Seven Your Prep Sports Area Boys Cross Country Runners to Watch This Season
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
Fall is right around the corner and that means cross country season is also on the horizon.
The cross country season officially gets underway with the first day of practice with the first competition of the season scheduled for August 21.
In 2022 the Your Prep Sports area was once again home to some of the top individual competitors and cross country teams in the state.
The 2023 season should be no different with a talented group of runners returning for area teams.
Before the 2023 season gets underway Your Prep Sports takes a look at seven area runners to watch this fall.
Brick Kabela
Senior, Solon
A stalwart in the Solon lineup since his freshman season Kabela will look to put the exclamation point on what has been an impressive career with a big senior season.
In his first three varsity seasons Kabela has already built an impressive resume.
A three-time state qualifier, Kabela has finished in the top 26 at the Class 3A state meet in each of his first three seasons earning a state medal with a 14th place finish in 2021 and finishing 22nd last season.
Kabela has finished in the top 11 at the WAMAC Conference meet each of the past three seasons posting back-to-back fourth place WAMAC finishes the previous two seasons.
An experienced Kabela is a candidate for a breakthrough season this fall.
Moustafa Tiea
Junior, West High
Already a two-time state qualifier Tiea made a major splash during track season last spring and will look to carry that momentum over to cross country this fall.
A state qualifier as a freshman Tiea made a major jump last season going from a 73rd place finish in his debut at the Class 4A state meet to a 51st place finish last season.
Tiea was impressive throughout his sophomore season placing fourth at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet in a time of 15:34.45 and was fifth at the Class 4A state qualifying meet.
The third varsity season should be the best yet for the talented Tiea who showed the ability to move into the upper echelon of runners in state last season.
Aidan Decker
Senior, Liberty High
Decker has quietly put together a career that ranks among the most decorated in Liberty High history and is coming off his best season last fall.
A three-time state qualifier, Decker had the best state meet performance of his career last fall finishing 24th at the Class 4A state meet in a time of 16:23.67.
Last season was a breakthrough for Decker who posted top-10 finishes at both the MVC Super Meet and State Qualifying meet before his top-25 finish at the state meet.
Decker finished a career-best 10th at the MVC Super Meet and was ninth at the state qualifier as a junior.
Look for Decker to be a leader on a Liberty High team that could push for a state meet berth after finishing fifth at the state qualifier a year ago.
Brock Hilsman
Junior, Clear Creek Amana
Last season Clear Creek Amana qualified for the state meet for the fifth time in the past seven seasons and the first since 2019 and the emergence of Hilsman as a front of the pack runner was a big reason for the Clippers’ resurgence.
Hilsman closed a breakthrough season strong placing third at the state qualifying meet and 30th at the Class 3A state meet in a time of 16:59.1.
Already a two-year varsity runner, Hilsman was 14th at the WAMAC Conference Meet and 16th at the state qualifier as a freshman before finishing eighth at the WAMAC Meet and third at the state qualifier last season.
Hilsman can push into state medal contention with another strong season.
Noah Gregoire
Junior, Liberty High
If you are looking for a runner ready to make a big jump this season look no further than Gregoire who is poised to join Decker at the front of the Liberty High pack this fall.
A varsity runner as a freshman Gregoire took significant strides forward in a strong sophomore season a year ago.
After placing 107th at the 4A state meet as a freshman in 2021, Gregoire took more than a minute of his state meet debut time while finishing 32nd at state last fall in a time of 16:29.74.
The strong showing at state came after a 24th place finish by Gregoire at the MVC Super Meet and a 14th place effort at the state qualifier.
Owyn Noble
Senior, City High
Six seniors graduated from a City High team that finished seventh at the Class 4A state meet last season leaving Noble as the lone returner for the Little Hawks.
Noble showed that season that he is capable of making the most of his opportunity as the Little Hawk leader.
Last season Noble finished 30th at the MVC Super Meet and was the fifth City High finisher at the state qualifying meet placing 15th overall.
In his debut at the Class 4A state meet Noble finished 73rd in a time of 17:03.67.
Samuel Welter
Junior, Regina
Welter joins teammate Riordan Smith as the top returners for defending Class 1A state champion Regina.
Already a two-time state qualifier Welter will look to build on a solid sophomore season with a breakthrough junior campaign.
Welter was 19th at the River Valley Conference Meet and 10th at the Class 1A state qualifier last season before moving up eight spots in his second appearance at the state meet.
After placing 93rd at state as a freshman in 2021 Welter finished 85th at the state meet a year ago.
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