Dylan Dominguez Runs 14:40.10 at IHSA State Meet!

Even though Dylan Dominguez (Sr.) was the only State Qualifier from the cross country team this season, he did not go to the State Meet alone. Twenty of his Highland Park cross country teammates came along on the trip to be there in support of Dylan. As someone that always puts the team first, it meant the world to him that so many of his teammates were there with him. 

The day of the meet there was some light rain leading up to the boys 3A race. Dylan did not let that bother him as he stayed focused on the task at hand. The first goal was to get out in solid position from his box (2C) on the inside before he got to the first turn. He got out fast, but still found himself behind a large number of runners. He was probably barely in the top 100 at the first 400. He moved up to about 60th by the 800 and found himself in 47th with a 4:43 first mile. With Dylan’s strength being the last mile (especially the final 800), this was a good position for him to be in.

In the back triangle, Dylan stayed strong and continued to battle. He moved up to 42nd place by the 1.5 mile mark. He was running great as fatigue was setting in. He stayed focused and worked to maintain his position in the 40s. He came through the 2 mile in a fast 9:49 and 47th place. He was running a great time, but knew he would really have to work this final mile to have any shot at being All-State (top 25). 

Dylan’s final mile was something special. As most of the runners around him were struggling from the fast first 2 miles, Dylan somehow found the energy and determination to move past runner after runner as he worked his way to the finish. He really used the slight downhill of the course by the road to gain momentum going into the final 800. It was amazing to see how many runners he was passing. With 400 to go he was several seconds behind the current 25th place runner. Dylan gave it everything he had and crossed the line with an incredible personal best time of 14:40.10!

Despite his herculean effort, as he passed 18 runners in the final mile, he missed All-State by just 4 places and only 3 seconds! Dylan finished in 29th place which was a tremendous accomplishment. His coaches, teammates, family, and friends could not be more proud of the race that Dylan ran. His time ties for the 3rd fastest time ever by a Highland Park runner on the Detweiller course! His time would have been All-State any other year in 3A! If you merged all 3 classes at the 2024 State Meet, Dylan would have finished 37th in the entire state of Illinois! 

This was a special performance by an incredible young man. Dylan represented HP with class and showed how fierce he is as a runner. Big things still to come for Dylan and his teammates during the 2025 track & field season! Go Giants!