Team Contenders:
Arlington won big last year, finally breaking the strangle hold Cordova had on the overall title for multiple years. Arlington looks to start a winning trend of their own, as they only lost two runners from last year’s squad. However, Bartlett, Bolton, Cordova, and Hardin County will look to make that task as difficult as possible as it appears that there will be a close five-way battle for three spots in Nashville. Who goes on? Who stays home?
Arlington returns their top two runners in Noah Freeman and Nick Pinarski. And though they lost two runners from last year’s squad, they are much faster, with 6 total guys who have clocked a time faster than last year’s winning time, one of those being freshman Chris Walls, and is one of the top 10 teams in the state. Look for the Tigers to put their squad up front and do their best to make no doubt about who is this year’s champ.
Bartlett had two runners qualify by placing in the top 10, last year, in Kaleb Mahoney and Braun Stephens, but the team had to stay home as they finished fourth. The Panthers don’t plan on that being remotely close to the case this year. They finished 6th in the Shelby County Championships without Stephens, and know there is going to be improvement this week. Eric Jaramillo helps strengthen Bartlett up front, as they look to make Arlington work hard for that victory, and if they don’t, look to pull the upset.
Bolton has been a state qualifier consistently over the years, and this year they plan on continuing the trend. Seniors Robert Winans and Ryan Essary look to pace the Wildcats as they plan on doing more than just qualify. They boast a strong 2-7 pack and look to use that to their advantage.
Hardin County has been left out of the state party in the past, but they look to change that this year. Star freshman Peyton Ewoldt looks to take the leadership role early on in his career and lead his team to a top three finish, and a trip to Nashville. He has the support cast to do it too, with Ryan Guyer and Lucas Haygood leading the rest of the pack.
Cordova lost the bulk of last year’s third place squad, but return top-ten finisher, Fredrick Alexander. He looks to lead the Wolfpack to yet another trip to state, but will he have the support behind him? The Wolfpack will not go down quietly.
Munford and Kingsbury may be on the outside looking in, but that is why we run the race. Look for them to use the element of surprise and attempt to sneak their respective teams in there.
Individual Contenders
Last year’s champion, Nick Pinarski (Arlington), returns to defend his title. His biggest competition may very well come from his own teammates. Noah Freeman has been one of the top runners in the state, this year, and looks to finish out his senior campaign in style. Chandler Jenkins also will take his shot if the window of opportunity presents itself. Steadily improving freshman Chris Walls would love nothing better than to own this region the next four years, starting with this one. However, seniors Kaleb Mahoney (Bartlett) and Robert Winans (Bolton) look to use their years of experience to break up the entire Arlington group up front and take their shot at the title. Junior Eric Jaramillo (Bartlett) and Freshman Peyton Ewoldt (Hardin Co.) look to mix it up in the top 10 as well. It will not be an easy top 10 to be in this year, that’s for sure.
Others to look for:
Mustafa Muhammad Arlington
Braun Stephens Bartlett
Fredric Alexander Cordova