Galloway's Boys Survived a frigid Saturday at Region 5 Area 3 taking home the Hardware. (pics by Daniel McCauley)
1A Private Boys Team:
Much like the 1A Private Boys Individuals, this class currently does not a have a dominant squad coming into the opening weekend of big Invitationals. Defending champ Hebron Christian lost their big guns, Galloway lost Reilly Friedman (1 huge point), Athens Academy lost their top 2 (including Jihoon Choi) Landmark Christian seems to be the favorite going into the season with their top 6 coming back. Galloway and Providence Christian should be Podium and possible title contenders by November, and after a great Outdoor Track season in which their distance squad scored 34 points, Paideia cannot be discounted. After these 4 squads, it gets a little stretched out between each school on paper with Whitefield, Athens Academy, Athens Christian and Hebron Christian jockeying for position.
1- Landmark Christian- This could be the season that Landmark sweeps the 1A Private XC team titles The Eagles finished 5th in 2014, but heavy graduation to the 2014 Podium winners opens a door for a new champion to emerge this Fall. With their entire (very experienced) top 6 back, the Eagles go into this Fall with a #1 pre-season ranking.Sr. Austin Taylor is their returning runner, but with more help from Seth Cruver and a fairly tight 1-5 pack a State title is within their grasp.
2- Paideia- The Paideia Pythons are coming off their best Track season in the school's history. 'Mad Max' Heaberlin and Griffin McCauley spent 2 and 3 weeks respectively at Smoky Mountain Running Camp this summer. Nasir Campbell ran at USATF JO Nationals in Jacksonville with the Quicksilver team, winning gold in the 4x800. Solomon Burt-Murray should find himself as one of Paideia's top 5. There's no logical reason this squad shouldn't make the Podium and possibly contend for a title.
3- Galloway- The defending 5A region champ Scots have some big Shoes to fill with Friedman running with the Buffaloes of Colorado. The boys look to defend their Region title and better their 3rd place State finish with efforts from Senior Aaron Earl and sophomores; Luke Murray, Peter Johnson, and Alex Van Schoor. To repeat success from last year's team, the Scots will need to share the responsibility from the #1 runner to #5 runner. So far, the efforts and attitude toward training has been excellent.
4- Providence Christian- The Storm had a great State meet in 2014 ascending to 2nd on the Team Podium. They return 4 of their top 7 including frontrunner Sammy Clough, but have some shoes to fill losing their 1 and 3 including All-Stater Duncan Gotfredson. A region 8 favorite early season, with a strong shot at returning to the Podium.
5- Athens Academy- After a surprising 4th place finish at State last year, the boys team is looking to replace some solid runners and set themselves up for another solid year. The Spartans have a good mixture of seniors through freshmen who have trained hard this summer. Without a front runner, look for these runners to pack together and feed on a group running mentality. Top Runners: JT Camp, Ryan Cook, Ryan Iyer, Severen Brown, Thomas Suarez, and Kevin Yin. Top Newcomers: Jay Bangle, Alex Branch.
6- Whitefield Academy- A 7th place finish at State last season and lost big gun Robby Keough. They do have a core to work with as their #2 at State soph Brooks Merkle placed 13th and their 4-7 are slated to be back. A Region 6 title and cracking the Podium would be solid goals.
7- Athens Christian- Athens Christian boys are rebuilding with a very young team this year with the 4 freshman in their top 7. After a 9th place finish at the state meet last year, the Eagles have loaned sophomore track phenom Richard Jubinor to the football team this season, and are now led by rising freshmen Noah Irwin and Samuel Hayes as both logged hundreds of miles over the summer. Region 8 went 1-2-4-9 at state last year for the Boys and is arguably the most competitive region in the state.
8- Hebron Christian- Coming off their State Championship, the guys graduated a large majority of the Varsity lineup. (#1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9) However, there is an eager group of returning runners and new athletes that have been hard at work and challenging each other. The Lions are also aided by our 1st season of having Mark Stein running XC (5th place at 2015 State in the 800m.) The guys are determined to make it back to the State Championship to defend their title and then anything's possible.
9- First Presbyterian Day- The Vikings placed a respectable 8th in 2014 and dominated weaker Area 1. They do a have a Individual contender in Sr Will Martin who was the top underclassman at 2014 State and has a pr of 16:08. Have some experience back also from 2-4 with Dylan Bridges, Cooper Martin and Nicholas Farmer. After that FPD will need to develop some depth, though are favored to win their Region.
10- Lakeview Academy- Lakeview peaked in 2013 placing 5th at State just missing the Podium, but lost their dogs and in a rebuilding year couldn't get out of tough 8-A. On paper their prospects look more promising this Fall after losing another frontrunner, but have their 2-7 set to return. Need to get their guys all under 19: at State and develop a couple to stay with at least in that 2nd chase pack. Dhruv Gauer is their top returner.
