Jordan Tufts and Michael Williams are the only two returning runners from last year’s contingent of state tournament runners.

Coming into the 2017 season, Jesuit’s cross country team needs to replace some serious speed. Five of the team’s top seven runners are gone, including the only four to post times under 17 minutes for the three-mile course at state last November.

But while there may be a void in returning speed, there’s no lack of leadership. Seven of the top ten finishers at the intrasquad Red, White, and Blue meet on Saturday, Aug. 26, were seniors, including Michael Williams and Jordan Tufts, both of whom ran at state last year. Brenner Rauch, Christoper Ross, Jonathan Arnold, Ryan Guillot and Peter Carr rounded out the senior contingent.

“My seniors are a good group,” says head coach Rudy Horvath ‘86. “I expect them to set a good example for the younger guys. And some of those young guys have big upsides.”

Among the underclassmen making a splash at the Red White, and Blue run were sophomore Brandon Hall, who won the race, and junior Harrison LeBlanc, who finished fourth.

Jesuit enters the season ranked 10^th in the Division 1 preseason coaches’ poll, which is based on the best times of a team’s top five returning runners.

“We just need to put in the work and dare to push ourselves,” says Horvath. “We can be better than our ranking. How much better is up to the boys.”

The Jays open the season on September 9 in the Mount Carmel Academy Invitational at the City Park course.

Horvath is assisted by Richard Bohn and Peter Flores ‘09.