Boys cross country: Matt Richtman is Daily Chronicle's Runner of the Year

MAPLE PARK – Coming down the home stretch of the Class 2A IHSA Boys Cross Country State Championships, Kaneland junior Matt Richtman could see his time on a clock in front of him.

Plowing through the finish line, he made school history by taking fourth place, and is the 2016 Daily Chronicle Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Coming into the race, Richtman had a goal of 14 minutes, 39 seconds for state.

Instead, his fourth-place finish – the best in Kaneland history – came in 14:36, 28 seconds better than the previous best by a Knights runner at Detweiller Park in Peoria, the host site for the state meet.

“It’s so much to think about,” Richtman said of running the final part of the 3-mile race. “Yes, I was the fastest at that event on that course in school history, but just kind of having that desire for next year to get a better time and keep pushing, keep moving up.

“It was extremely exciting crossing the finish line because I was able to see the clock on the right side, and I had set a goal for this year at the beginning that was three seconds slower than I finished at state. That was exciting to hit that.”

Before Richtman’s fourth-place finish, the previous best by a Kaneland runner was Bryant Seraphin, who took seventh in 1989.

Richtman finished behind Grayslake Central brothers Jack Aho (14:12) and Matt Aho (14:27) and Normal University’s Jack Franklin (14:30) – all of whom are seniors.

The next closest runner returning for next season is Sterling junior Jacob Gebhardt, who took seventh place (14:41).

On paper Richtman will return as the favorite – or at least a strong contender – to win the Class 2A state title in 2017.

“It does (cross my mind) from time to time,” Richtman laughed. “I don’t want to think about it too much. I don’t want to have that thought being the top returnee that there’s no competition, because that’s clearly not the case. I still have to work just as hard, if not harder next year, to keep that placement up there.”

Kaneland coach Chad Clarey said they understand that there may be pressure for Richtman next season, but he has confidence in the even-tempered runner.

“Because Matt is both methodical to his approach, and loves the challenge of racing, I think he will only look forward to the chances to race,” Clarey said. “Given what he was able to accomplish this season, he may have a target on his back, but I don’t know that it was much different than this season.”

For Richtman, the race at the state meet was simply another in a string of strong performances in the postseason. At the Class 2A Burlington Central Regional, he took first (14:52) and was third at the Belvidere Sectional (15:04).

At the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference Championships, he was crowned the champion (15:08) and was more than four seconds faster than the second-place finisher, Sycamore junior Stephen Poorten.

“I did feel especially strong this whole season,” Richtman said. “Also the postseason and regionals – actually it started with conference and how there was three of us competing for that conference title, so that was the one step that moved me forward and proved that I could do it.”

Richtman came into the season with one unfulfilled goal: placing in the top five in every meet. At the ACC Charger Classic, he took sixth.

He also set a lofty goal to cut 20 seconds off his top time from this past year.

Despite the overwhelming success this season, Richtman said it has been balancing his nerves before the race that has helped him in days such as the state meet.

“I try to use it to help me, but I have to find that balance so I don’t get too nervous to where I can’t think about what I have to do, and what I have to go out and get, and the ones where I’m not nervous enough, then I don’t really have that drive to keep pushing,” he said. “I definitely try to keep a balance.”