(Editor’s note: This is the fourth of four Middlesex High School [MHS] fall sports preview packages. Previous Sentinel editions previewed the MHS football, volleyball and golf seasons)
Things look strong for this year’s Middlesex High School (MHS) girls and boys cross country teams, which train together and share a coach — Jennifer Harrow.
Girls
MHS girls cross country returnees include a junior, Makayla Moore; and a sophomore, Aleena Reza.
New MHS girl runners include, seniors, Lorelei Friedrich and Iyana Jenkins; sophomores, Olivia Hoffield, Sarah Laster, Madison Mallory, Paige Morris; and freshmen, Kyla Blazek and Rylee Buck.
“I’m returning my number one and number two runners from last year (Moore and Reza),” MHS Cross Country Coach Harrow told the Sentinel. “Aleena (Reza) made it to states last year as a freshman. The girls are working hard and there is a strong competition for those top spots this year. If they continue working as hard as they have, they have a strong chance of going to states as a team.
“Newcomers Iyana (Jenkins) and Rylee (Buck) are two strong competitors that are currently leading in practice. I’m interested to see how they fall in place.
“I still have several that are working on endurance and sometimes with distance there is a mental block. Three and one-tenth miles (a 5K race) is hard to obtain in the beginning, but I know they will get there.”
Coach Harrow added that she was pleased by the girls squad determination to improve and do well, as well as the Charger girls depth. “It’s exciting to have so many girls this year,” she said. “We’ve struggled to fill a team since the COVID-19 pandemic. In cross country, you need at least five members to score as a team. If you don’t meet that requirement, then you race as an individual.”
Boys
Middlesex High School (MHS) boys cross country returnees include, seniors, Zach Deagle, Thomas Dobb, Aiden Eanes, Dylan Janisko, Matthew Lowe, Joseph Rowe, Cody Walsh; juniors, Chris Butler, Carter Hurd, Gunnar Marston; and sophomores, Connor Graulich, Darius Jones and Trenit Walden.
New MHS boy runners include a senior, Cameron Lambert; sophomores, Mason Kiku, Carter Powell, Kevin Turner; and freshmen, Jeremiah Huggins, Tanner Janisko, Allen Leonard, Zeke Koontz and Nathan Rutkowski.
“I’m returning my top five (boy) runners from last year,” Coach Harrow said. “But there is definitely some competition with some of the newcomers, such as Cameron Lambert, Tanner Janisko, Nathan Rutkowski and Kevin Turner. The others are working hard as well.
“There is strong leadership and a strong drive out of these boys. A lot of the top runners have been practicing together all summer. They are willing to put in the extra work to get the results that they want.
“If these boys stay injury free and continue as they are, they should go to states as a team,” said Harrow.
New home course
The MHS boys and girls cross country teams’ home course moves to the Charger campus this year after using a course behind St. Clare Walker Middle School last year. They compete in the Tidewater District, Region A.
This is Harrow’s 11th year serving as a MHS cross country coach.
