BOYS

CROSS COUNTRY

James Buchanan

Rockets

Coach: Harold Hunsberger, fourth season, 30th overall, 152-91 (.626).

Last year: 1-5 (1-5 Mid Penn Capital Division).

Top runner lost: Brandon Smith.

Top returning runners: Jay Marshall (jr.); Anthony Meyers (so.); Will Rice (so.); Clayton Heebner (so.).

Other top runners: Scott McClure (fr.); John Hook (so.).

Outlook: Hunsberger said, "The boys will be stronger than last year. We're going for at least a .500 league record. We had three freshmen runners in our top five last year -- all are back. Still, we are a little short on kids."

Notes: Marshall led JB with a 140th place finish at the District 3 championships ... The Rockets picked up a dual meet win over Scotland.

Opener: Friday, at Enos Yeager Invitational (Chambersburg), 5. Greencastle-Antrim

Blue Devils

Coach: Rich Secrest, sixth season, 11-18 (.611).

Last season: 4-2 (4-2 Mid Penn Capital Division).

Top runners lost: Jacob Leary, Joe Pasquarello, James Hall, Gabriel Martin.

Top returning runners: Brandon Thrush (jr.); Michael Hohl (jr.).

Other top runners: Zack Husband (fr.); Caleb Lougheed (sr.); Justin Merideth (sr.); Daulton Monn (fr.); Stephen Spinder (jr.).

Outlook: Secrest said: "I expect Brandon Thrush to do well. He did a lot of running over the summer time. He attended the SU cross country camp with Steve Spence. He dedicated himself this summer. Michael Hohl

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ran a lot over summer. Daulton Monn is a 5:14 miler coming up. He's getting used to running the mileage. It's a new scene for boys."

Notes: Thrush grabbed 184th place at the District 3 meet last season and Hohl was 288th ... Pasquarello and Martin were 2 of the team's top 4 district finishers a year ago and did not return.

Opener: Friday, at Enos Yeager Invitational (Chambersburg), 5.

Shippensburg

Greyhounds

Coach: Michael O'Connor, second season.

Last year: 6-3 (4-2 Mid Penn Capital Division).

Top runners lost: Josh Kane, Zack Mooney, Ryan Palmer, Minke Zhang.

Top returning runners: Ben Shenk (jr.); Owen Diehl (sr.); Phillip Byers (so.); Dylan Burkholder (so.).

Other top runners: Chris French (jr.); Chris Campbell (jr.).

Outlook: O'Connor said: "We don't have a true No. 1 runner, but we have several guys who will stand out from meet to meet. We have a solid pack. We'll be competitive as a team, but no individuals will stand out."

Notes: O'Connor was the interim head coach last season when he took over for Randy Holtry ... The Hounds' top 2 finishers from the District 3 championships have graduated ... Diehl placed 338th at districts.

Opener: Sept. 10, at home vs. Big Spring, 4:30.

Waynesboro

Indians

Coach: Walt Hasis, fifth year, 10-14 (.417).

Last year: 2-4 (2-4 Mid Penn Capital Division).

Top runners lost: Zach Urbanek, Billy Mullarky.

Top returning runners: Philip Bautista (jr.); Andrew Cole (sr.); Kyle Phillips (jr.); Joe Needham (sr.); Ryan Kaiser (jr.); Nick Fetterhoff (so.); Tyler Kunkel (so.).

Other top runners: Shaun Egolf (so.).

Outlook: "From last year, we only lost one varsity runner," Hasis said. "We hope to improve on last year's record. Our goal is to lower our team time. Last year, we averaged 19:30. We'd like to be able to lower that by at least 30 seconds."

Notes: Phillips led the Indians with a 132nd place finish at the District 3 meet last season ... Bautista grabbed 193rd and Cole finished 235th for Waynesboro.

Opener: Friday, at Enos Yeager Invitational (Chambersburg), 5.