Gettysburg’s Andrew Hirneisen (sr) is back to defend the YAIAA XC title he earned in 2018. He paced a group of 7 athletes that broke the 17-min barrier at last season’s championships. 5 of those 7 athletes are back in 2019. He is the #6 returning performer from the 2018 PIAA District III AAA (D3AAA) meet. There is no reason to believe that Hirneisen won’t be the favorite to repeat again this fall at the YAIAA XC Championships. He set outdoor PRs in the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m during the 2019 track and field campaign and finished the year runner-up in the 3200m at the YAIAA Championships. He should challenge for a state XC medal this season.

Defeating Hirneisen in the 3200m final at the 2019 YAIAA Outdoor T/F championships was Cole Adams (so) from York Suburban. Adams won that event in a time of 9:52.10. That time ranked Adams the #6 freshman in the state for 2019. He is the #6 returner from last season’s YAIAA XC Championships, but he should be looked at as one of the favorites to win in 2019. He will also be one of the favorites to win the individual title in PIAA District III AA where he is the #4 returner from last fall’s race. A state medal seems well within his reach this season.

Northeastern’s duo of James Herman (jr) and Cole Perry (so), along with Kennard-Dale’s Collin Wolf (jr) and Central York’s Brandon Baxter (sr) should also be considered amongst the favorites for the 2019 YAIAA XC season. Herman set new 3200m and 1600m PRs this spring and finished 4th in the 3200m at the YAIAA Championships. Wolf set 1600m and 800m PRs and finished runner-up in the 1600m at YAIAAs. Baxter won the 1600m at YAIAAs and also set PRs for 1600m and 800m. Perry is the remaining returnee who ran sub-17 min at last year’s XC championships. All 4 of these athletes will be looking earn a spot at the PIAA Championships in their respective classes.

The two biggest risers from last season’s XC championships may be Kennard-Dale junior Dan Gibney and West York junior Dylan Ackerman. Both significantly lowered their outdoor 3200m times from previous seasons. Gibney was the 3rd place finisher at YAIAAs in the 3200m this past May while Ackerman placed 6th in the 1600m.

The individual rankings are based on 2018 YAIAA and District III XC championship meet returnee place finishes as well as 2019 Outdoor track and field performances. Additional weight was given to runners who set PRs during the outdoor campaign with greatest weight going to 3200m PRs.

Here is a pre-season look at 30 of the top boys in the YAIAA (excludes freshman):

Here is a look at some of the freshman who could make an impact during the 2019 season based on their performances from the 2018 Carlisle MS Meet of Champions and the 2018 Gettysburg MS Invite:

Wishing everyone a great 2019 season!