Cross-country teams hit the ground running
The 2026 high school cross country season is underway and the three area public high school teams have some lofty expectations.
At Farragut High, Garrett Jones begins his second year as head coach, and goals for the Admirals and the Lady Admirals are always the same.
“Our expectations don’t change,” Jones said. “We have a young team. This is my fifth year at Farragut and this is one of the youngest teams that we’ve ever had.
“But our expectations are always high.”
Top returners for the Farragut boys include: Andrew Cadamiss (a senior who was the Admirals No. 3 runner last season. He also was a member of the track team’s 4x800 relay team that finished third at the state championships); Chase Temples (a junior, who is Farragut’s fastest returning athlete. He was an all-KIL standout and finished in the top 50 at the state championships); John Williams (junior) and Jack McDonnell (sophomore)
Jones said he is expecting big growth from both Williams and McDonnell in 2026.
Freshman newcomer Jack Shagan joins the squad with lofty expectations for his rookie season.
For the Lady Ads, who finished 11th at the state championships last season, senior Zoi Le Cours returns for her final season. She was an All-State standout in the 2-mile run last spring.
Junior Addison Haynes returns. She was an All-Region performer who competed in every meet in 2025.
Bailey Ann Smith returns for her sophomore season. She is a former basketball player and was the 11th fastest freshman in Class AAA in the state last season. Emmy Graber, a sophomore, also returns.
Meanwhile, at Hardin Valley Academy, John Witsell enters his third season as head coach with one of the state’s most dominant programs.
“We’re a top-ranked team in the state and we want to continue that and win a state championship,” Witsell said.
Top returners for the HVA boys include: Stephen Bell (senior), Aidan Rufi (senior); Isaac Socha (junior) and Nathan Weiss (senior).
The Lady Hawks have a pair of senior veterans back in Alexandria Vesser and Ana Berkheimer.
Other key returners for the Lady Hawks are: Zarah Enbom (junior) and Ava Woodyatt (senior).
That group of returners will be joined by a talented crop of newcomers and youngsters.
“We have a group of up-and-comers,” Whitsell said.
Those athletes include: Linley Lawhorn (sophomore); Ana Marquez (senior) and Ashleigh Palmer (junior).
At Bearden, Matt Eckert takes the reins for the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs.
He’s one of the new faces.
Top returners for the boys include Reed Townsend (junior); Alex Montpelier (senior); Grayson Haun (junior) and Graham Darnell, who is also a junior for the Bulldogs.
One top newcomer joins the Dawgs as a transfer from Clinton as Baylor Cool joins the fray. He was a state qualifier for the Dragons in 2025.
Freshman Evan Snyder begins his high school career with the Bulldogs.
For the Lady Bulldogs, Afton Cruze (senior), Mia Smalley (senior), Riley Dixon (junior), Payton Hall (sophomore), Emerson Carlyle (sophomore) and Riya Patel (sophomore) return.
Haydin Grove (junior) and Nitisha Pokharel (senior) are new to the team.
Expectations are modest at Bearden.
“We expect to work hard, drop our times and get some (personal records) going,” Eckert said.
