. He is on a three race winning streak coming into state, showing he is ready to perform well when it counts the most.
Deko Ricketts, Barstow, JR
Last Year: 19th, 17:29
Best - 16:58, AVG - 17:25
Ricketts was second, well behind Gorham, but should still be in the mix on Saturday. He has shown he is a great runner, grabbing two all-state performances in track lsat spring. He has won three meets this year and should be ready to compete with the best of them Saturday morning.
(Photo Credit: Chris Auckley, motrackfanatic.blogspot.com)
Austin Wenger, Hollister, SR
Last Year: 18th, 17:29
Best - 17:07, AVG - 17:57
Wenger won his district running 17:15 and helped lead his team to the district title. He has placed relatively well in meets since a rough start at his first meet. He has shown he can compete at state with his 18th place finish last year, but hopefully he will finish much higher this year.
Drake Smelser, Herculaneum, JR
Last Year: 30th, 18:05
Best - 16:59, AVG - 17:37
Smelser is the third runner for Herky so his 4th place finish is deceiving. He finished behind Shemonia, Coffman, and Jackson, but wasn’t far off of Jackson. If he can stay as close as he was to Jackson last week, he will be a shoe in for top ten at state.