LISLE, IL—Entries have begun to pour-in for the U.S. Army Midwest Distance Classic on June 11 at Benedictine University.  The meet features pace-setters, finish line interviews and competition among the top high school distance runners from throughout the Midwest.

Spicing up the Girls 800 meters are Germantown HS (WI) junior Alyssa Goesch who has run 2:13.75, and Libertyville HS sophomore Avryl Johnson who ran 2:14.67 to win the Buffalo Grove sectional last weekend in cold, rainy, windy conditions, as well as the 400m in 58.28.  Goesch, meanwhile, splashed her way to second place at the 2015 Midwest Distance Classic in 2:14.40.

On the boys side, a trio of Illinois runners, Hinsdale Central junior Blake Evertson, Highland Park senior Brett Davidson, and Hinsdale South senior Charlie Nodus currently lead the 3200 meter field.  Evertson ran 9:04.22 at the Arcadia, California invitational in April and, since then, has also run a 4:16.49 1600m.  Davidson (9:10.92) has dropped his PR by 18 seconds this year, while Nodus, who has a 9:17.20 best from 2015, has been snake-bitten with horrific weather conditions for his last three meets, heading into this weekend’s IHSA sectional championships.

South Dakota junior Jake Hanna currently leads the boys 1600m entries at 4:21.77, the third fastest time in his cold weather state, and has also run a 1:56.79 800m.

CONTACT:

Skip Stolley

Meet Director, U.S. Army Midwest Distance Classic

Chairman, Chicago Area Track & Field Organizing Committee, Inc.

[email protected]   310-200-5527  www.midwestdistanceclassic.com

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The U.S. Army Midwest Distance Classic is a post-season track meet for high school distance runners.  Its 2016 edition will be held at the world-class track & field facility at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL, on Saturday evening, June 11, with a 7:00pm starting time and a $5.00 spectator admission fee.  Since its inception in 2005 as the "Midwest Distance Gala", this premier post-season competition has attracted 150-200 of the best boys and girls distance runners from throughout the Midwest.

After not being held in 2014, the Chicago Area Track & Field Organizing Committee (an Illinois non-profit corporation) took over the event with our small army of local coaches and running enthusiasts determined to expand the meet and secure its future.  Last year's meet featured 186 athletes from 14 states and its 8 races for boys and girls produced 24 of the top marks in the nation in those events.  Winning times for the boys & girls 800, 1600, 3200m and 2000m steeplechase races in 2015 were 1:49.73/2:13.42, 4:09.85/4:44.79, 8:56.06/11:02.62, and 6:01.79/7:22.53.