Outlook: Mathias Powell is gone now and off to college. Now what? There was some trepidation about who would be next up and take the mantle in this classification... until a major growing up by Drew Rogers who won the 1A cross country title. Why is that significant? Three miles and the longest event on the track are direct correlations that will keep fans in tune.
For those who may have forgotten, Dawson Smith was slated to be the heir apparent after Powell and Dixon graduated, an emerging superstar added to the ranks. Smith clocked a personal best 9:25.64 which is tops for classification returners. It won't be easy on the landscape.
Back to Rogers: here is a young man who is excited and confident and ready to exploit the track scene. After running 14:30 on the grass the potential to be great and burn some impressive marks on the oval is certainly there. Let's hope that he is entered in a few high profile meets this spring.