*1A Boys Teams by Fastest Team Average from 2014 XC Season (Courses Vary)*
| 1 | Landmark Christian School (GA) | 87 | ||
| 1) Austin Taylor | 17:15.78 | 7 | ||
| 2) Seth Cruver | 17:37.37 | 10 | ||
| 3) Daniel Wilson | 18:03.19 | 18 | ||
| 4) Kermit Jackson | 18:14.80 | 23 | ||
| 5) Mark Humphries | 18:25.93 | 29 | ||
| Average Time: 17:55.41 Total Time: 1:29:37.07 1-5 Split: 1:10.15 | ||||
| 6) Micah Burdette | 18:27.65 | 33 | ||
| 7) Zack Truitt | 18:33.05 | 35 | ||
| 2 | Paideia (GA) | 97 | ||
| 1) Griffin McCauley | 16:35.17 | 2 | ||
| 2) Max Heaberlin | 16:55.45 | 4 | ||
| 3) Solomon Burt-Murray | 17:50.57 | 16 | ||
| 4) Nasir Campbell | 18:35.23 | 36 | ||
| 5) Leo Mancusi-Ungaro | 18:42.42 | 39 | ||
| Average Time: 17:43.77 Total Time: 1:28:38.84 1-5 Split: 2:07.25 | ||||
| 6) Sohail Ghatnekar | 19:43.62 | 83 | ||
| 7) Tyler Russell | 20:36.71 | 129 | ||
| 3 | Galloway (GA) | 105 | ||
| 1) Luke Murray | 17:29.10 | 8 | ||
| 2) Aaron Earl | 17:31.80 | 9 | ||
| 3) Alex Van Schoor | 17:46.39 | 15 | ||
| 4) Luis Posada | 18:25.40 | 28 | ||
| 5) Davis Waln | 18:55.36 | 45 | ||
| Average Time: 18:01.61 Total Time: 1:30:08.05 1-5 Split: 1:26.26 | ||||
| 6) Cameron McIntosh | 19:13.96 | 63 | ||
| 7) Peter Johnson | 19:14.30 | 64 | ||
| 4 | Providence Christian Academy (GA) | 122 | ||
| 1) Sammy Clough | 16:56.58 | 5 | ||
| 2) Connor Allen | 17:42.09 | 13 | ||
| 3) Andrew Duffie | 17:42.97 | 14 | ||
| 4) Caleb Hall | 18:26.75 | 32 | ||
| 5) Chandler Scoggins | 19:06.85 | 58 | ||
| Average Time: 17:59.05 Total Time: 1:29:55.24 1-5 Split: 2:10.27 | ||||
| 6) Taylor Legg | 19:24.44 | 69 | ||
| 7) Henry Park | 20:40.82 | 134 | ||
| 5 | Whitefield Academy (GA) | 157 | ||
| 1) Brooks Merkle | 17:39.80 | 11 | ||
| 2) Kerry Martin | 17:41.00 | 12 | ||
| 3) Brian Pickens | 18:36.20 | 37 | ||
| 4) Nicholas Harris | 18:57.00 | 46 | ||
| 5) Kalen Tavassoli | 19:02.80 | 51 | ||
| Average Time: 18:23.36 Total Time: 1:31:56.80 1-5 Split: 1:23.00 | ||||
| 6) Brooks Bynum | 20:07.80 | 99 | ||
| 7) Parker Cantrell | 21:16.00 | 173 | ||
| 6 | Athens Academy (GA) | 215 | ||
| 1) Jihoon Choi | 17:07.40 | 6 | ||
| 2) Ryan Iyer | 18:53.80 | 43 | ||
| 3) Alex Branch | 18:59.36 | 47 | ||
| 4) Thomas Suarez | 19:06.93 | 59 | ||
| 5) J.t. Camp | 19:09.21 | 60 | ||
| Average Time: 18:39.34 Total Time: 1:33:16.70 1-5 Split: 2:01.81 | ||||
| 6) Severen Brown | 19:36.05 | 78 | ||
| 7) Ryan Cook | 19:45.10 | 85 | ||
| 7 | Athens Christian (GA) | 254 | ||
| 1) kohl phillips | 18:05.93 | 19 | ||
| 2) Richard Jibunor | 18:16.60 | 25 | ||
| 3) Noah Irwin | 19:04.60 | 55 | ||
| 4) Will Gilbert | 19:28.26 | 73 | ||
| 5) Samuel Hayes | 19:42.10 | 82 | ||
| Average Time: 18:55.50 Total Time: 1:34:37.49 1-5 Split: 1:36.17 | ||||
| 6) Zane Wolfe | 19:47.82 | 86 | ||
| 7) Clayton Hall | 21:28.56 | 183 | ||
| 8 | Hebron Christian (GA) | 264 | ||
| 1) Wesley Warbington | 18:07.55 | 20 | ||
| 2) Peter Marty | 18:29.40 | 34 | ||
| 3) Ben Glover | 19:04.55 | 54 | ||
| 4) Jaden Miller | 19:09.75 | 62 | ||
