2020 GHSA XC State Meet: A Public Boys Meet Preview

 Commerce: State defending champion Brandon Martin has had a great season to lead Commerce to the brink of another team state title. JJ Morris has been a solid #2 for the team. The real question will be if Kade Morgan, Dominic Ricci and Peyton McClure will be able to place high enough to keep Commerce on the top of the podium. The lack of a pack hurts Commerce as they have 3:49 average team split for the season. If runners 3-6 can do enough, we could see another state title for Commerce. Commerce beat both Towns (17 points) and LOA (24 points) at Region 8-A.

Armuchee: The newcomers to A Public have run well all season. With a strong pack of 59 sec between 1-5, they have that solved. The question will be without a top tier runner, can they do enough to overtake Commerce. It should be a great showdown of contrasting styles. Jack Rush, Darrell Trejo, Davis Yeargan lead the team who actually has a 1:17 seconds for a 1-7 split. The team won Region 6-A.

Lake Oconee Academy: Ty Wood and Jack Miller have both had great seasons. They are built like Commerce. Their 2:57 split is better than Commerce, but that is due in part to the difference between Martin's season average (16:26) and Wood (18:01). For the team to pull the surprise, Dylan Stewart and Adam Kalmanowicz really need to run well. The team took 3rd place at Region 8-A.

Towns County: Liam King has had a great senior campaign. It will be a great battle between Towns and LOA for the podium. The gap between #4 and #5 for Towns will make the difference. If Mason Yeamons can run well, Towns chould be able to repeat their Region 8-A performance of besting LOA.

ACE Charter: For the first time in the school's history, the boys team made serious waves during the season, climbing as high as 3rd in the polls. Nathan Hallar won Region 7-A on a very hot and humid (90 degree) day. The 2:30 gap will need to be reduced for the team to really challenge for the podium. 2nd place in Region 7

This is a Senior Dominated top 10 (7 of the projected top 10) 2020 has perhaps produced the fastest individual harriers in the short history of A Public dating back to its inception in 2012.  

Brandon Martin (Commerce) -  Martin is on a different level than the runners who will attempt to chase him at State, which would be a mistake. His slowest race in 2019 was a 16:34 at 'Cookies and Quotes' near Tallulah Falls. After Mile one, he should disappear from the view of the chasers and possibly set a new A Public state meet record time that may last a long time... Martin PR'd at region going 16:09. 



David Williams (Schley County) - The senior from Schley County has been consistent in this COVID-19 challenging season. Williams is showing signs of peaking at the perfect time, running a 17:09 at Southland Raider, following that up with another PR of 17:08 at region 5-A. 

Leo Lopez (Greene County) - the 2018 2A state champ decided not to compete in 2019. But, has come back nicely this season placing 2nd behind Martin at region 8-A. He won four races this season and had a SB time at the region meet in 17:16. 

Ty Wood (Lake Oconee Academy) - The junior has raced nine times this season and been very consistent. He PR'd at 17:46 in the toughest of all A Public regions (8-A) placing 5th. Carrollton will be the final exam for him. 

Liam King (Towns County) -  the best of the best was definitely at region 8-A, as King placed 4th overall posting a time of 17:40. The 'mountaineer from Hiawassee,  also raced well at the North Hall Invitational and Mountain Invite

Mason Harris (Wilcox County) -  Harris is a wild-card/darkhorse from a program that has been rejuvenated in 2020. Mason is the most improved harrier in A Public dropping from an early-season 20:52, down to a 17:07 at Southland Raider. 

Montana Archer (Social Circle) -  Montana was a stud in middle school last season placing 2nd at MS State. Archer PR'd at region 8-A clocking a 17:44.