Here are some notes for the 2020 YAIAA Boys XC season.
The YAIAA may have the top AAA and AA team’s in the district this season. York Suburban and Kennard-Dale were the top 2 District III AA teams in 2019. In 2020, York Suburban moves up to AAA and should be able to challenge for a district title. Suburban’s move up places Kennard-Dale in the driver’s seat for the AA title, which would be the Ram’s first. Expect a close battle between these two for the YAIAA title.
South Western, Gettysburg, and Susquehannock return solid cores and should factor into the team race as well. South Western is one of the youngest team’s in District III and are a team to keep an eye on over the next couple of years.
Individually, the race for the YAIAA title should be a good one. The top 4 from last season all return, led by 2019 champion Cole Adams (jr, York Suburban). Adams finished 14th in the state (AA) last season. He’ll be looking for a repeat medal performance this season in AAA. Kennard-Dale’s Collin Wolf was runner-up to Adams last season and missed out on a state medal by only 1 spot, finishing 26th. He’ll look to rectify that with a big senior season this year. Finishing 3rd and 4th last year was the Northeastern duo of James Herman (sr) and Cole Perry (jr). Also keep an eye on Suburban’s Grant Kern (jr). He finished 10th at YAIAAs last year, but had an incredible finish to the 2019 season finishing 1 spot behind teammate Cole Adams at states to place 15th.
Here’s a look at how YAIAA teams performed at state’s in 2019:
AA
2nd – York Suburban (tied for first, but lost on a tiebreaker)
8th – Kennard-Dale
11th – Susquehannock
Top 15 returnees from the 2019 YAIAA Championships:
Returning state medalists from 2019 include:
AA
14th – Cole Adams, York Suburban
15th – Grant Kern, York Suburban
Here’s a look at a few rising freshman looking to make an impact in 2020 –
Evan Jennings, Northeastern – Was the runner-up at the Little Ship Invite and at the Carlisle MS Meet of Champions. Success at Carlisle is usually a good indicator for HS success.
Gavin Cole, Gettysburg – Placed 3rd at the Altoona Invitational, 2nd at the Gettysburg Invitational, and 4th at the Carlisle MS Meet of Champions.
Dallastown and Gettysburg both had strong middle school programs last year.