Individuals Preview
Photo by Phil Grove
For a time, it looked like 2015 state champion in A Griffin Mackey of Sewickley Academy would not return to defend his state title. After not appearing in a meet since September, Mackey toed the line at the District 7 Championships, finishing fourth to three Winchester Thurston runners.
Does this mean Mackey is ready to defend his title? The easy answer would be no, but like we said in the girls' A preview, you can never count out the champion.
Those Winchester Thurston runners---Ben Littmann, Tristan Forsythe, and Shaun Hay---have been strong all season. Forsythe and Littman went 1-2 at the Foundation Invite and both have looked like potential state champions all season. With team title aspirations pushing them, the WT boys will be ones to watch for.
While the WPIAL is loaded with Class A talent, so is District 10. Last year's runner-up at states, Noah Curtin of Mercyhurst Prep returns to Hershey. He was just fifth at districts, but he wasn't happy with his district performance last season, before running a great race to take second at states last year. Curtin should be a factor.
So should the Myers brothers from Seneca. Donovan Myers was sixth last season and has three wins this season. But he was third at districts. Phoenix Myers was second in that district race. Like WT, the Seneca team will be a factor in that team race and those low sticks will be ever important.
Photo by Phil Grove
The class of D10 this year, though, has been Connor Walsh of Cambridge Springs. Walsh crushed the field at Buhl Park to capture his second straight district crown. He appears to be peaking at the right time and should be in contention this year after taking fourth at this meet last year.
From District 9, Brookville's Ryan Thrush will look to continue his great XC season, while runner-up from D9 Zachary Wortman of Elk County Catholic should be a factor as well. Out of District 3, breakthrough champ Brenden Miller of Upper Dauphin, along with Ian Gabig of Camp Hill and Caleb Sneller of Dayspring will mix it up around the top ten.
Montrose's Zach Mead and Northeast Bradford's Casey Ellis. This is a generally open field and any number of runners could walk away from Hershey a state champ.