| 5) Byrce Nygaard | 20:00.49 | 94 | ||
| Average Time: 18:58.35 Total Time: 1:34:51.74 1-5 Split: 1:52.94 | ||||
| 6) Brandon Potra | 21:16.96 | 174 | ||
| 7) Peyton Byrne | 22:03.14 | 201 | ||
| 9 | First Presbyterian Day School (GA) | 329 | ||
| 1) Will Martin | 16:08.00 | 1 | ||
| 2) Cooper Martin | 19:19.39 | 66 | ||
| 3) Dylan Bridges | 19:26.91 | 71 | ||
| 4) Nicholas Farmer | 19:44.33 | 84 | ||
| 5) Heyward Smith | 20:13.41 | 107 | ||
| Average Time: 18:58.41 Total Time: 1:34:52.04 1-5 Split: 4:05.41 | ||||
| 6) Jackson Spivey | 20:24.28 | 118 | ||
| 7) Trey Fountain | 20:43.00 | 135 | ||
| 10 | North Cobb Christian (GA) | 373 | ||
| 1) Sam Shaylor | 16:45.40 | 3 | ||
| 2) Austin Hatch | 18:20.00 | 26 | ||
| 3) Garrett Davis | 19:34.00 | 76 | ||
| 4) Micah Crocker | 20:36.83 | 130 | ||
| 5) Jason Du | 20:44.46 | 138 | ||
| Average Time: 19:12.14 Total Time: 1:36:00.69 1-5 Split: 3:59.06 | ||||
| 6) Armond Butler | 20:55.91 | 154 | ||
| 7) Brooks Barron | 22:06.11 | 205 | ||
| 11 | Lakeview Academy (GA) | 375 | ||
| 1) dhruv gaur | 18:26.40 | 30 | ||
| 2) hayes kennedy | 18:41.40 | 38 | ||
| 3) cameron shreeram | 19:14.31 | 65 | ||
| 4) cameron sachse | 20:23.70 | 116 | ||
| 5) jonathan kirwin | 20:33.80 | 126 | ||
| Average Time: 19:27.92 Total Time: 1:37:19.61 1-5 Split: 2:07.40 | ||||
| 6) avery jackson | 20:55.69 | 153 | ||
| 7) T.j. wolcott | 21:20.90 | 177 | ||
| 12 | Fellowship Christian School (GA) | 384 | ||
| 1) Mitchell Keim | 17:59.88 | 17 | ||
| 2) Johnnie Baehman | 19:01.03 | 49 | ||
| 3) Doug Keim | 19:32.42 | 75 | ||
| 4) Mark Shoda | 20:21.21 | 115 | ||
| 5) bailey yeager | 20:34.69 | 128 | ||
| Average Time: 19:29.85 Total Time: 1:37:29.23 1-5 Split: 2:34.81 | ||||
| 6) Joshua Torres | 20:48.89 | 142 | ||
| 7) Paul jacobs | 20:53.52 | 149 | ||
| 13 | Mount Paran Christian School (GA) | 419 | ||
| 1) Graham Kington | 18:48.18 | 41 | ||
| 2) Espen Oswald | 19:03.45 | 53 | ||
| 3) Riley Nasarallah | 19:40.00 | 81 | ||
| 4) Stuart McKay | 20:18.00 | 111 | ||
| 5) Jake McWhorter | 20:37.95 | 133 | ||
| Average Time: 19:41.52 Total Time: 1:38:27.58 1-5 Split: 1:49.77 | ||||
| 6) Jordan Moss | 20:49.60 | 144 | ||
| 7) Barrett Johnson | 21:23.26 | 180 | ||
| 14 | Mount De Sales (GA) | 443 | ||
| 1) Josh Russell | 18:50.50 | 42 | ||
| 2) Tunji Afolabi-Brown | 19:20.24 | 68 | ||
| 3) Allen Kim | 19:52.31 | 88 | ||
| 4) Matthew Lemon | 20:20.28 | 114 | ||
| 5) Nicholas Jones | 20:37.51 | 131 | ||
| Average Time: 19:48.17 Total Time: 1:39:00.84 1-5 Split: 1:47.01 | ||||
| 6) James Wang | 20:48.50 | 141 | ||
| 7) Roen Algea | 20:53.72 | 150 | ||
| 15 | Stratford Academy (GA) | 459 | ||
| 1) Dylan Ogle | 19:00.78 | 48 | ||
| 2) Thomas Nash | 20:05.25 | 96 | ||
| 3) Asa Marshall | 20:09.37 | 102 | ||
| 4) Kevin McGean | 20:12.32 | 104 | ||
| 5) Steve Durkee | 20:14.68 | 109 | ||
| Average Time: 19:56.48 Total Time: 1:39:42.40 1-5 Split: 1:13.90 | ||||
| 6) Chris Jellum | 22:02.77 | 200 | ||
| 7) Ben Pruett | 24:40.16 | 238 | ||