As the 2024 cross country season nears, Milesplit Arkansas will spend one week previewing one of the six classifications in the state.
Just like the girls, a new champion will be crowned in Class 4A this fall and there are several boys capable of stepping up and winning their first state championship. Pea Ridge is coming off two straight state championships but must overcome the departure of their two stars if they want to win a third in 2024.
Take a look at the athletes, teams, and storylines to watch for in Class 4A boys this season. Class previews for 5A will begin next week, followed by 6A.
2024 ARKANSAS CROSS COUNTRY SEASON PREVIEWS
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Contenders:
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With three of the top four finishers from last year's state meet out the door, the path to the top of 4A has gotten a lot clearer for some of the best boys in the classification.
Matthew Thurman seems to be the biggest beneficiary from the surplus of departures in 4A this spring.
In just his second high school season, Thurman finished 2nd at the state cross country meet and now enters this season with a personal best time of 15:47.07 - the fastest returning time in 4A.
The rising junior also won three state championships last season on the track, including the 1,600m championship where Thurman ran a 4:21.76, which was the 12th fastest time recorded across the state. It's safe to say that the emerging star from Shiloh Christian is one of the top picks to win his first cross country state title this fall.
Entering his senior season, Randy Rodriguez is another top name in 4A to keep your eyes on.
After winning four races throughout the 2023 season, Rodriguez finished 5th at the state meet, ending the season with a personal best time of 16:45.70. The junior would later go on to win a 4A state championship in the 3,200m at the Arkansas Indoor Track State Championships during the following winter.
Five returning runners finished within 15 seconds of Rodriguez at last year's state meet and will all be in the mix this fall - Paxon Chernota, Malachi Houghton, Easton Cunningham, Eli Moudy, and Chandler Fryar.
Among those names - Cunningham, Moudy, and Fryar, who finished second in the 3,200m at the outdoor track state championships earlier this spring, all compete for Pottsville and will look to move their pack of three further up the individual standings as the Apaches appear to be contenders to win a team title in November.
Tian Grant has won the 4A state championship each of the last two seasons. And I wouldn't say Cruz Porter is considered a favorite to win the 4A boys individual championship this fall, but he's certainly going to be heavily slept on.
Porter finished just 19th at the state meet last season, but has been on a mission ever since, posting two top-5 finishes at the track state meet this spring as well as the 30th fastest 3,200m time in Arkansas.
Porter's personal best time of 17:18.75 is just the 9th fastest returning time in 4A this season, but considering the spring he had, the rising junior looks like he could be 4A's biggest wildcard in 2024.
Other Individuals to Watch: Camren Smith, Liam Kile, Cooper Sudduth, DeJuan Dismuke
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Teams to Watch
After finishing just five points shy of first place, Shiloh Christian comes into 2024 with all eight runners that competed for them at the state meet last season - that is going to be tough to beat.
And while Shiloh Christian sits with what appears to be a comfortable edge over the competition, Pottsville might be one of the sneakiest teams throughout the state.
Pottsville finished 4th at last season's state meet, but like Shiloh Christian the Apaches reload in 2024, returning five from their top six a season ago, and according to the Milesplit XC Team Scores feature, they are the preseason favorites.
The battle between Shiloh Christian and Pottsville will be one we keep a close eye on throughout the season.
All the while, an all-time great upset could be brewing as DeQueen reloads just like Shiloh Christian and Pottsville. The Leopards bring back five of their top six, while all of their returning five rank inside the top 30 returning individuals in 4A.
ICYMI: BOYS TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2024 - BY GAVIN FRICK
The 4A boys team race is full of intrigue and could be one of the show-stopping races in Hot Springs this November.
Other Teams to Watch: Pea Ridge, Waldron