The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards are coming to Atlanta.
On May 11, 2020, top high schoolathletes from around the Atlanta area will be honored at Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.
Here are the eight finalists for Atlanta Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.
Myles Collins
School: Archer
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: He won the Class 7A individual title with a time of 15:46.77 at Carrollton. His winning time was more than 20 seconds ahead of the AAAAAAA runner-up, Noah Hayes of Hillgrove.
Christian Gonzalez
School: Decatur
Year: Sophomore
Noteworthy: He proved to be the fastest Bulldog by coming in third place at the Class 5A state championship meet and helped his team win the state title.
Noah Hayes
School: Hillgrove
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: The runner-up in the GHSA Class 7A championship meet recorded a 16:07 in Collins’ wake. His PR came in the Coach Wood Invitational when he ran 15:14.1, and he punctuated his season with an eighth-place finish (15:35.5) at the Meet of Champions.
Cole Heron
School: Pope
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: After running down his PR of 15:10.7 at the Coach Wood Invitational, the Pope pacer won the Class 6A Region 7 title with a time of 16:36.4 and came in third (16:37.5) at the state championship.
Zachary Roe
School: Westminster
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: Three first-place finishes prepared him for the battle in the Class 3A state meet when he ran 16:44.8 to come in fifth place.
Zack Truitt
School: Landmark Christian
Year: Junior
Noteworthy: He jumped into the season with a win at Providence Invitational (15:34.5), achieved his PR (15:22.3) at the Great American Cross Country Festival and came in second for Class 1A Private at state (16:05.9).
Justin Wachtel
School: Mary Persons
Year: Junior
Noteworthy: Wachtel won under the lights at the Wingfoot XC Classic with a time of 15:11.8 and never slowed down as he posted a PR of 14:27 at the Alexander Asics Invitational. He closed strong with the Class 4A title at state.
Devin Wade
School: Whitefield Academy
Year: Senior
Noteworthy: As steady as they come, Wade won early – Starrs Mill Panther XC Meet (15:24.6) and Darlington Cross Country Festival (15:57.3) – before claiming third place at the state meet with a time of 16:27.6)
For more information on the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards event in Atlanta, visit sportsawardsatlanta.com. Answers to frequently asked questions about the event can be found here.
