This list is short: Beecher’s Grant Nykaza, St. Ignatius’ Jake Keelan, Glenbard South’s John Wold and Belvidere North’s Garrett Lee.

Those four runners, three of whom were state champions in their respective classes, were the only competitors to beat Crystal Lake Central senior Alex Baker this cross country season.

Baker had his breakout year as a junior when he was fifth in the Class 2A boys race in the IHSA boys cross country state meet. As a senior, he won all but three races and finished second in the Class 2A state meet in 14:21, the fastest time for any area runner other than Jacobs’ Evan Jager, who won the Class AA state title in 2006.