YAIAA boys' cross country preview: Filler, Gettysburg hope to catch York Suburban
Last season ended with York Suburban winning its second state championship in six years, giving the program and YAIAA some momentum entering this fall.
Here is a look at who is back for the Trojans and the rest of the league:
Runners to watch
DAN FILLER, GETTYSBURG, SR. >> Last year's district champ in Class AA won on the Hershey course in 16:43.
WILL GREEN, DELONE CATHOLIC, SR. >> A state qualifier on the Class A level, Green ran a 17:48 at the District 3 championships. He improved that time by four seconds after returning to Parkview Cross Country Course for states the next week.
PATRICK JACOBSON, DALLASTOWN, JR. >> The Wildcats' lead runner at districts, he clocked in at 17:17 in Hershey.
JORDAN MALDONADO, SPRING GROVE, JR. >> The Rockets' leading runner finished last year's district meet in 17:43.
DONOVAN MEARS, YORK SUBURBAN, SR. >> A basketball player who picked up running the last few years, Mears timed in slightly less than 17 minutes at the District 3 championship.
ALEX MILLER, RED LION, SR. >> Ran the district meet in Hershey in 17:36.
Important dates
YAIAA CHAMPIONSHIP >> Oct. 13 at Gettysburg
DISTRICT 3 CHAMPIONSHIP >> Oct. 20 at Big Spring
PIAA CHAMPIONSHIP >> Oct. 31 at Hershey
Division I breakdown
DEFENDING CHAMP >> Dallastown
The Wildcats graduated four of their top runners, including Jonathan Buytenhuys and Justin Sweitzer. However, Jacobson emerged as a sophomore in 2014. Gable Bryce, now a sophomore, also emerged in the Dallastown pack a season ago.
ASCENDING >> Spring Grove, Red Lion
After finishing tied for second in the division with Central York, the Rockets will bring back leading runner Jordan Maldonado. Two more juniors, Justin Culp and Tristan Smyser, also are back. Central graduated its entire pack, including top runner Mike Lundy, who ran 17:39 at the district meet.
Red Lion finished .500 in the division but 16-4 overall. Along with Alex Miller, junior Bryan Haynie finished in the top 25 at last year's league meet.
SHOES TO FILL >> New Oxford, South Western
League runner of the year and District 3 Class AAA champion Aaron Gebhart has graduated. Junior Jarrod Sharder is the Colonials' top returning runner.
South Western has 20 boys out for the team, including five letterwinners that scored points in 2014. However, five also graduated from last year, including district medalist, and state qualifier Ben Schott, who holds the school record.