DeKalb’s Riley Newport makes individual, team history; earns cross country honor

Before the season started, Riley Newport and the DeKalb cross country team had one goal 44 years in the making.

Thanks in large part to Newport’s standout season, the Barbs were able to qualify for state as a team for the first time since 1977.

“It was always in the back of our mind that was what we were working to,” Newport said. “It was exciting to see that culminate together. It’s pretty awesome to do that for the first time in 44 years. That was probably the biggest goal coming into the season, and it was just awesome to be a part of it.”

The DeKalb junior capped his standout individual season by taking third in the state with a school record of 14:15. He won seven races this season, including the DuPage Valley Conference Meet and the Class 3A Harlem Regional and was beaten by only three runners the whole season.

He also was named the 2021 Daily Chronicle Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

“He’s just really competitive,” DeKalb coach Mike Wolf said. “He’s only been beaten by three guys all season. That gave him a lot of confidence. We saw a lot of great competition, and he was able to run with some of the best guys in the state. He kind of had that feeling he could run with anyone, and he was going to try it.”

It was Newport’s first trip to the state championship. He didn’t qualify as a freshman, and last year he qualified but no state meet took place because of COVID-19 restrictions.

He said he’s glad his first trip to state happened with his teammates with him.

“It made it feel a lot more normal,” Newport said. “Things like being at a hotel and stuff, it made it a lot more fun. Being at the course on Friday kind of gave everyone an advantage, letting us see how it was the day before. Obviously, Saturday was relaxing until we had to race.”

Although Newport won the regional, the Barbs finished second as a team to Hampshire. In the sectional, the Barbs finished 24 points ahead of the Whip-Purs, taking fifth.

“He wasn’t happy about that,” Wolf said of the regional. “He won the regional meet as an individual pretty easily, but the look on his face was, ‘Let’s get to sectionals because we’ve got some business to take care of.’ It showed what kind of team player he really is.”

Wolf said the group not only was determined to make it to Peoria for the finale this year, but they were tight knit enough to realize that goal.

“He’s so close to those guys,” Wolf said. “It’s a typical good group of guys that spend a lot of time together. They’re around each other in school, they train with each other in the offseason. He’s really focused on the team.”

Newport said the whole season was a confidence booster heading into not only next year’s cross country season, but track season in the spring, as well.

“I was very happy with the last year, looking back on it,” Newport said. “I did a lot of good things, and I’m excited for what next year holds.”