Delaware initiates preseason polls for high school cross country runners
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 10:47 AM
Last updated Sep 7, 2026
Delaware high school sports fans are participating in preseason polls to identify the top boys and girls cross country runners for the 2026 season. Candidates for the boys' title include top performers from last year's state meet such as Henry Bird of St. Andrew's, Newark Charter's Timothy Claessens, James Dempsey of Salesianum, Evan Paskevicius of Saint Mark's, and Isaiah Winslow Hill from Smyrna. The girls' nomination list features five runners who earned All-State first-team honors last year: Paige Ballinger, Izzy Daniel, Riley Horsey, Lauryn Leech, and Morgan Thompson. The polls are limited to one athlete per school based on their previous state-meet results. These rankings and voter selections aim to highlight top individual talent ahead of the upcoming cross country schedule.
- •Delaware high school cross country polls are open for top boys and girls runners.
- •Boys nominees include Henry Bird, Timothy Claessens, James Dempsey, Evan Paskevicius, and Isaiah Winslow Hill.
- •Girls nominees are Paige Ballinger, Izzy Daniel, Riley Horsey, Lauryn Leech, and Morgan Thompson.
- •Candidates are selected based on their 2025 state meet placements.
- •Each participating school is limited to one runner in the poll.
- 10:47 AMYahoo Sports — Vote for the Preseason Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, presented by DOS
- 10:45 AMYahoo Sports — Vote for the Preseason Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, presented by DOS
"Two athletes return from last year's All-State first team: St. Andrew's Henry Bird and Newark Charter's Timothy Claessens.
"All five candidates made last year's All-State first team.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 7, 2026, 10:47 AMVote for the Preseason Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, presented by DOS
Two athletes return from last year's All-State first team: St. Andrew's Henry Bird and Newark Charter's Timothy Claessens.
- Yahoo SportsSep 7, 2026, 10:45 AMVote for the Preseason Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, presented by DOS
All five candidates made last year's All-State first team.
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