Members of the Jonathan Alder cross-country program are from left, front row, Maggie Matessa, Xavier Pierce, Evelyn McDaniel, Annie Hirshberg, Audrey Davis and Kate Curtiss; second row, Eliza Streit, Maddie Davis, Avery Wynk, Jessica DeVore, Avery Pierce, Emma Kennedy and Olivia Riddlebaugh; third row, Reggan Gray, Morgan Hicks, Jonas Watkins, Caleb Freyhof, Helena Hall, Ellie Trego, Maggie Malone and Colyn McDaniel; fourth row, Chad Hicks, Sergey Dutt, Luke Malone, Michael Gray, Brady Corbitt, Will Jackson, Michael Conley and coach Justin Creps.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
A group of veteran runners will lead a Jonathan Alder High School cross-country program in what the Pioneers hope is another successful season.
Returning lettermen for the boys are Luke Malone, Michael Gray, Zach Hicks, Brady Corbitt, Caleb Freyhof, Colyn McDaniel and Sergey Dutt.
Veteran runners for the girls include Jessie Devore, Morgan Hicks, Maddie Davis, Annie Hirshberg and Reggan Gray.
Avery Pierce is also back with the team after sitting out the 2018 season due to an injury.
She was one of the Lady Pioneers’ top runners two years ago as a freshman.
“We are excited to have Avery back and healthy this season,” said coach Justin Creps.
The veterans will be supported by a handful of newcomers, including Jonas Watkins for the boys.
“Jonas has performed very well to this point in practice and I expect he will be a scoring runner for us in many meets,” said Creps.
The girls’ squad has added five freshmen in Eliza Streit, Avery Wynk, Emma Kennedy, Kate Curtiss and Evie McDaniel.
Alder will be missing a vital piece to the puzzle as Gavin Frick, who won an individual conference title last year, has moved to Texas with his family.
“We will have to replace Gavin a year earlier than we anticipated,” said Creps.
The 2018 season proved successful for JA.
The boys finished second in the Central Buckeye Conference to Springfield Shawnee, after having won the title two years ago.
The Pioneers, however, bounced back to claim the district championship.
Malone won an individual district title and helped lead the Pioneers to the regional and state meets.
Malone also earned All-Ohio honors with a 19th-place finish at the state.
Creps didn’t want to single out specific goals for his runners this season.
“I think on the boys’ side, we should see our top runner go sub-16 (minutes) and our second guy could be flirting with that barrier as well,” he said. “I’m hoping to have the next two guys comfortably at sub-17.
“Our overall success as a team will be determined by how well the fifth runner develops, whoever that ends up being,” said Creps. “If that person can be significantly under 18 at season’s end, we’ll be feeling really good about ourselves.
“For the girls, Morgan and Maddie have each gone less than 19 minutes before, so I’m hoping we can achieve those kind of results more consistently this season,” said the coach. “Our goal as a team is to have all five runners less than 20.
“It will be a real challenge to achieve that, but the potential is there.
“The girls had the best year in program history in 2018,” he said. “They won the CBC as a team, beating a very tough Springfield Shawnee squad. At districts, Maddie Davis won the individual crown, but the girls finished second to Buckeye Valley by a single point.
“The girls have now finished as district runner-up in three of the last four years and in 2017 it came down to a tiebreaker,” he said. “The painful sting of the narrow defeat last year didn’t last long, however, as the next week at regionals, the girls qualified for the state championships for the first time in school history.”
Davis ran well at the state meet. She placed eleventh on the podium and earned All-State honors.
She also broke the school record, set by Hicks, running an 18:40.
“Morgan also had success on the track last season, winning a state championship in the 3200 indoors with a school record 11:12,” said Creps.
The coach said the goals for the program have not changed.
“1A and 1B are to get better and have fun,” he said.
“More specifically, I think both teams have the ability to win league titles.
“Springfield Shawnee will be tough competition, as always, especially on the girls’ side, but if we run well, we should be in contention for conference titles,” said Creps. “At districts, the girls will have to contend with Buckeye Valley and Bexley.”
I think those three Central Ohio teams could be some of the best in the state for the next two years in girls Division II.
“The boys’ chances will depend a lot on the draw,” he said. “Heath is a very talented team and should be considered the favorites in whatever side they land on.
“After them, our talent stacks up well with everyone else in the district. Both the boys and girls teams expect to be running in the state meet, although in any sport, such a feat is never guaranteed.
“I think top-10 team finishes will be our quantifiable team goal this year,” said Creps. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to make that a reality, but it’s definitely on the table of possibilities.”