The 2023 1A boys cross country season is shaping up to be another competitive year, with several strong teams and individuals expected to battle for the state title.
Indian Rocks Christian comes into the season as the defending state champions, having won the last two titles in 2021 and 2022. They return top runner Nicholas Zamora, who was the 2022 1A 800m track state champion and is ranked #1 coming into this cross-country season. Blake Young also returns after placing 3rd in the 3200 at the 1A state track meet. This experience gives Indian Rocks Christian an edge to capture a third straight championship.
Cambridge Christian School finished 3rd as a team in 2022 and could challenge Indian Rocks Christian this year. They have a deep squad led by top returners Christian Escribano and Kai Martin.
Oak Hall School took 4th as a team in 2022 and also cannot be counted out. Quinten Dragstedt and Peter Peloso give them a strong 1-2 duo up front. Peloso made the medal stand in track with his 8th-place finish in the 800.
Circle Christian has been runner-up the last two seasons and will look to continue their pursuit of a state title with Junior Will Neeld leading the way.
Providence School and Holy Trinity Academy round out the top contenders. Providence has good depth and pack running, led by Walker White and the Loftin twins, while Holy Trinity boasts front-runner, Skyler Jensen.
My early prediction for the top 5 teams is:
- Indian Rocks Christian
- Cambridge Christian School
- Oak Hall School
- Circle Christian
- Providence
It should be another exciting 1A boy’s battle with several teams in the mix. Indian Rocks Christian is the favorite until dethroned, but the competition will be chasing them for the state title. Key individual battles between Zamora, Griffin, Dragstedt, Escribano, Neeld, and others will also be fun to watch this season.
See Also: 1A Season Preview – Girls Teams
