Illinois Champ Seized Control Of The Race Halfway Through And Powered To Victory

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

SAN DIEGO – Josh Methner has a way of making difficult running look easy.

He did it at the Illinois state meet, where he made history by breaking Craig Virgin’s all-time Detweiller Course record. He won two high-powered regional races.

California state champion Nico Young of Newbury Park was a bit too much to handle last week at Nike Cross Nationals, but on Saturday at Balboa Park the senior from Hersey IL was in control at every stage and won the Foot Locker national title in 15:08.8.

Methner became the fourth Foot Locker champion in a row to bounce back from a loss at NXN to claim the prestigious title in San Diego.

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“I didn’t feel too much pressure,” he said. “I really didn’t like to read anything about me, I don’t like listening to myself talk and stuff like that. I just kept it down low and really just listened to my coach and my family and my teammates.”

Methner is the fifth champion from the Midwest region in the past seven years and joins recent winners from Illinois, including Dylan Jacobs in 2017 and Lukas Verzbicas in 2009-10.

Methner followed future Notre Dame teammate Carter Solomon up the first ascent of the big hill and then passed him and staked a lead on the downhill along Upas Street.

From that point on, Methner was in command. In the final home stretch, with his compact arm carriage and efficient stride, he bore down and and sped unchallenged to the finish line.

“It’s super-special. It means a lot to me,” Methner said. “My coach, my teammates, we’ve been working all four years back in Hersey. It’s just icing on the cake.”

Solomon, who was fourth a year ago, ran hard through the second half of the race to maintain second place and he finished eight seconds behind Methner.

Patrick Anderson, the Pennsylvania state champion, and four-time qualifier Graydon Morris of Aledo TX battled in the home stretch for the third and final podium spot all the way through the finish line. Morris tripped over Anderson as they both went crashing to the grass.

Anderson held on for third place in 15:18.0 and Morris was fourth in 15:18.1. Morris was second in 2017 and third in 2018. Anderson improved from 29th place a year ago.

Judson Greer of Melissa TX, the South region champion, was the top non-senior, taking fifth, in 15:22.2.

Evan Bishop from East Grand Rapids, Mich. was sixth in 15:23.7, for an improvement of three spots over his 2018 finish.

Daniel O’Brien from Virginia Episcopal in Lynchburg, Va., was seventh in 15:24.1, moving up from 12th place a year ago.