Caddo Magnet’s Jack Patillo wins Times preseason fans' choice cross country recognition

Caddo Magnet’s Jack Patillo topped nine additional athletes from nine Shreveport-Bossier City area schools to win the 2024 Times Fans' Choice Cross Country Player of the Year recognition.

The speedy Patillo and his supporters amassed 50,646 votes, 40% of the 126,521 votes cast to garner the honor. Finishing second was North DeSoto’s Ellie Simmons, who brought in an impressive 41,413 votes (32.7%) in the online-only voting.

“I’ve taught Jack in the classroom and coached him in cross country. He’s one of the most focused, disciplined and independent people I’ve ever worked with,” Caddo Magnet coach James McGuirk said. “His success is 100% the result of his own dedication and hard work. It’s a blessing to have him on our team.”

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Supporters of the schools and athletes visited shreveporttimes.com to vote from Sunday morning through Thursday night.

Patrillo will be presented a sports duffel bag with a Raising Cane’s boxed lunch gift card courtesy of Raising Cane’s, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, Cosse and Silmon Orthodontics and The Times.

Also on the ballot were Airline’s Jayden Williams; Benton’s Claire Allen; Byrd’s Anna Lake Watts; Calvary’s Jackson Burney; Cedar Creek’s Josh McCarthy; Haughton’s Clara Hicks; Parkway’s Brennan Robin; and Ruston’s Parker Nations.

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Caddo Magnet’s Jack Patillo wins Times preseason fans' choice cross country recognition