Plainfield North’s boys cross country team delivered the strongest season in program history, winning the IHSA Class 3A state championship before placing 12th at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon. The state title marked the program’s first, and the top-12 national finish placed the Tigers among the elite programs in the country.
The run to the state championship was anything but smooth. Midway through the race at Detweiller Park, the Tigers appeared to be in trouble. “With about two miles to go, they were sitting in fourth and not in a good position. They really had to work to climb back,” junior Logan Dodson said. “It was a crazy comeback in the last mile and a half. Watching it, we were definitely nervous halfway through.” The team surged late, closing gaps in the final stretch to secure the title. “They pulled it together at the end when it mattered the most,” Dodson said.
For senior James Maso, who placed 37th at state, the team’s finish reflected the mindset they had built all season. Maso said his approach to both major races stayed consistent. “I went into both races with the same mentality — get out well and hold my position,” he said. But he emphasized that nationals required a different level of mental preparation. “At nationals, the field is just on another level. I had to mentally prepare to be farther back early,” Maso said. He added that perspective mattered. “I kept reminding myself that being in the back at NXN isn’t a bad spot. There are so many elite runners that being near the top 100 still means you’re running well.”
While the results defined the season publicly, the foundation was built long before November. Junior Liam Beavers said the program’s culture separates Plainfield North from other teams. “We have a really strong family aspect that a lot of other programs don’t. We genuinely care about how everyone else performs,” Beavers said. “Everything about our culture feels special. It’s supportive in a way that goes beyond just racing.”
Beavers pointed to a moment after the state meet as the clearest expression of that bond. “Right after the guys finished at state, we were all together and just so happy for each other,” he said. “Even though I didn’t race at the state meet, it was still special to see them perform and win.”
That closeness translated into discipline. Beavers said the team adopted a mindset called JOMO — the joy of missing out to stay focused. “Our coach had this saying — instead of FOMO, it was JOMO: the joy of missing out,” he said. “We focused on the little things like eating well, sleeping well, and skipping the stuff that didn’t help us reach our goals.” Those choices, he said, were key in their postseason success. “Choosing JOMO, choosing discipline, helped lead us to the state title and then to nationals.”
At Nike Cross Nationals, Plainfield North held its own against the deepest field it faced all year. Maso said the meet reshaped how the team viewed its progress. Competing against nationally ranked programs and top individual runners showed them the scale of their growth. Though they finished 12th, the placement stood the best in Illinois that season and the highest in program history.
The season ended with a state championship trophy and national recognition, but the runners said the year was defined more by what happened within the program than the hardware. A comeback at state, discipline behind the scenes, and a culture that prioritized one another helped carry Plainfield North to its most successful season ever. The Tigers return key athletes next fall, aiming to build on a year that set a new standard for the program.
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