2021 Daily Chronicle Boys Cross Country All-Area Team
Runner of the year
Riley Newport, sr., DeKalb
First team
Alex Boyden, sr., DeKalb — Boyden posted a best time of 15:37 and had two top three finishes at invitationals. He was part of the state-qualifying Barbs team, something they hadn’t done since 1977.
Naif Al Harby, soph., Sycamore — Harby took 64th at state, finishing in 15:57. He was one second off his season-best time, set two weeks earlier at the regional meet.
Ethan Solifsburg, jr., Sycamore — Solifsburg posted his best time of the year at state, with his 15:48 powering him to a 47th-place finish. He was fourth in his regional and 20th in the sectional.
Evan Nosek, fr., Kaneland — Nosek saved his best for last, running a personal-best 15:17 in the state meet to take 21st. He was the Interstate 8 Conference champion.
Jacob Barraza, fresh., DeKalb — Barraza was the fifth-fastest freshman in the state meet. He had a best time this year of 16:00.
Zander Ward, sr., DeKalb — His best time was a 16:01 this year and was an All-DuPage Valley Conference selection.
Christian Phillips, sr., Kaneland — Phillips also put in his best time at the state meet, taking 45th in 15:45. He was an All-Interstate 8 Conference selection.
Honorable mention
Brady Babka, jr., Kaneland; Logan Cunz, sr., Kaneland; Nolan Allen, sr., Kaneland; Nick Kocher, sr., Sycamore; David Valkanov, sr., Kaneland; Aiden Garrell, sr., Sycamore; Trevor Neal, jr., Kaneland; Nathan Brening, jr., Genoa-Kingston