Coming in at No. 10 on our pre-season countdown are the defending NCHSAA 4A XC runner-up, Weddington Warriors. This squad takes a hit from the 2022 graduating class, as they only return two of their top seven. However, it is the perfect two to build around going forward. Caden Townshend is returning NC No. 1 over 5,000m and his fellow-senior teammate Chauncey Chen is returning No. 7.

They were a strong group on the track over 3,200m, which is a sign of big things to come this season. They were NC No. 4 as a team with their returning runners scored like a cross country meet. Their 3-5 have to step up and make some ground on their senior leaders.

David Chapa ran 10:32 over 3,200m in the spring, Mason Kenary went 10:40, and Cooper Taylor went 10:47. Everett Anson could be a factor fighting for that final top five spot for the Warriors. He ran 18:02 over 5,000m last fall, but only have four races during the outdoor season. 

Taylor is the third senior in this varsity group. Along with his 10:47 on the track, he went 5:04 over 1,600m as well. He has a personal best in cross country of 17:37 from the 2020 season.

They come in returning No. 29 as a team, but after a strong showing on the track, backed by one of the top duo's in the state, do not be surprised to see this Warrior squad competing for a NCHSAA cross country state title. 

Last fall, Weddington finished runner-up at the NCHSAA 4A cross country state meet. Townshend finished 15th in the meet, but look for him to make a break for the individual title this season and help secure that "1" point for Weddington. 

Townshend got a taste of the glory during track season, as he captured the NCHSAA 4A 1,600m state title clocking 4:08.30.

They also have a strong middle school program that is feeding two kids into the high school scene: Hunter Bates and Daniel Fiore. Bates is one of the top incoming freshman this season, as he has personal bests of 4:39 in the 1,600m and 10:17 over cross country 3,000m. Fiore has bests of 4:52 and 10:40 in the same events. Look for these two to battle into the Warrior top five this fall. 

Overall, this is an extremely front heavy Weddington team that is going to rely on their younger runners in the class of 2024, 2025, and 2026 to step up and have an impact on this season.