D2-AAA Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 5
- 2019 Individual Champion: J. Henry Lyon (Williamsport Area) - 16:23
- 2019 Team Champions: Hazleton Area - 59 points
Individuals Breakdown
After placing third in the district last season, Hazleton's Zack Keiner will aim to move up to the top spot in D2-AAA this season. Last year's champion, J. Henry Lyon, moves with his Williamsport Area team to a region with District 6 this season, meaning the returning state medalist will not be competing with District 2 this fall. So the door is open for a new champion.
Keiner ran a 5K best of 16:48 last year, and after taking third in the district, went on to take 131st in the state. The only other boys back from the top ten in D2-AAA from last year are Delaware Valley's Adam Kanterman and Wyoming Valley West's Michael McCann. Kanterman was eighth in the district, while McCann was tenth. Both should be factors for high finishes this season.
The quickest returning time in D2-AAA belongs to North Pocono's Caleb Kenyon. He ran a best of 16:19 last season, and also went 16:31 at Paul Short. Though he was 19th in the district, he is one you can't count out this season and will look to give Keiner a run for his money up front.
Hazleton's Nicholas Hebel, Scranton's Anthony Roberto, and Wyoming Valley West's Tavian McKenna are among the others to watch for this season in D2-AAA.
Team Preview
Hazleton Area will look to make it back-to-back District 2 Class AAA team titles this fall after a narrow victory over Williamsport Area by just two points last season. Hazleton brings back five varsity boys from last fall, led by Keiner, who is among the favorites to win the individual district title.
A pair of teams with full varsity squads from last year returning this fall will look to challenge the reigning champs. Delaware Valley was fifth in the district last season, but brings back all seven varsity boys, led by state qualifier Kanterman. North Pocono also has seven boys back, and it could be able to make this a good race for the title.
Hazleton will look to sure up its depth, but it should be a close race for the lone state qualifying spot for teams in D2-AAA this season.
Wyoming Valley West and Abington Heights (making the move from AA to AAA) will also look to be factors in what could turn out to be a wide open field for the win.