Boys Preseason Cross Country Countdown: #15 Myers Park


#15 Myers Park

North Carolina Returning Team Rankings

Returning NCHSAA 4A Rankings

Returning NCHSAA 4A Midwest Rankings

2018 NCHSAA 4A State Meet Finish: 15th


Myers Park is a team that is easy to get excited about for the 2019 cross country season.  They return 6 of their top 7 from last years team that was the 4A West runner-ups to Mooresville.  They return a good mix of seniors and a lot of young talent from last years roster.

Key Loss

Gant Renner

Returners

RANKTIMEATHLETE/TEAMGRADEMEET DATEPLACE
116:52.102020
216:56.602021
317:16.802021
417:26.452020
517:27.792020
617:33.402021
717:44.902021


In addition to returning 8 sub-18 runners, the Mustangs will add in their likely front runner Maddon Muhammad.  The rising junior has been excellent on the track over his first two years of high school without runner cross country.  He holds PRs of 1:56.93 in the 800m, 4:24 (4:01 1500m) in the 1600m and 9:39 (8:47 3000m).  He was recently the AAU 15-16 National Champion in both the 1500m and 3000m and confirmed he'd be running cross country this season.

The ceiling for his individual success is very high, but cross country training and racing could take some time for him to adjust to this season.

Tristan Wick and David Foard will be their top two returners after running 16:52 and 16:56 last fall.  Wick had track PRs of 4:31 and 10:07 from last year and made the state meet individually in the 1600m.  Foard was a guy that came through at the end of the season finishing as their third man at both the regional and state meet.

David Hood had a good junior track season running 4:37 and 10:07.  He was outside Myers Park's top 7 a year ago with a 18:20 seasons best, but holds a 17:25 PR from his sophomore year.  After a good track season he should be back into the teams top 7 this fall.

The team has a lot of depth with a lot of athletes that could impact the top 5 this fall.  Dylan Canipe was the teams 2nd man at the state met last year placing 86th overall and holds a 17:16 PR.  Connor Selle, Erik Suester, Jacob Guzi and Bryson Brading each return with sub 18 marks as well.

They also had solid freshman track seasons from Leo O'Neill, Brendan O'Neill, Emmett O'Neill and James Young who ran 4:47, 4:49, 4:54 and 4:54 on the track and should make a bigger impact for the team in cross country this fall.

Myers Park traditionally has always been a team that steps up around the regional meet.  Their top 4 guys all ran a seasons best at the regional meet in 2018 and 6 of their top 7 ran a PR at the regional or state meet in 2017.

With the addition of Muhammad and a ton of athletes returning off a good track campaign Myers Park is a team that could be amongst the best in the state at seasons end. With the new regional alignment Myers Park moves from the 4A West to the 4A Midwest where they'll square off with Reagan for the Regional Title.