Luke Bowlsby, Amherst, senior: After demonstrating great promise in track and cross country as an underclassman, it appears Bowlsby is ready to have a huge senior season. At the OHSAA Early Season Invitational, he broke 16 minutes for the first time, leading the Comets to a surprise second-place finish, and backed that up by placing third at GlenOak. It’s been a while since Amherst has sent a team to the state meet, but with Bowlsby and Ty Perez leading the way, that streak could end this year.
Tyson Crandall, Fairview, senior: Known more for his exploits on the track, where he reached the podium in the Division II 800 meters as a sophomore and junior, Crandall also is a top overland runner. He notched a top-10 finish at the Keystone Icebreaker last week and he could lead the resurgent Warriors to their best season in quite some time.
Michael Hanselman, Bay, junior: After breaking through this past spring on the track, Hanselman is the top runner on a young Bay squad that hopes to make a return trip to Columbus after missing out the past two years. He sat out the Keystone Icebreaker, but then slopped his way to an impressive victory over Jeremy Snyder of Westlake in the Great Lakes Conference preview meet.
Colin Martens, North Olmsted, senior: Another who is known more for his results on the track, Martens is one of the better milers in the state, but he can also step up and give a good showing in cross country. He finished 19th at the OHSAA Early Season Invitational on Aug. 19 with an excellent time of 16:22.60, and last year he was 38th at the regional meet, 21 seconds from the final state-qualifying spot.
Ty Perez, Amherst, senior: Perez has overcome a lot since his standout freshman season, and he now appears ready to combine with Luke Bowlsby to give the Comets one of the best 1-2 punches in the state. He has finished one spot ahead of his teammate in both of their meets and looks primed to make a return trip to the state meet, whether it’s as an individual or as a member of a qualifying team. Of course, he obviously would prefer leading Amherst to its first state meet berth since 1995.
Grant Preto, Rocky River, senior: With last year’s frontrunners having graduated, it’s now Preto’s turn to take over, as he tries to help lead the Pirates to a state meet berth they missed by one place last year. He was Rocky River’s top finisher at this year’s OHSAA Early Season Invitational, leading his team to a surprising third-place finish. Preto was more of a 400-800 runner on the track last spring and was on River’s 4×800 relay that placed eighth in the state.
Jared Robinson, Midview, senior: The top runner on a squad that could contend for the Southwestern Conference title and perhaps even a regional berth if a fifth man emerges, Robinson had a big track season last spring, and it seems to have carried over into cross country. At the Keystone Icebreaker he placed second, crossing the line in 16:20.4, a personal record by about 14 seconds.
Jeremy Snyder, Westlake, junior: He burst onto the scene last spring when he broke away late in the proceedings to win the 3,200 meters over Michael Hanselman in the GLC meet. He went on to qualify to regionals in that same race, placing eighth. This past weekend, he was second to Hanselman at the GLC preview meet.
Ruairi Zuercher, Rocky River, senior: Rocky River opened a lot of eyes in the OHSAA Early Season Invitational by taking third as a team. Zuercher combined with Grant Preto to give the Pirates a strong presence toward the front of a race that had 354 finishers, placing 25th. Older brother Eddie runs for Eastern Michigan and their mother, Deirdre, is the girls cross country coach at Rocky River.
