3A Boys Cross Country State Preview

As the 2024 cross country season nears, Milesplit Arkansas will spend one week previewing one of the six classifications in the state.

G'mar Britton finishing at last season's state championship

With two of Class 3A's top boys from the previous cross country season graduating, the seat at the top of the classification is wide open and a large cast of runners look capable of filling the void left behind.

Rocky Stone finished runner-up at last year's state meet and is the fastest returner in 3A, running 16:57.78 in Hot Springs last November.

The junior from Harding Academy continued his streak of success this winter, winning a pair of indoor state titles in the 1,600m and 3,200m before adding a second championship in the 3,200m in the spring.

It's only July, but it would be safe to say Stone will be one of many runners in 3A in the conversation to win the individual title this season.

G'mar Britton finished 4th at last year's state meet and would appear to be Stone's stiffest competition entering the fall.

Britton owns the second-fastest returning time in 3A from last season. In 2023, the sophomore ran under 17:20 on three occasions and won two races including the 3A Region 7 Championships.

While Britton picked up ten wins on the track this spring, he finished 2nd in the 3,200m and 6th in the 1,600m. Entering his junior season, Britton is brimming with potential and could be one of the breakout stars across the Natural State.

Josiah Williams joins 3A from 2A this fall and could play spoiler to the potential Stone-Britton showdown that has been brewing over the last few months.

Last fall, the sophomore from Mansfield finished 5th at the 2A state meet and ran a 17:14.80 at the 2A Region 4 Championships. Coming off an impressive showing at the 2A state championships on the track this spring, finishing top 4 in all three distance events, Williams has solidified as one of 3A's best entering 2024.

Kayden DenHerder had a picture-perfect freshman cross country season and will have a chance to improve on his first season in 2024.

The rising sophomore from West Fork fiTnished 5th at the state meet last fall, running a 17:33.52 in the first 5K of his high school career. But DenHerder is not the only underclassman from West Fork you should know either.

In which was also their first high school cross country 5K, Henry DenHerder and Robbie Preston finished 12th and 13th at the 3A state championships last fall, adding to the intrigue and potential at West Fork in coming years.

Cooper Spurlock is another big name moving from 2A to 3A. The rising senior from Greenland has finished inside the top 5 in both of his showings at the 2A state meet and will be looking to extend that streak this season.

Other Individuals to Watch: Tristen Rodgers, Winston Harp, Jayden Reed, Jameson Hillis

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Teams to Watch:

West Fork won the 3A state championship by 13 points last fall and returns their entire top 7 from a year ago. It doesn't get much better than that.

Not only are the Tigers led by one the best underclassmen trios in the state, but they are incredibly deep. To go along with their 'freshman 3,' West Fork has three additional runners who have run under 20 minutes including Cody Silge who owns the second fastest 5K personal best on the team.

The Tigers are going to be one of the most difficult defending champions to beat in 2024.

Maumelle Charter finished second a year ago and looks to be one of West Fork's most difficult challenges.

Christian McGill and Roth Williamson both return for the Falcons and each dipped below 18 minutes very easily last season. To go along with their 1-2 punch, Maumelle brings back significant depth including four sub 20 minute 5K runners.

Don't forget about Dover either.

While the Pirates may not have the top-end returner that West Fork and Maumelle have, their strength is their depth and they should be in contention to compete for a podium finish this fall.

Other Teams to Watch: Providence Classical Christian Academy, Greenland, Melbourne