D6-AAA Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Non-Team Individuals: 5
- 2018 Individual Champion: Bryaden Harris (Mifflin County) - 16:02
- 2018 Team Champion: State College Area - 26 points
Individuals Preview
Brayden Harris of Mifflin County took the step from strong runner to one of the state's best last fall. Harris ran to the Mid-Penn title and then captured the D6-AAA title in a sophomore season to remember. At states, Harris placed fourth and then kept it going into the postseason with a 12th place finish at Foot Locker Northeast.
Harris is the heavy favorite for a repeat in District 6 and should make a run at the state title this season. After his 12th place finish at Foot Locker Northeast on a Van Cortlandt course he thrives on, he should also be a major contender for the top ten, which would qualify him for Foot Locker Nationals.
State College's Ben St. Pierre was fifth last year and is the next top returner from the district meet last year. His teammates Brady Bigger and Bennett Norton will be in the mix near the front as well. Bigger was sixth in the district, while Norton was 12th, but ran 16:30 at Penn State early last fall and should be strong this fall.
Mifflin County's Chase Sheaffer, State College's Henry Ballard, and Altoona Area's Brayden Henninger are among the other D6-AAA boys back from the top ten last year that should factor in again this fall.
Team Preview
State College Area held off a good challenge from Mifflin County last year as it took home its seventh straight District 6 Class AAA crown. SC packed its scoring in the spots 3 through 8 at the district meet to score just 26 points to take the win by 13.
The Little Lions lose a pair of strong seniors from last season in Owen Isham and Joe Messner, but return a strong core that will make SC the heavy favorites to win its eighth straight district crown. This team is also capable of contending for a high states finish after placing eighth in 2018. St. Pierre was 49th at states last year, and him along with Bigger and Norton are coming off strong track seasons.
Mifflin County, which was second in the district last year, will hope to give the Lions a run for their money this fall. Harris is a good bet to score a single point at districts. Sheaffer is a strong No. 2. The Huskies will look to add depth to contend in 2019. Altoona Area (third in 2018) will also look to get in the mix.