Will Cross Country Win the 2022 WCAC Championship?

During the current cross country season, the Stags believe they have what it takes to become the WCAC champions.

DeMatha hasn’t won a cross country championship since 2006. Led by senior captains Michael Metz and Maximo Legaspi, the Stags have plenty of talent this year. Early in the week I talked to  the head coach, Mr. Puffett, he said he believes the Stags have what it takes to win the WCAC championship because they have a lot of returning runners. He also said during the meets many athletes on the team times are dropping for each events. 

In the Woodward Relays, DeMatha’s first meet of the season, the Stags beat the WCAC defending champions St. John’s and also placed second in the race. In the meet’s open race freshmen Nicholas Berry, Jesse Holland III, and William Herman all set new personal bests in the 5k on a difficult Georgetown Prep course. 

In the Eagle Invitational a week later, DeMatha placed 4th overall. One moment that really stood out was when senior Christopher Toomer and junior James Westbrooks III tied to the hundredth of a second. Westbrooks transferred into DeMatha this year and has been running really well, and Toomer’s time was more than half a minute faster than his time on the same course in 2021. 

In the 2022 Braddock Relays, the Stags faced adversity caused by the meet management. Even though during the Stags face adversity they persevered through the race. The stags ran well during the meet. Joshua Gresham had a virtual PR (personal record) of  9:14.45, he dropped his time by 4 minutes and 42 seconds. Another runner who stood out was William Jackson,  he had a virtual PR of 9:22.95 he dropped his time by 28 seconds. This was good meet for the Stags, this meet was helping them get ready for the WCAC championship.

Last weekend, the Stags had a fantastic day at the 2022 Chesapeake Invitational, with varsity and JV combined bringing home 20 medals and the 1st place trophy. On varsity, Jayden Keels, Christopher Toomer, Sayid Shakur, Graham Fenn, Tarik Harris, and Ian Parsons all medaled, while in the JV race, Hayden Walsh, Joshua Gresham, Roman Zentek and William Jackson also received medals, with Walsh finishing in first place. What’s more surprising is that everyone hit a PR.

The Stags are off to a really good start and appear to have a great chance of winning the WCAC title.