The biggest news for the Macomb High cross country squads entering 2026 came away from the course.
With a drop in enrollment from 610 to 580, the Bombers slipped from Class 2A to run in Class 1A during the upcoming season.
“What that does for us, it makes our regional less stressful,” said MHS cross country coach Douglas Bradley. “Our opponents will be programs that I think we will be able to compete really strongly against.”
Not only will the Bombers run in Class 1A, they will also host a Class 1A Regional at Spring Lake Park.
But the sectional will be held at Elmwood, which always features a number of top-ranked teams.
In addition, in Class 1A sectional competition, the top six teams advance. In Class 2A, it’s the top seven.
“That’s a little catch between 1A and 2A,” said Bradley. “Qualifying out of (sectional) is going to be a bear.”
“Is it possible?” he added. “I think it’s possible for both of our teams. But a lot of good things have to happen to put us in that position.”
But there’s plenty of reasons for Bradley and the Bombers to be optimistic.
“We’ve got nice kids, good kids,” he said. “I expect they’ll be a fun group to coach.”
According to Bradley, on the boys side, six athletes ran 250-miles plus during the summer.
“That tells me these kids are wanting to compete,” he said.
Seniors Alex Simmons and Marc Simmons lead the way. In addition to running, the duo are also multi-time state qualifiers in tennis.
“Alex has really made himself into a runner,” said Bradley.
Alex qualified for last year’s Class 2A state finals, finishing 133rd out of 235 runners, setting a new PR time of 15 minutes, 53.02 seconds. That mark made his time the fourth fastest state runner for the boys in MHS school history.
Senior Eymen Tasdan ran 300-plus miles during the summer. Sophomores Landon Richards and Jackson Petitgout, also return. Bradley noted that both are talented and capable of being No. 1 runners for the squad.
Also back is junior Xander Merritt, who put in 250-miles plus during the summer.
“That’s our core guys,” said Bradley. “Those top six are really strong.”
Senior Cohen Hunt-Twomey and junior Grant Potteet also return.
The squad is rounded out by newcomers in sophmores Owen Haley and Alaric Gordon, along with freshmen Braxton Gorman, TJ Steele, Ben Enroth and Apurva Kapale.
Enroth and Apurva are also part of the MHS boys soccer team.
Heading into the season, Bradley noted that Merritt, Tasdan and Marc Simmons all need to take off significant time from last year’s performances.
He noted that the other runners also need to take time off, getting closer to the time that Alex Simmons posted at state.
On the girls side, Bradley has 10 runners, all with a huge upside.
“All 10 of them are capable of challenging for those top seven top spots,” he said.
“I don’t know who it’s going to be,” Bradley added. “But that’s a good place to be. Competition plays out well.”
Ava Weaver is the team’s lone senior.
“She likes to run. That’s her superpower,” said Bradley of Weaver.
Sophomore Ella McKee struggled with foot issues all last season. But she still qualified for the Class 2A state finals, placing 85th of 236 runners, tying her personal record with a time of 18:53.24.
That effort made her the third fastest three-miler in Macomb High history at state.
Also returning are sophomores Allexis Gray, Leah Gorman and Khloe Diggs, who was a state qualifier in the high jump last spring.
Bradley noted that junior Sophia Cardenas-Roman is “a delight to coach” who continues to get better.
A newcomer to the programs is sophomore Olyvia Clark, who also plays basketball and softball.
Clark caught Bradley’s attention last winter, watching Clark play in a JV basketball game According to Bradley, Clark has jumped in with both feet, putting in almost 300 miles of road work during the summer.
The remainder of the squad is rounded out by freshmen Jaidyn Sollenberger, Jalaine Archdale and Chloe Depoy.
“Can we qualify a girls team to state? It’s never been done at Macomb High,” said Bradley. “Do we have the girls to do it. I absolutely think that we do.”
Bradley looks forward to the Prairieland Conference meet in late September where the Bombers will race against state power Elmwood/ Brimfield.
He sees that meet as a measuring stick for both squads as they prepare for the postseason.
And as always, keeping the runners healthy will be critical to the team’s success.
“When you get a kid that’s willing to run three miles, as a coach I can’t hurt them and I’ve got to develop a healthy relationship with running,” said Bradley.
“I have to get them to where they like running,” he added. “Or they see it as something that they’re good at.”
Members of the 2026 Macomb High boys cross country team include the following. Front row, left to right, Landon Richards, Alaric Gordon, Owen Haley, Ben Enroth, Braxton Gorman and TJ Steele.Back row, left to right, Alex Simmons, Marc Simmons, Cohen Hunt-Twomey, Eymen Tasdan, Jackson Petitgout, Xander Merritt and Grant Poteet.
