The 2016 high school cross country season began this week. Here is a look at some of the Midstate area’s top teams, players and story lines heading into 2016.
Class AAA
Boys
Favorite: Brentwood
Contender: Independence
Girls
Favorite: Brentwood
Contender: Ravenwood
Class A-AA
Boys
Favorite: Knox Catholic
Contenders: Page, Merrol Hyde
Girls
Favorite: Christian Academy of Knoxville
Contender: Central Magnet
Division II-AA
Boys
Favorite: Brentwood Academy
Contender:: Father Ryan
Girls
Favorite: Brentwood Academy
Contender: Harpeth Hall
Division II-A
Boys
Favorite: Knox Webb
Contender: Battle Ground Academy
Girls
Favorite: Knoxville Webb
Contenders: St. Cecilia, University School of Nashville
10 RUNNERS TO WATCH
Boys
Brentwood junior Brodey Hasty is the defending state champion in Class AAA.
Carter Cheeseman, Brentwood Academy, So.: Cheeseman won the 2015 Division II-AA state title after placing fifth as an eighth-grader.
Brodey Hasty, Brentwood, Jr.: Hasty won Class AAA last fall after placing second in the state as a freshman.
Davis Holliday, Brentwood Academy, Jr.: Holliday finished as the state runner-up last fall, two seconds behind Cheeseman.
Taylor Vroon, Brentwood, Sr.: Vroon placed third in Class AAA in 2015 following a 16th-place finish as a sophomore.
Titus Winders, Henry County, Jr.: Winders placed eighth in Class AAA last season.
Girls
Central Magnet junior Taylor Cuneo is two-time defending state champion in Class A-AA.
Claire Cheeseman, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Cheeseman won the Division II-AA state title in 2015 after back-to-back third-place showings at the state meet.
Addie Coggins, Independence, Sr.: Coggins placed fourth in Class AAA last fall and is the second-fastest returning runner from the AAA meet.
Taylor Cuneo, Central Magnet, Jr.: Cuneo is the two-time defending state champion in Class A-AA, winning the state title by more than 23 seconds last season.
Emma McClellan, Riverdale, Sr.: McClellan placed sixth in Class AAA last season.
Victoria Simmons, Siegel, Sr.: Simmons placed 10th in Class AAA last fall, less than 11 seconds behind the third-place finisher.
Best of the rest
Page senior Colin Lamb could be the favorite in A-AA after finishing as the state runner-up last season. Lamb, who placed ninth in the state as a sophomore, is the lone returnee among the top five finishers in A-AA last fall.
Top guns return
Brentwood’s boys program, which has won four of the last five AAA state titles, including last season, lost two of its top seven runners to graduation but returns its top three runners (Brodey, Taylor Vroon and senior Jackson Vroon).
Back at full strength
The Brentwood Academy girls are the favorite to repeat as the Division II-AA champions as they didn’t suffer any graduation losses. Four Lady Eagles finished among the top seven at the state meet last fall, with Kylie Wittman placing sixth as an eighth-grader.
3 must-watch meets
MSCCA-Voyles Classic, Aug. 27
A.F. Bridges Invitational, Sept. 10
Tennessee Classic, Sept. 17
Reach Craig Harris at 615-259-8238 and on Twitter @CHTennessean.
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