Landon Harris Brings Home The Gold For Granite City In IESA Cross Country Meet, Is A Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete Of Month

❮ ❯

GRANITE CITY - There was nothing that could stop Granite City's eighth-grade distance standout Landon Harris Saturday at the Illinois Elementary School Association Boys State Cross Country Meet at Maxwell Park in Normal. Harris recorded a time of 10:26 to capture the two-mile IESA state championship race.

Harris, a Coolidge Middle School student in Granite City, slipped and fell at the start of the competition, but he jumped back up and sprinted to the front of the pack and never looked back. It was the first Granite City state distance title in boys' cross country. Harris posted his best time of 10 minutes flat at the sectional qualifier for the state meet.

Landon Harris is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for Granite City.

When he finished, his coach Tom Miller said Landon was exhausted but just ecstatic to bring home the state title in front of many in his family and hundreds of others present. Landon also takes an inhaler to meet and battles asthma. Miller said his runner uses his inhaler right before he races each time.

“This was very special,” Coach Miller said of his youth’s accomplishment. “He has dedicated his life to running and this is a great thing. It is awesome to see a local kid like him do so well and such a joy to do it for the community.”

Granite City firefighter Scott Nonn was part of the fire truck/police escort across the city for Landon. He said he and the other first responders were so proud of Landon and what this meant for the Granite City community.

Miller said the “sky is the limit” as Landon heads into high school and he sees him with the potential to be a standout cross country and track distance runner even by his freshman year.

More like this:

Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete Of The Month: Xavier Harris Made Positive Contribution To Warriors As Freshman

3 days ago

Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Thor Springman Breaks 35-Year Southwestern School Record.

Jun 2, 2026

Illinois Distance Stars Shine in Collinsville Boys Track and Field Invitational 1,600-Meter Race

May 10, 2026

IHSA 2A-3A State Boys Track and Field Prelims Summary

May 30, 2026

Four-Run First Powers Minooka Past Edwardsville In Normal

Jun 6, 2026