Canton harriers carry high
hopes into 2010 campaign

Sept. 6, 2010, 9:45 p.m.

  Canton's boys cross country team returns one of the best runners in school history and two others who have broken 17:10.

  "If the team can fill out its top five, stay healthy and find some depth, it could compete for the (KLAA South) Division and a spot in the state meet," said Canton coach Bill Boyd.

  Pacing the Chiefs will be junior Mitch Clinton and Miles Felton. Clinton, who set a personal-best time of 16:48 in 2009, earned KLAA Scholar-Athlete honors and was voted the team's "Unsung Hero" last fall.

  "Mitch is the 24th-fastest runner in school history," said Boyd. "He is the fifth-fastest sophomore Canton has ever had. He runs through injuries and works hard every day."

  Felton PR'ed at 16:23 last year and was voted the team's "Most Valuable Runner".

  "Miles holds the records for fastest sophomore and fastest freshman in school history," Boyd noted. "After only two years, he is already one of the best runners the school has ever seen. The team elected him the co-MVP in 2009."

  Another key returner is junior Bradon Conley, who was voted the team's "Hardest Worker" last year. He posted a best time of 17:05.

  Other pivotal returners include Jim Hodgeson, Keegan Sullivan, Alex Krul, Kurt Kowalski, Owen Ash, Jay Drennan, Josh Joy, Keith Olsen, Andrew Stephens and Steven Winther.

  The Chiefs' roster of new runners includes Mitch Pepper, Zach Cox, Jeff Molchan, Tom Walkinshaw, Jackson Lytle, Grant Mast, Justin Kolbicz, Brendan Noble, Joseph Yager, Jack Chaney, Mace Gatzek and James Hildreth.