D2-AAA Boys - Team & Individuals Breakdown
- Preseason Rankings: Team | Individual
- State Qualifying Spots For Teams: 1
- State Qualifying Spots For Individuals: 5
- 2020 Individual Champion: Tavian McKenna (Wyoming Valley West) - 16:47
- 2020 Team Champions: Abington Heights - 52 points
Individuals Breakdown
2020 was a big season for North Pocono's Caleb Kenyon. He placed second at the District 2 Class AAA Championships and then a week later took 32nd at the state meet, the best of any D2-AAA finisher in the field. He will be the one to beat in the district this fall on the heels of a spring that saw him run 9:27 for 3,200m on the track. He will certainly be a medal contender at the state meet this season.
Hazleton's Nicholas Hebel was third in the district last year and Scranton's Brian McCormack was fourth. Those are the other two returning individual state qualifiers back this season. Both will have their sights set on a return trip to Hershey this season.
Abington Heights top returners include Gavin Ross, Tommy Walsh, Alex Duffy, and Sean Rooney. Ross was the top AH finisher at district (sixth), while Walsh led the team at states with an 83rd place run.
Team Preview
Abington Heights made the most of its move from AA to AAA last season, taking the D2-AAA team title and securing the lone state qualifying spot. Now, with six of the team's top seven back from last year, Abington Heights looks to be in the driver's seat to claim a second straight district title. Lacking perhaps a true lowstick, AH found its strength in its pack running. The team managed just a 38-second 1-5 gap at the district meet en route to the title.
Abington Heights has a good mix of experience and younger runners, and it will be the team to beat in D2-AAA. Ross, Walsh, Duffy, and Rooney are a strong set of returners set to lead this team.
Looking to challenge for the top spot will be last year's district runners-up, North Pocono. Led by the individual favorite Kenyon, North Pocono has four of its top seven back from last season. With some improvements to those returners, NP could give Abington Heights a good run for the one and only state spot this season.
Delaware Valley, Scranton, and Hazleton Area will be among the teams looking to add some depth to get in the mix in D2-AAA this season.