Here are 86 Athens-area high school cross country runners to watch ahead of 2024 season

Cross country is the third fall sport to kick off the school year, following softball and volleyball .

Last season, Oconee County had a state champion in Cooper Timberman, who finished first in boys Class 3A with a time of 15:50.31. Aaron Brodrick came in third with a time of 16:10.84.

Athens Academy's Will DeLoach finished second in boys Class 2A with a time of 16:43.60 and Maya Davis won the girls Class 2A state championship with a time of 19:15.44.

Clarke Central's James Daniel finished third in boys Class 5A with a time of 16:20.45 and right behind him in fourth, only two seconds off from medaling, was Jefferson's Ben Davis with a time of 16:22.74.

Cross country begins Aug. 12 and will run until Nov. 2. The state championships are scheduled for Nov. 8-9 at Carrollton High School.

Here's a list of 86 runners, boys and girls combined, to watch ahead of the 2024 season, hand selected by the coaches.

Athens-area cross country runners to watch ahead of 2024 season

Apalachee

Calvin Davis, junior

Katie Jimenez, sophomore

Coleman Pasatiempo, freshman

Athens Academy

Maya Davis, senior

Molly Smith, senior

Adelaide Ellis, senior

Bryce Paramore, junior

HT Garrard, junior

Athens Christian

Zack Akins, senior

Johann Brink, junior

Josie Vaughn, junior

McKinley Smith, junior

Cedar Shoals

Forrester Williams, junior

Clarke Central

Karl Ritzler, senior

Ryan Marshall, senior

Vivian Carabello, senior

Ailynn Irwin, junior

Waylon Vaughn, junior

James "JD" Daniel, junior

Noah Kilpatrick, junior

Torin Trotter, junior

Charlie Black, sophomore

Kate Hinger, sophomore

Jovi Grantham, sophomore

Elle Cranston, freshman

Commerce

Noah Prickett, senior

James Truluck, junior

Kaden Lynn, sophomore

Belle Gary, sophomore

East Jackson

Hayden Hodges, senior

Griffin McDaniel, senior

Ben Barnes, senior

Michael Kelleher, junior

Collin Ramsey, junior

Courtney Cameron, junior

Tallulah Williams, junior

Piper Pennington, junior

Norah Nichols, sophomore

Cade Brown, freshman

Jackson County

Erin O'Brien, senior

Jordan Starling, senior

Kendall Goetzman, senior

Ingrid Casillas, senior

Gavin Howland, junior

Adam Thomas, junior

Brody Wooten, junior

Gabe Spivey, junior

Loralei Eager, sophomore

Eli Avrett, freshman

Jefferson

Brock Brush, senior

CJ Jeffords, senior

Hannah Schroeder, junior

Finn Wakeman, sophomore

William Malueg, freshman

Madison County

Marcus Hughes, senior

Mary Grace Watson, junior

Elijah Neal, junior

Caroline Duggins, freshman

Bristol Culberson, freshman

North Oconee

Hunter Ecker, senior

Jacob Mitchum, senior

Brennen Kajder, senior

Audrey Waters, senior

Josie Nix, senior

Izze Currie, senior

Nora Canalis, senior

Bryce Franklin, junior

Mac McFarland, junior

Gavin Avinger, sophomore

Gavin Leavitt, sophomore

Oconee County

Champ Blose, senior

Jonah Ferguson, senior

Caitlynn Krumm, senior

Cadence Keese, senior

Aaron Brodrick, junior

Annabelle Wiktorski, sophomore

Oglethorpe County

Sydnie Henderson, senior

Prince Avenue Christian

Ashlyn Smith, senior

Preston Mitchell, senior

Tison McGuirt, sophomore

Caleb Smith, sophomore

Winder-Barrow

Harper Allen, junior

Heath Laird, sophomore

Braxton Carrere, sophomore

Cuauhtemoc Zapata Martinez, sophomore

Elizabeth Boyd, sophomore

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Here are 86 Athens-area high school cross country runners to watch ahead of 2024 season