CHARLOTTESVILLE — They may be small in numbers, but they are large in talent.
Eastern Hancock’s boys and girls cross country rosters have a total of six runners, five boys and one girl.
Head coach Rex Putt would like to have more on his teams, but the ones that he does have are all strong runners.
“It’s a pretty good group,” Putt said.
Preston Markley, a sophomore, leads the quintet of boys runners.
He’s coming off an outstanding year. Markley got to the semistate where he set the school’s 5K freshman record with a time of 17:37.28.
Putt said Markley’s next goal is to be the school-record holder.
Bill Fletcher holds that mark, running a 16:54 in 1990.
Markley finished 20th in the sectional and 25th in the regional.
“Hopefully he can get closer to that (school) record this year,” Putt said. “He should place in the upper level in most of the meets we’re in.”
Juniors Brandon Metz and John Henry Gray are solid varsity runners, too. Metz placed 36th at the sectional, earning a spot in the Rushville Regional. Putt said Gray is much improved.
“(Gray) has got a little better each year and was a little more dedicated this summer,” Putt said. “Hopefully we see some big improvements.”
Two freshmen, Andrew Metz, Brandon’s younger brother, and Caden Powers were both Top 10 runners in last year’s junior high county meet. Both are getting used to transitioning from a 3K race to 5K.
“If we stay healthy, we can have a really good year. We just can’t afford to lose anybody,” Putt said. “It’s a solid five kids. They have good attitudes and are dedicated. That’s a big plus.”
Putt was without a runner on the girls side until the end of the week.
Sophomore Olivia Evans may have some catching up to do, but she ran all of last season, and ran very well.
She just missed advancing to the semistate round of the postseason. She placed 26th at the Mt. Vernon Sectional and 31st at the regional.
The season opens at the Monroe Central Invitational on Aug. 20. The Royals will host the Eastern Hancock Invitational on Sept. 17.
