Boys cross country preview: Hawks take aim on first state title

Shawnee Mission Northwest’s boys cross country team was dethroned last fall after 14 consecutive Kansas 6A titles.

Suddenly, anything seems possible for the state’s other elite cross country programs, a group that includes Olathe East.

It won’t be easy

“The last thing that you want to see is a motivated Van Rose team,” Hawks coach Tony Bozarth joked, referring to the architect of the Cougars’ dynasty, but at least there’s an aura of attainability now that wasn’t there before.

“I suppose it probably has to in the back of their mind,” Bozarth said. “When you have that type of a state champ that has won that many times, there has to be a bit of intimidation involved.”

East, of course, would love to capitalize now that the luster is dulled ever so slightly.

The Hawks placed ninth at state last year, but that won’t do in 2009.

Seniors Ryan Hocker, who was fifth at state last year, and Andrew Sheets, who was a breakout star during the track season, lead a hungry Hawks squad that is still seeking the first state crown in the program’s history. The two also ran on East’s state championship-winning 3200 relay last spring.

The trick for the Hawks will be getting seniors Paul Zimmerman and Jae Cochran as well as junior Bryan Gum, all of whom ran at state last year, to move up significantly.

Sophomore Lars Hanson and junior Torrance Campbell provide depth for East, which also has a strong girls team and could contend for boys and girls state championships.

It’s a trick SM Northwest has turned nine times since 1990, but SM South in 1978 is the only other program in Kansas 6A history to win both boys and girls cross country titles in the same season.

Gardner EdgertonCoach: Larry Ward

Outlook: Coming off a fourth-place finish at the Kansas 5A state meet, the Trailblazers return plenty of experience and talent. Mitch Loring and Michael Berg are huge losses, but senior Caleb Laird, who was 16th at state last year, returns and provides leadership. Fellow seniors Preston Pyle, David Gardiner and Tyler Edwards also are back along with junior Cam Stranathan.

Olathe NorthwestCoach: Tim Barnes

Outlook: The Ravens were hit hard by graduation, losing three-time state qualifier Jesse Foulk, who was 33rd at the Kansas 6A meet last fall, and Abel Asseffa, who was 42nd at state. Alex Johnson and Jeff Biehl are ONW’s only returning varsity runners.

Olathe NorthCoach: Jerry Banks

Outlook: Sophomore Ben Anstaelt leads a young Eagles bunch that shows promise for the future. Anstaelt likely will be joined on the varsity squad by other sophomores Alex Suriano, Solomon Abera and Kidus Bekele.

Olathe SouthCoach: Adam Moos

Outlook: Matt Horn in 2006 was the last Falcons boy to race at the Kansas 6A state meet, but that might change this fall. Sophomore Tyler Green and first-year senior Brandon Peters, an import from the soccer team, have shown tremendous potential so far. The top returning finisher from the regional last year, senior Bryce Coyan, will help lead the largest South squad since Moos arrived as an assistant coach in 2004. Freshman Jamie Steury, senior Derrick Greenlee and juniors Eric Fox and Alex Koval also are in the varsity mix.

Spring HillCoach: Rick O’Neil

Outlook: One runner provides plenty of optimism for the program. Sophomore Ricardo Garcia, who consistently ran under 19 minutes as a freshman, returns and has his sights set on a state medal.

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