Here’s what you need to know for the 2024 high school boys cross country season in the Baltimore area:
Storylines to watch
How will Calvert Hall replace Cameron Davis?
Cameron Davis has held a monopoly on Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference distance running titles. He won three straight cross county conference championships, as well as the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races at the past two conference outdoor track and field championships and last year’s indoor championships. He earned The Baltimore Sun boys cross country Runner of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023. But now he’s running at Virginia Tech, and coach Scott Baker must find a way to replace not only him but four other seniors who ran as part of the Cardinals lineup. Baker believes he has great underclass talent coming up but expects his team to have a stronger pack time rather than relying on one or two superstars. However, he says to keep an eye on JD Hughes as a breakout candidate.
A duel in Anne Arundel County
Two of the best runners in the area and two potential state champions reside in Anne Arundel County. Southern’s Eric Penkala was last year’s Class 2A state champion and will be a favorite to repeat despite the promise of lining up against a highly talented field. Meanwhile, Tsedeke Jakovics was Class 4A runner-up despite running 15 minutes, 44.95 seconds, a time that would’ve won any other classification. He would’ve been a favorite in 4A, but this season Old Mill drops to 3A, a class where the top four state finishers graduated. At last season’s Anne Arundel County championships, Penkala finished second and Jakovics third, but Jakovics got the best of Penkala in the track distance races. The two should have quite a battle for this year’s crown.
Class 2A is loaded
Speaking of Penkala and Class 2A, there will be plenty of worthy challengers coming after his crown. A year ago, Penkala won the state title by a little more than a second over Queen Anne’s Ben Marks. Both were juniors; both will be back for a rematch. But there will be more than just Marks chasing after Penkala. Seven of the top 10 finishers at last year’s state meet were underclassmen. Included in that group are Carroll County champion Ryan Hartranft from Century, last year’s fourth-place finisher and a two-time state track champion. Also, state team champion Centennial has David Herzberger, who took fifth last year and will be one of Howard County’s best this year.
Can Evan Cline lead Towson to a Class 3A championship repeat?
Towson was the team to beat last season. The Generals breezed through the Baltimore County championships, taking five of the top six spots, then held off Severna Park to win the 3A state crown. Kieran Mischke led the charge, but the 3A individual state champion is now running at UMBC. However, he has a clear heir apparent in Evan Cline. Cline took fifth place at state, the highest-finishing underclassman. This year he’ll move up to be the Generals’ No. 1 runner and will be charged with leading a relatively inexperienced group, as four total seniors were among Towson’s seven state runners.
There might not be much 1A competition for Liberty, but what about the county?
One hundred six points. That’s how much separated champion Liberty (28) from second-place Catoctin (134) at last year’s 1A state meet. All seven Lions that ran finished in the top 26 individually — four of whom are returning underclassmen, including state champion Gregory Schellberg. Unless there are some massive time drops or new runners emerge, there might not be much of a challenge for the Lions at the state level. At the local level, however, the Lions are looking to add the missing piece from last season. They lost the Carroll County championship by two points to Manchester Valley and both teams will be well stocked again. And then there’s Century, led by Hartranft and Thomas Sewell, who should also be in the running for a county crown.
Runners to watch
Evan Cline, Towson, senior
Cline will be a leader for a Generals team aiming to duplicate last season’s successes. He finished top 10 in every race he ran, including fifth at the 3A state championship.
Jemmel Green, Gilman, senior
Green could have the best shot at breaking up the Calvert Hall hold on the top of the MIAA A Conference. He finished eighth at last year’s conference meet in a personal-best 16:12.
Ryan Hartranft, Century, senior
Hartranft won last season’s Carroll County championship, was 2A West Region champion and finished fourth at the 2A state meet. He won the 2A 1,600 state title the past two years in outdoor track season.
David Herzberger, Centennial, senior
Herzberger led Centennial’s 2A state championship last year with a fifth-place individual finish. He was also Howard County runner-up and the highest-finishing underclassman at the county meet.
JD Hughes, Calvert Hall, sophomore
Coach Scott Baker pointed to the sophomore as someone with superstar potential. Though he didn’t race much last cross country season, his distance track time (9:30 in the 3,200) gives reasons for optimism.
Tsedeke Jakovics, Old Mill, senior
Jakovics is another state track champion (last year’s outdoor 4A 800 meters) looking to earn his first cross country gold. He was last year’s 4A runner-up with a time (15.44.95) that was second-fastest out of all classes.
Caden Lazzor, Severna Park, senior
Lazzor was the Falcons’ No. 2 runner a year ago and top returner. He finished 11th at the state meet and fifth at the Anne Arundel County championships.
Chris Novak, Patterson Mill, junior
Novak’s eighth-place finishes at last year’s 1A state meet and UCBAC championships were actually his lowest placings of the season. He showed his potential by winning the 1A East Region championship.
Eric Penkala, Southern, senior
Between cross country and track, Penkala has amassed quite a collection of state championship medals and the defending 2A champ is a favorite for another. He’s also looking to improve on his Anne Arundel runner-up finish.
Gregory Schellberg, Liberty, senior
Schellberg won last year’s 1A state title running 16:35, 26 seconds clear of the second-place finisher. He took fourth at the Carroll County championships and finished no worse than fifth at any meet last season.
Preseason top 15 teams
1. Severna Park
Coach: Josh Alcombright
Last season: No. 3 ranking
Postseason: Class 3A state runner-up
2. Calvert Hall
Coach: Scott Baker
Last season: No. 2
Postseason: MIAA A Conference champion
3. Liberty
Coach: Trent Rose
Last season: No. 8
Postseason: Class 1A state champion
4. Centennial
Coach: Kevin McCoy
Last season: No. 6
Postseason: Class 2A state champion
5. Gilman
Coach: Joe Duncan
Last season: No. 12
Postseason: Third in MIAA A Conference
6. Towson
Coach: Gil Stange
Last season: No. 1
Postseason: Class 3A state champion
7. Crofton
Coach: Adam McGuire
Last season: No. 10
Postseason: Sixth in Class 4A
8. Manchester Valley
Coach: Jim MacDonald
Last season: No. 7
Postseason: Sixth in Class 3A
9. Howard
Coach: Ed Wilson
Last season: No. 4
Postseason: Third in Class 3A
10. Loyola Blakefield
Coach: Jose Albornoz Jr.
Last season: No. 5
Postseason: Second in MIAA A Conference
11. Century
Coach: Doug Fleming
Last season: No. 13
Postseason: Fourth in Class 2A
12. Wilde Lake
Coach: Eric Meyers
Last season: No. 9
Postseason: Second in Class 2A
13. South River
Coach: Caleb Foster
Last season: Not ranked
Postseason: 10th in Class 3A
14. Catonsville
Coach: Ben Fusco
Last season: Not ranked
Postseason: 13th in Class 3A
15. Fallston
Coach: Karin Walker
Last season: Not ranked
Postseason: 13th in Class 2A
Others considered: Broadneck, C. Milton Wright, Mount Saint Joseph, Old Mill, River Hill