When the boys toe the line for the 2025 Arkansas AAA 2A Boys Cross Country State Championships at Oaklawn Park on Thursday morning, they'll do so under near-perfect racing conditions, sunny skies, and temperatures in the mid-60s, which should make for fast times and fierce competition. While Ozark Catholic remains the heavy favorite to defend its title, this year's race features a much younger cast of contenders and some compelling plotlines at the front.
2025 Arkansas AAA 2A Boys Cross Country State Championship Individual Preview
Can Anyone Stop Ozark Catholic's Repeat?
The Ozark Catholic Griffins completely dominated the 2024 state championship, placing six runners in the top 10 and scoring a near-perfect score with their 20-point tally. Though they graduated top dogs Isaac Pohlmeier and Joey Squillace, the title-winning tradition remains intact with junior Ben Frederick, the top returner from last year's race (4th in 2024), stepping into the role of favorite. Frederick owns the fastest 2A time this season, a 16:54.75 from the Springdale Schools Invitational, and has a real shot to win his first state title.
Backing him is a loaded roster of experienced and up-and-coming talent. Fellow juniors Liam Burney (17:22) and William Hightower (17:40) are poised for top-five finishes, while freshmen Paul Jacobo and Wyatt Holmes are not far behind. Ozark Catholic has eight runners ranked among the top 25 times in 2A this season, an unmatched level of depth that gives them a championship cushion.
Individual Battle: Frederick Leads, But Watch the Chase Pack
Frederick may be the favorite, but several runners could make things interesting:
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Liam Burney (Ozark Catholic) - Runner-up in the team pecking order, Burney clocked 17:22.65 this season and finished 8th in 2024.
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Andrew Day (Parkers Chapel) - A rising star with a 17:32.30 season best, Day is the wildcard in this race.
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Brandon Baldridge (Sloan-Hendrix) - Ran 17:47.69 at regionals and brings maturity to the top ten.
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Ethan Manus (Mountainburg) - Finished 5th last year and enters with a season best of 17:58.07.
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Elijah Ledlow (Cedar Ridge) - Has closed the gap this season and ran 18:07.10 at regionals after a 15th-place finish last year.
This race should develop into a strong front pack early with Frederick leading the charge - but if he falters, there are several poised to pounce.
Podium Team Hunt: Sloan-Hendrix, Caddo Hills, Mountainburg
Behind Ozark Catholic, the team battle for second and third is shaping up to be a three-way dogfight:
Sleepers and Dark Horses
Final Word
Ozark Catholic enters as the prohibitive favorite, boasting elite front-runners and unmatched depth. But the real intrigue will be in the chase pack - who will emerge as the next state champion in the post-Pohlmeier era? And which rising programs will earn their place on the podium? With ideal weather and a wide-open battle behind the favorites, the 2A boys race is poised to deliver one of the most competitive and exciting showdowns of the day.
When the boys toe the line for the 2025 Arkansas AAA 2A Boys Cross Country State Championships at Oaklawn Park on Thursday morning, they'll do so under near-perfect racing conditions, sunny skies, and temperatures in the mid-60s, which should make for fast times and fierce competition. While Ozark Catholic remains the heavy favorite to defend its title, this year's race features a much younger cast of contenders and some compelling plotlines at the front.
2025 Arkansas AAA 2A Boys Cross Country State Championship Individual Preview
Can Anyone Stop Ozark Catholic's Repeat?
The Ozark Catholic Griffins completely dominated the 2024 state championship, placing six runners in the top 10 and scoring a near-perfect score with their 20-point tally. Though they graduated top dogs Isaac Pohlmeier and Joey Squillace, the title-winning tradition remains intact with junior Ben Frederick, the top returner from last year's race (4th in 2024), stepping into the role of favorite. Frederick owns the fastest 2A time this season, a 16:54.75 from the Springdale Schools Invitational, and has a real shot to win his first state title.
