KYtrackXC.com is presenting the State Champion Watch List. Below are the pre-season names to be on the lookout for on the boys side in Kentucky.
Class A
Eric Baugh, Villa Madonna
2014 track was the no questions asked arrival of Baugh as a runner not to mess with. He won state titles in the 1600m Run and 800m Run. Ran PRs of 1:57, 4:14, 9:26. Speed is not an issue.
Logan Campbell, Owsley County
The wildcard out of the east. Showed he has the legs to hang with some quality times this spring with a 9:47 PR in the 3200m to go along with the 4:29 from 2013 in the 1600m.
Matt Bode, Collegiate
2013 XC State Champion in somewhat of a surprise. Ran the last month of XC season like a man on a mission. Focused heavily on the 3200m this past spring leading to a new PR of 9:44 and a Runner-Up finish at state.
Class AA
Ethan Shuley, Highlands
Busted out the #8 3200m time in the history of forever for Kentucky with a 9:13.43 as a sophomore. Went on to win state in the same event in Class AA as well as a 4x800m Relay Championship. Team title motivation will help drive him this season as well.
Jay Solinger, Collins
The defending Class AA State XC Champion from last fall. Showed up when it counted even with others around him getting most of the attention as contenders. Solid in track with 4:34/9:59 PRs.
Trenton Fryman, North Oldham
Was the king of the 1600m in Class AA last spring winning the state title with quick PRs of 4:19.22 (c) 1600m and 9:35 for 3200m. Leads the 4-time defending State Team Champion squad in North Oldham.
Class AAA
Ben Young, Tates Creek
Comes in as the top returner based on places from the Kentucky State XC Meet last fall. Focused on speed last spring in track hitting a new PR of 4:20.67 for 3rd in the 1600m at state. He then was able to double back with a PR 9:39 for 3200m. That is an accomplish that none could match as most of the top runners in the 3200m were fresh.
Brennan Fields, Madison Central
The first of many juniors in this group comes in with the fastest PR at 3200m in Class AAA with a 9:21.96 from Eastern Relays. His 4:23.28 (c) 1600m PR is the fastest of the juniors as well. Fast times along with a solid team backing him should allow for another jump to the front.
Bret Crawford, Grayson County
XC specialist who dominated races all last fall going into state looking like a favorite last year. Ran smaller track meets but still popped off solid PRs of 4:28 and 9:46 at the Kentucky State Track Meet.
Cole Dowdy, South Oldham
Part of the South Oldham 1-2 Dowdy punch, flips back and forth with his brother in who beats whom. Popped off a huge 9:25.82 as a sophomore last spring continuing his upward trend as a top elite runner. Went 4:28 to boot in the 1600m.
Robert Rupp, North Hardin
Came into his own last fall in XC as he became a name to watch in Class AAA. Ran 4:34/9:37 in track last spring. With a team track title on the line, he ran and placed 7th in the 3200m at the Kentucky State Track Meet placing right in the middle of many of the names on this list.
Spencer Hayden, St. Xavier
Part of potentially the best 1-2 combo in the state of Kentucky with William Mulloy, so training partners will not be an issue. As a sophomore ran 9:34.87 for 3200m making him a threat to make the jump up to top dog as a junior.
Tanner Dowdy, South Oldham
Same kind of message here as his brother, Cole above. Ran 4:27/9:33 last spring putting him in the same group as his brother, Fields, and Hayden as super AAA sophomores that ran huge in track last spring.
William Mulloy, St. Xavier
The people of Kentucky voted back in early August and chose Mulloy as their favorite in Class AAA. King of the track running a 4:10.94 (c) 1600m showing his speed, but also ran 15:05.07 for 5000 meters on the track as well. In XC he has been hidden by the amazing depth and talent of St. Xavier over the last couple years, but this is the year he has to step into the role of top runner.
Zack Stewart, Cooper
Another big name that brought it when it counted. Last May in the 3200m at the Class AAA Kentucky State Track Meet he finished 4th with a PR 9:29.90 placing him as the 2nd returner in the event. He leads a senior heavy team in Cooper that will be in the hunt to take down the big dogs in St. Xavier.
Others to watch
Class AAA is so wide open it is nearly impossible to get everyone. Mark Chaplin (Campbell County), Kyle Johnson (Bowling Green), and Yared Nugese (duPont Manual) are some others to be on the lookout for this season. Chaplin and Johnson have developed gradually every year. Nugese is running XC for the first time after a 9:37 3200m as a FROSH last spring.