Charlie Kern Jr. (Elmhurst, IL)
After a brilliant freshman campaign that saw Kern finish eighth at the Illinois state meet, the York sophomore seemingly had a slow start to Year Two by finishing 10th at the Richard Spring Invite and 7th at the Palatine Invitational in consecutive races. But like any good coach's son, Kern saved his best for last-- runner-up at the state meet, his fifth place finish at NXN Midwest sends him to Portland for the first time.