PEORIA — Matthew Richtman and Tanner Chada were of the same opinion on Saturday at the boys cross country state finals at Detweiller Park.
“I was right up there where I wanted to be,” said Richtman, a Kaneland junior who finished fourth in the Class 2A final in a time of 14 minutes, 36 seconds. “I hit my goal that was I trying to hit. “(The state meet) was a lot quicker than it was last year. I shaved over a half-minute off my PR from last year.”
Chada, a Hinckley-Big Rock senior, had serious designs on a Class 1A state championship.
“Going out, I was just going to run my race and trying to do what I do,” Chada said. “It just so happened the first mile of the race felt very good.”
Chada led the race at the one-third point.
But Rock Falls senior Braden Hamblen, whom Chada defeated at the Oregon Sectional, had too much in store.
Hamblen won the individual state championship in 14:23 with Chada taking fourth at 14:54.
“I tried to continue to go through my plan,” Chada said. “I definitely expected more of myself; however, some things don’t go your way. I had an off day. I know Braden and I can go neck and neck. I know I could have been up there with him.”
In Class 3A, Marmion (340) was 12th and Geneva (350) finished 15th.
“I always tell the kids, ‘If that’s your best, that’s all I can ask for,” Geneva coach Bob Thomson said. “On the boys side, six of the seven had their personal best.”
Oswego East senior Dylan Zangri earned All-State status with his ninth-place showing at 14:36.
Yorkville entered the Class 3A state finals as the final entrant out of the Edwardsville Sectional, having moved up a class after winning four straight trophies in 2A.
The former back-to-back state champions from Class 2A in 2013 and 2014 finished 24th out of 25 teams in their first foray in the largest division.
“I thought we did pretty well,” said Zach Price, Yorkville’s No. 1 runner.
In Class 2A, IMSA (451) made its state-meet debut and took 20th. Sophomore Daniel Chen led the way for the Titans, taking 43rd at 15:27.
Kevin McGavin is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.