By Michael Newman

mike@dyestat.com

Here are the awards for the most improved Boys runners in each classification for the 2015 Cross Country season in Illinois. Congratulations to all the winners and to the runners that were considered.

3A Boys – Danny Kilrea – SO – LaGrange Lyons Township

Danny Kilrea did not catch anyone’s attention during his freshman cross country season. His best time for 3 miles was 16:35. There were signs of good things to come as he ran 9:57 for 3200 Meters at the end of his freshman track season. A great summer of training to him to the next level in a big way.

The sophomore emerged as one of the top runners for his team and one of the top sophomores in the state. His regular season culminated with a 10^th place finish at the IHSA 3A State Cross Country Meet.

That was only the beginning for Kilrea. He was the top runner for Lyons Township at both the Nike Cross Regionals and then the Nike Cross Nationals. He finished 17^th at Terre Haute. He then finished 45^th in Portland. He will be one of the top juniors not only in the state but also the nation next season.

Congratulations to Danny Kilrea of Lyons Township High School in LaGrange as the 2015 DyeStat Illinois 3A Boys Most Improved Runner of the Year.

2A Boys – Stephen Poorten – SO – Sycamore

There were two runners that were considered for this award.

Jack Franklin of Normal University High School finished 44^th as a sophomore at the 2014 IHSA State Meet. He emerged as one of the top 2A runners in Central Illinois winning his regional and sectional races and then finishing 6^th at the IHSA 2A State Meet running 14:42 for 3 miles. He improved his state meet time by 46 seconds from the year before.

Stephen Poorten did not make it to the IHSA State Meet his freshman year ending that season with a 48^th place finish at the 2A Kaneland Sectional. His 2015 cross country season was completely different. He finished in the top five in eight of the invitational meet s that he competed in with wins at Wheaton Academy on October 3 and then the NIB-12 Conference Meet two weeks later. He ran 14:56 in the IHSA 2A State Meet to finish 12^th. His time of 14:56 was 78 seconds faster than his best time from a year ago.

Congratulations to Stephen Poorten of Sycamore High School as the 2015 DyeStat Illinois 2A Boys Most Improved Runner of the Year.

1A Boys – Skyler Yunk – SR - North Boone

There were two runners that were considered for this award. Sirlaurence King of Leo Catholic High School had a banner senior season ending with all-state honors when he finished 12^th at the IHSA 1A State Meet. He finished 36^th in the 1A State Meet in 2014.

Skyler Yunk also had a banner senior season. He missed qualifying for the state meet a year ago when he finished 18^th at the 1A Oregon Sectional. Signs of a good cross country season this fall started with his spring track campaign when he ran 9:47 for 3200 Meters in his 2A sectional to qualify for the state meet. He finished 14^th in the state finals. He finished in the top five in four of the meets that he ran in including winning the Harlem Invitational on September 5. Yunk earned all-state honors by finishing 13^th in the 1A IHSA State Cross Country Meet last November.

Congratulations to Skyler Yunk of North Boone High School in Poplar Grove as the 2015 DyeStat Illinois 1A Boys Most Improved Runner of the Year.