Fort Trio Leads Area's Top Freshmen XC Runners

The future is bright for the Fort Defiance boys’ cross country program with a group of freshmen ranked among the best ninth-graders in the state.

MileStat recently posted its Top 400 freshmen in the state, a list that includes runners from all six public school classifications plus all private school and homeschool runners.

A trio of ninth-graders are running at the front of the Fort pack. Wyatt Metcalfe, Matt Dulaney and Leighton Magalis each finished in the Top 20 this past Saturday at the Augusta County Invitational. All three are ranked inside the Top 40 among the best freshmen in the state. Metcalfe is ranked No. 20 with Dulaney No. 37, one spot ahead of Magalis.

But wait, there’s more. The Indians have two more runners ranked among the top freshmen in the state. Marley Jones is ranked No. 233 and teammate Gavin Welch checks in at No. 332.

Waynesboro has two runners in the Top 400 freshmen with Harper Steck ranked No. 112 and Rylan Campbell ranked No. 398.

Grace Christian’s Caleb Lum is ranked No. 118 among the state’s ninth-graders.while Wilson’s Matthew Pumphrey slipped just inside the Top 400, ranked No. 399.

Grace Christian’s Holly Kahn has been the top ninth-grader among local girls, cracking the Top 100 at No. 98.

Waynesboro’s girls have five ninth-graders ranked among the Top 400. Harper Roller leads the way at No. 133 followed by Lily Reeve at No. 219, Jazarah Hartzler at No. 302, Brianna Barragan at No.308 and Gwen Argenbright at No. 386.

Wilson’s Chloe Sellers is ranked No. 117. Fort’s Jennifer Horst is ranked No. 218 and Lydia Shifflett checks in at No. 289.