MOUNT GILEAD — There is no cross country program like it in the Marion area. Mount Gilead's boys team won a Division III state championship in 2022 and brought home runner-up trophies in 2019, 2021 and 2023.
That run of dominance is unprecedented here when it comes to distance running, and it's one that is going to last into 2024.
You pick: Marion Star Boys and Girls Preseason XC Runner of the Year Poll for 2024
2024 Boys Cross Country Guide: Team-by-team look at the Marion-area runners
Mount Gilead lost high-qualify seniors to graduation, led by All-Ohioan Parker Bartlett, but four of that 2023 core return this year.
Chief among those returnees will be Will Baker. The senior, who has clocked an amazing 15:16 personal record, is the reigning Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, district and regional individual champion. He was fourth at the state meet to become a three-time All-Ohioan, plus he ran in the Nike Midwest Regional Championships and the RunningLane National Championships where he posted a pair of top 30 finishes.
Behind him will be junior Owen Hershner, who made All-Ohio last year and posted a 16:06 PR. Senior Tommy Emberg and junior Nolan Hershner are a pair of all-league and all-district runners who earned state experience, too.
"As in years past, one of our biggest concerns is making sure that boys on our team have opportunities to compete at a high level," MG coach Jake Hayes said. "We have boys on our roster who will not make our top seven but would likely be a top seven athlete at another school. Finding opportunities for those boys to race hard and compete for team titles will be vital to the continued success of our program.
"Having great team chemistry will help those boys understand the value that they provide to our team and keep them striving toward being the best version of themselves."
After Mount Gilead, who else is good?
Pleasant made just its second-ever appearance at the state meet for boys and its first since 2005 at last year's Division III race, and four of those runners return for 2024, led by seniors Will Lichtenberger and Elijah McGinniss. Joey Dietsch and Jacob Meyers were also a part of that historic group.
Coach Beth Lichtenberger said she wants to see the Spartans be competitive in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference and make it back to the D-III regional with a chance to return to state.
Northmor is coming off a regional appearance, and while it graduated four-time state qualifier Ryan Lehman, it brings back state qualifying sophomore David Blunk plus veterans like Owen Yunker, Levi Hunter, Dane Creswell and Vinton Naylor.
"The guys have worked hard this summer to be ready for the season, and I expect them to compete for the top two or three team positions at every invitational we attend. Hopefully we can get the team back to state again like they were able to do in 2020 and 2022," Northmor coach Kevin Ruhl said.
Can Highland and North Union surprise?
North Union lost Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division Runner of the Year Tyler Huff to graduation, but the Wildcats bring back a pack of four letter winners to go with three freshmen for 2024.
"Our strengths are that we have a lot of young athletes that are eager to excel," NU coach Penny Cunningham said.
At Highland, there are several freshmen and other underclassmen ready to join regional qualifiers Matthew Miller and Cael Gilmore.
"We are looking to make it to the state meet this year after dealing with several debilitating injuries last year," Highland coach Rich Williams said.
Which teams are rebuilding?
Elgin only has one runner in David Colby, while Ridgedale has a returning state qualifier in Brogan Weston to go with three other runners. River Valley has just four healthy bodies to start the season. Marion Harding has some numbers, but they will miss Carter Ferguson and Kade Sutherland, who both graduated after finishing 1-2 to lead the MOAC Championships.
rmccurdy@gannett.com
419-610-0998
X @McMotorsport
Instagram @rob_mccurdy_star
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: 2024 Boys Cross Country Preview: Mount Gilead top team in Marion area again this fall
Most Popular
Comments / 0