There’s no secret, head coach Jeremy Bartley and his cross country coaching staff have built a successful winning program at Alleghany year in and year out.
Even after losing key pieces to after each successful seasons, Bartley and his staff continue to build the program to newer heights.
Two seasons ago, the program won their first ever state championship in boys, while the girls finished as runners-up. That team lost Erik & Mason Honaker, Andrew Peck, Abby Martin, and Darcy Ross who all graduated.
Losing those runners was a lot to replace, however, with the program that Bartley had built, out goes one senior class and in came another and the expectations were high for both programs as the girls had been pre-season ranked first in the Class 2A by Milestat.com and the boys had been pre-season ranked third.
Last year both the boys and girls won regionals.
The girls wound up finishing second overall at states. The girls were led by Nevah Wills who finished 3rd overall in the 5k, while Macyn Cash finished 16th.
The boys also had a pair finish in the top 25 at state as they were led to a fourth place finish by Gabe Miller and Baron Leitch. Miller finished eighth overall, while Leitch placed 25th.
This season the team is without Miller, Leitch, Levi Counts, Andrew Middleton and Cassie Evans who have all graduated.
But yet again, the expectations are high for this years team. Coach Bartley said this years team has record numbers from his high school group to the middle school class.
The boys have key returners from last years team; Kellen Lowman who finished 43rd at states and is the only senior in this years group, Josh Anglin who finished 89th. However, they are a very young group with 11 underclassman. Some other returners include, James Ross, Rilee Webb, as well as sixth freshman including Maddox Wickline and Ryan Tucker.
“The boys are talented and we have young runners. They are dark horses. Much like a few years ago, no one saw us coming”, said Coach Bartley on the boys team.
For the girls, they are pre-season ranked first in the state by Milestat.com. The girls will be led by a trio of seniors, Alivia Hoover, Lucy Nicely, and Gracie Barron. The team also has a key returner in now junior Macyn Cash who brings a ton of experience to this year team that looks to bring home another state title. As well as junior Sadie Moye. The girls team also has a bunch of new runners to the team; Bryce Leitch, Haley Harmon, Kiera Lowman, Meredith Minter, Cora Hodges, and Joowon Chung. Harmon who is a sophomore was injured last cross country season and will be a key piece to this years team.
“The girls are ranked number one and we have a bunch of new comers coming in that can help balance our experience that we already have”, said Coach Bartley on the girls team.
Coach Bartley added on how he and his coaching staff keep building the program after losing runners to graduation, “We’ve built a recipe for success. We’re good at developing talent and fill in the shoes of those who graduate.”
The teams first meet is a scrimmage on Wednesday, August 31st at Clifton Middle School.
“We’re going to treat this as a meet”, said Coach Bartley.
The team has been practicing for months now with pre-season workouts. “The more kids come (to the workouts) the more likely they’re not going to get injured during the season. This way been training early, they can train harder in-season”, said Coach Bartley.
Coach Bartley added, “the goal is to win states. It’s always our mindset, to win states. We some small goals along the way, but that includes our team, they’re mindset is to win states.”
The Mountaineers first meet that counts in the standings takes place on September 10th at Greenhill Park at 9:30 a.m.
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Team Roster – Boys
Kellen Lowman, 12
Zeke Downey, 10
James Ross, 10
Josh Anglin, 10
Rilee Webb, 10
Calvin Craft, 10
Nolan Nicely, 9
Maddox Wickline, 9
Evan Bishop, 9
Miles Christian, 9
AJ Godfrey, 9
Ryan Tucker, 9
Team Roster – Girls
Alivia Hoover, 12
Lucy Nicely, 12
Gracie Barron, 12
Macyn Cash, 11
Sadie Moye, 11
Bryce Leitch, 11
Haley Harmon, 10
Kiera Lowman, 9
Meredith Minter, 9
Cora Hodges, 9
Joowon Chung, 9
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Season Schedule
Scrimmage at CMS 8/31
Knights Crossing Meet at Greenhill Park 9/10
Augusta Invitational 9/17
Alleghany Invitational 9/24
Spartan Invitational 10/8
Milestat XC Invitational, Pole Green Park TBD
Region 2D TBD
VHSL State Meet, Greenhill Park 11/12
