Contenders, Safe Bets And More: Our Eastbay Boys Breakdowns

Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

The Contenders

1. Riley Hough, Hartland (MI)

2. Zane Bergen, Niwot (CO)

Both of these runners opted against competing at the Team Midwest Regional a few weeks back, which should tell you something: These next three weeks will be critical to their season-long goals.

Both are aiming to qualify for nationals. Both are looking to win at RunningLane.

But first, they'll have to square off at the Eastbay Midwest Qualifier. What helps is the fact that William Zegarski is not in the picture. The Ohio state champion, who has won 13 straight races, was originally signed up for the regional. He has since opted out. 

That being said, the race isn't any less competitive. Both Hough and Bergen will be threats to win. And for both of them, they'll encounter their most difficult race of the season in Kenosha. 

Bergen trains and competes at altitude, but very seldomly does he see these kind of conditions. Kenosha could be in the 30s by race time. And if that's the case, that's Hough's wheelhouse. 

Should Be Safe

3. Izaiah Steury, Angola (IN)

4. Hunter Jones, Benzie Central (MI)

5. Micah Wilson, St. Charles East (IL)

6. Andrew Hauser, Rock Bridge (MO)

Something tells me we could see one of these runners sneaking up into the lead pack. But at the same time, if they're in that mid-pack,  finishing anywhere from 3-to-6, I'd be willing to bet they'd walk away happy. 

Because qualifying is the name of the game. 

Hauser, however, is probably the most confident of anyone right now. He's won four out of his last five races, including an awesome finish at Team Midwest -- where he beat both Steury and Jones in the final moments. 

Wilson will be a good study, too. He's won seven races on the season, but perhaps no race has featured this much talent. 

Phew, That Was Close

7. Gabe Hinrichs, Elkhorn South (NE)

8. Nick Falk, New Trier (IL)

9. Krishna Thirunavukkarasu, Brebeuf Jesuit (IN)

All three of these athletes are smart runners. Thirunavukkarasu's teammates call him the "Wolf of 86th Street," an ode both to his early-age entrepreneurship and also to his success as a runner. He's the kind of competitor who will measure himself just right. 

Hinrichs, a novice to this win-or-go-home environment, is probably well-suited for it, too. He has the mental toughness to hold in. He's also 5-0 on the season. 

Livin' On A Prayer

10. Owen Bosley, Homestead (WI)

10. Caleb Jarema, Pinckney (MI)

10. Luke Wiley, Warren (IL)

10. Matthew Edwards, Classical Academy (CO)

"Anything can happen in Wisconsin" should be the motto for any runner coming into the championship race of the Midwest Region. Anything. 

In Bosley's case, he may have finished third at his Wisconsin state championships and was 31st at the Team Heartland Region, but he's also the brother of Drew Bosley, who just won a national championship at NAU and whom was a two-time Foot Locker qualifier and All-American. I'm sure he's talking to Drew ahead of the race for some tips. 

Jarema was the D2 champion in Michigan and is coming off a second-place performance at the Michigan Meet of Champions and a third-place finish at the Mideast XC Championships. He's surely capable. 

And then there's Wiley and Edwards, talented runners who certainly have the chops to compete.