Boys Cross Country | Runners of the Year: Nalley, Genisio are region’s top talent

Dylon Nalley by Marion was the winner in Class 2A (larger school competition) and Gavin Genisio by Benton was the winner in Class 1A (smaller school division).

“It feels pretty good to be recognized for this award,” said Nalley, a junior. “I think it shows that all the hard work I’ve put in over the past year has paid off.”

Nalley said his training for the fall cross-country season began not long after he finished fourth in the 3,200-meter dash at the state track meeting.

“I focused on my training,” he says. “In fact, I’ve been training harder than ever. I changed my whole routine. I started running five miles and then seven miles. First I drove the 6 minute split, then it was 5:50 and sometimes faster.”

Nalley said the training allowed him to build his stamina for the 3-mile races in the fall.

“I also incorporated speed into my training over the summer,” he said. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays I ran four 800s (distance in meters), three 400s and two 200s. Over time, the workouts carried over to my races.”

Here are some of Nalley’s off-road accomplishments this fall:

• First at the state convention in Peoria with a wet time of 14 minutes and 44.7 seconds
• First at the Chatham-Glenwood Sectional with a time of 14:06.3
• First in the Highland Regional with a time of 14:35.3
• First at the Peoria Invitational with a time of 14:03.5, a new personal record
• First at Highland Invite with a time of 14:40.2
• First at Granite City Invite with a time of 14:38.6
• His time of 14:03.5 on Peoria Invite broke Eli Baker’s school record on Marion, whose previous best was 14:46.
• Course record holders at Marion, Highland, Chatham Glenwood and Carbondale at the South Seven Conference meeting.

In terms of the state meeting, Nalley’s group race was the last of the day and a heavy rainstorm had affected the track resulting in much slower than normal times.

“Because of that, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to set the course record that day, so I just kept my mind on it and went out and ran as best I could. The conditions bothered some guys a lot more than I did. I really wanted this record. Maybe next year.”

Nalley said winning the title was a “huge relief for me” and a validation of his training program.

“In the beginning I was a bit nervous because I had been expecting this race for so long. Everyone expected me to win but I still had to go out and do it.”

Wildcats head coach Scott Gill said he couldn’t be prouder of his outstanding athlete.

“The win was quite an achievement but I knew that after all the hard work he put in over the summer and early autumn he would put himself in a position to win.”

Gill said that while Nalley has plenty of physical talent, the secret of his success – dedication to the sport – takes him to another level.

“Dylon is just so strong, both mentally and physically,” he said. “He’s never upset by the competition. He doesn’t study the competition. He just goes out and runs. I’ve never seen anyone like him.”

Gill said Nalley was not only the new school record holder in cross-country skiing, but also the school’s first state champion in the sport.

“He’s getting his mind on track now,” Gil said. “Cross country has been on the back burner for a while. The goal is to win the 3200 meters (two miles) and maybe even the 1600 this spring. I think Dylon is more than capable.”

GENISIO said he was honored to share the Southern Illinois Cross Country Runner of the Year with friend Dylon Nalley.

“I saw Reese Johnson win the award when he was a junior, and I was a freshman,” said Genisio, who is now a junior at Benton High School. “He was a great mentor to me. He taught me how to run a three mile race. He walked me through the process step by step and I really appreciated that.”

Below is a breakdown of most of Genisio’s highlight races this fall:

• First at the Class 1A State Meeting in Peoria despite the pouring rain with a time of 14 minutes 57 seconds
• Joined a list of 10 from the Southern Illinois region who have earned state titles in the field. Others were: Craig Virgin of Lebanon in 1971 and 1972; Gary Bremer of Metropolis in 1979; Brent McLain of Benton in 1982; Eric Detmer of Breese Mater Dei in 1988; Stephen Pifer of Edwardsville in 2002; Charlie Hatch from Nashville in 2004; O’Fallon’s Patrick Perrier in 2013; Carbondale’s Alex Partlow in 2021; and now Nalley and Genisio in 2022.
• First at the Benton Sectional in a course record time of 13 minutes, 47 seconds (the Benton course is slightly shorter than other courses)
• First place at the Harrisburg Regional with a time of 15:29, a course record
• River-to-River Conference Ohio Division Champion
• Second place to Nalley at the Peoria Invitational with a school record time of 14 minutes and 37 seconds
• First at the Saucony Invite in St. Louis
• Invite to Belleville Althoff first
• First invite at the Freeburg
• First in the Benton Showcase

Genisio said it also pays to have Brent McLain as head coach.

“Coach McLain is incredibly good at what he does,” said the junior. “It’s hard for me to put into words how much he taught me about running. He is also very motivating.”

Genisio said winning the cross country state title rewarded him for all his efforts.

“We talked about training so I wasn’t nearly as good at the start of the season as I was at the end,” he said. “That’s how the training was structured. The idea was to do my best when the section rolls around and the strategy worked. I kicked it that day (and set a course record in the process).”

Genisio said the bad weather didn’t bother him too much at the state meeting.

“Coach McLain lets us train in any weather. It could be raining or there could be four inches of snow on the ground. It doesn’t matter, so I was well prepared for it. All had to run under the same conditions. As I got within 800 meters of the finish line, I looked around and started. I knew I would be national champion.”

Genisio added that he was also proud of his Rangers teammates – namely McLain’s son Gabriel, who finished ninth overall, and Cole Buchanan, who finished 15th. Both are second graders. All three received All-State recognition.

“Cole went up to 15th from 150th a year ago. That’s a pretty good turnaround,” Genisio said of his teammate.

Genisio said he also enjoys his friendly rivalries with Nalley and Pinckneyville’s Isaac Teel, who took second place. Teel is also a junior.

“Dylon and I have been competing since junior high. I would win a race. He would win a race. We went back and forth. I’m happy for him but I want to beat him when we play each other.”

Genisio is now focused on tracking this spring.

“In eighth grade I broke the state record for the mile. As a freshman, I had the fastest time of all freshmen in the state. And last year I had the fastest time among all students. My goal this year is to be the fastest junior, if not the fastest overall,” said Genisio. “Last year I ran 4:09. I want to get under 4:04 this year.”

“Gavin and Dylon deserve the newspaper’s recognition as top runners in southern Illinois,” said McLain. “It is absolutely incredible that we had not one, but two Southern Illinois State Champions. Never happened.”

McLain said what sets Genisio apart from other talented runners is their total commitment to the task at hand.

“He’s a real runner. he eats it he sleeps it He watches videos of running. As a long-distance runner, you have to love what you do. And Gavin loves what he does. He puts his heart into every training session.”

McLain said Genisio’s passion for the sport is rare.

“I’m lucky Gavin was born here in Benton. A poodle could train him.”