The sophomore girls kicked off the ASICS Future Stars series on Monday, now it’s time to reveal the best sophomore boys cross country runners in the U.S. This talented group from the Class of 2018 is already lighting up the XC course this fall, and several of the names listed below are potential Foot Locker or NXN finalists in just their 2nd year in high school. Who made the cut? Check out Update #1 below:
 

York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois has produced numerous distance stars during legendary coach Joe Newton’s “Long Green Line”, which has won 27 state titles during Newton’s 50+ years at the helm, but perhaps none of them have shown such early promise like Charlie Kern Jr. did last season as a freshman. Kern Jr., who’s father is the team’s assistant coach, finished 8th in the largest division at the Illinois State meet last fall, and then followed that up a week later with a 15:22 5K at NXN Midwest to place 13th. The younger Kern has raced just once so far this XC season, winning a small dual meet in 16:11 for 5K.

Less than one year after finishing as the top freshman (9th) in the NXN Southeast Regional, sophomore Brodey Hasty from Brentwood High in Tennessee has picked up right where he left off in 2014 by opening his 2015 campaign with a 5K PR of 15:13.30 (US #8) to finish 2nd at the Voyles Classic XC on August 29th. Hasty was Brentwood’s #1 (his older brother Gavin was their #2) at State last November, leading his team to a 2nd place finish in Tennessee’s largest division.

Hamilton Southeastern High sophomore Gabe Fendel has gotten off to a very quick start this fall, winning his first two meets and lowering his 5K PR down to 15:17.90 at the Wildcat Invitational. Both of Fendel’s victories this fall cut more than a minute off his time from his 2014 performances at the same meet.

While Grant Fisher’s 4:00 1600 at the Michigan State meet on May 31st stole the headlines, freshman Cole Johnson’s 4:10 was arguably more impressive as the Rockford (MI) frosh ran the second-fastest time ever for a 9th grader. Johnson attends the same high school as US distance legend Dathan Ritzenhein, who won back-to-back Foot Locker XC titles in 1999 and 2000. Johnson has two Michigan legends to look up to in Ritzenhein and Fisher, and he’ll surely chase their state records throughout his career. 16th at State last season, Johnson figures to contend for a MHSAA title this fall in his second prep season.

Lakota East High’s Dustin Horter has wasted no time this fall even with XC season still in its infancy, as the sophomore has already raced three times this fall, with his last outing being a big 17-second PR of 15:21 (US #20) on September 5th. Horter was 14th at the Ohio State meet as a frosh, and turned in a very impressive track season as well this past spring, highlighted by his 9:13 3200, #1 for all freshmen in 2015.

Austin Westlake’s Matthew Kearney is a perfect 3-for-3 this cross country season, with his two PRs in the 3-Mile (15:02) and 5K (15:34) slotting him as the fourth-fastest sophomore in both distances for 2015. His 15:02 victory on September 10th is particularly impressive considering that Kearney won the race by a huge 70-second margin. Expect even faster results with better competition.

Burroughs Burbank sophomore Alexander Hirsch was one of nine boys to break 15:00 for 3-miles at the lightning fast Great Cow Run on September 5th, and his 14:52 stands as the fastest sophomore performance of 2015. Hirsch was the top frosh in Division 1 at the California State meet last season with his 36th place finish.

Dana Hills High has a fast-rising sophomore in Jack Landgraf. With his 15:16 3-Mile performance on September 5th at the Cool Breeze Invite, Landgraf finished as the top underclassman and recorded the 10th fastest time for a sophomore this season. As a freshman, Landgraf had a particularly impressive first track season this past spring, including a 9:14 3200 that was second-fastest for a frosh in 2015.

After a relatively quiet freshman campaign, Lyons Township (IL) sophomore Danny Kilrea has exploded into the national spotlight with his first two races this season. His latest outing at the crazy fast First to the Finish Invitational 3-Mile at Detweiller Park in Peoria (home to the Illinois State meet) saw him dip under 15:00 for the first time with his 14:53 12th place finish last weekend, US #2 for the sophomore class in 2015. All this from a kid who had a 16:43 3-Mile PR entering the season.

Wynn Johnson was the top freshman in South Carolina last fall with his 9th place finish at state, and he’s already shown marked improvement this season with his 15:43 5K PR last weekend being the 5th-fastest performance by a sophomore in the US for 2015.