The Macomb High cross country squads enter the upcoming season with 18 runners, nine boys and nine girls.
“I’m excited about our numbers,” said MHS cross country coach Douglas Bradley. “And I’m excited about some great mileage over the summer stacked up by some of our runners. We also had some good efforts of kids running on their own.”
“That really is exciting, especially on the girls side,” he added of the numbers. “We’d been running (last season) with five a lot. So getting to nine is a big deal.”
Bradley said a majority of the runners put in the work as they recorded the most mileage as a team during his three summers in Macomb.
Of the 18 runners, seven are freshmen, including four girls and three boys.
There are no seniors on the boys squad, so leading the way are junior twins Marc and Alex Simmons.
The duo, who were also state qualifiers in tennis as a doubles team last spring, logged almost 400 miles during the summer.
Marc is working way back after he missed significant time a year ago due to injury.
“Those two guys are running really well,” said Bradley. “I’m excited. They’re going to be our leaders on the race course and off.”
Beyond the Simmons twins, the race for the other top spots is competitive.
“Everything else on the boys side is wide open at this point,” said Bradley.
Bradley noted that Xander Merritt, who ran a year ago, is “certainly looking like one of the top five guys right now.”
Two freshmen aiming to make an impact for the Bombers are Jackson Petitgout and Landon Richards, who according to Bradley had great junior high track and cross country seasons respectively last year.
“We’re putting a little more weight on their shoulders than we typically would with freshmen,” said Bradley. “But I would not be surprised to see those guys right among the varsity right out of the gate. That remains to be seen depending on how the other boys do getting their feet under them after they haven’t ran much this summer.”
Those returners include juniorsCohen Hunt-Twomey and Eymen Tasdan.
Sophomore Grant Potteet, who ran track for the Bombers this past spring, along with freshman Thomas Ashwood, round out the squad.
In addition to its season- opening meet, the Bombers will host the Prairieland Conference meet this fall as well.
The Bombers have finished second each of the past two seasons.
“Running real well at home in our conference meet I think that’s going to be a big deal for us,” said Bradley.
Bradley expects Elmwood/ Brimfield, who finished second in the Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Finals a year ago and third two years ago to once again lead the way.
As for the postseason a year ago, Macomb placed eighth in regional competition at Dunlap. It was a regional that included a number of Mid Illini Conference teams.
The top six teams advance to sectionals.
“That was a real uphill battle for us,” said Bradley of last year’s regional competition. “We needed to have our best day of the year and then some.”
Bradley hopes that when assignments come out for regional competition that it is “more western-oriented,” nearer to Galesburg and away from the Peoria area.
“But you never know. You have to take care of business as it goes,” said Bradley.
“Getting ourselves to sectional would be a really nice way to cap out the season,” he added. “That’s what I have my eyes on.”
For the Bomber girls, junior Ava Weaver, the team’s No. 1 runner last season returns.
“She enjoys running,” said Bradley. “That’s just a huge plus for us.”
According to Bradley, Weaver has recorded the most mileage in her three years.
“That tells me she’s wanting some good things to happen,” he said.
Also returning are Laney Weaver, Ava’s twin sister and sophomore Sofia Cardenas- Roman, who Bradley noted has had “a good summer.”
Senior Jackie Rouse, who has been with program since sixth grade returns for her final season.
“It’s a big year for Jackie. Hopefully, she just continues to improve,” said Bradley. “That would be a great way to end her career.”
Senior Maria Hernandez, who also wrestles, joins the cross country team for the first time after running distance races in track the last two years.
Freshmen round out the roster.
Ella McKee is a basketball player who had a “terrific track season in junior high.”
Allexis Gray also had a good track season, and has shown capability for good, long runs.
“She has some endurance in her,” said Bradley.
He also stated that Khloe Diggs is also physically talented. Her older sister Khyliegh was part of the cross country team before graduating in 2022.
“Those three bring youth to the program that we desperately need,” said Bradley. “All three are certainly in the picture to be in our top five.”
Another freshman, Leah
Gorman, has also joined the squad as a late addition.
“We have nowhere to go but up which is great. There’s no pressure on anybody,” said Bradley of the girls squad, who finished last at last year’s regional. “But I think when it’s all said and done, they might end up having a little bit easier path to pull off the very same goals (as the boys).”
As far as the conference meet goes, also just like the boys, Elmwood/Brimfield looks to repeat after finishing in the top 10 of last year’s Class 1A State Finals.
Bradley has also modified the schedule, opting out
of meets at Quincy Notre Dame and Jacksonville.
“I try to teach the kids that the recipe to success in cross country, or any endeavor is rest plus stress equal growth,” said Bradley. “If I’m not doing my part to get them enough rest, all stress is not going to produce any constant results.”
The QND meet, an afternoon meet, comes just three days after the First to the Finish Invite at Peoria.
Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Meet this season is scheduled on the same weekend at MHS homecoming.
