Over the last few weeks, we previewed our top 20 girls’ and boys’ teams this cross-country season. Now it’s on to the individuals.
Just who are our top harriers this fall? Leading up to our first statewide competitions of the fall campaign on Sept. 12, we’re going to feature some of the runners we believe will make an impact on the up-and-down terrain.
Among some of the stars coming back this season are Whitinsville Christian’s Emily Flagg, who will be aiming for her third straight Division 2C title and second consecutive Div. 2 crown at the Meet of Champions.
There’s also Div. 2B winner, freshman Lucy Downin of Holliston. The Panthers’ gifted underclassman followed up her sensational season on the trails with an even better year on the track, one that was highlighted by a 4:51.18 best for the mile at the New Balance Nationals last spring.
On the boys’ side, we’ll see all new faces at the top of the podium in both the divisional states and Meet of Champions. Who will capture individual gold from our latest batch of returnees at the state’s season-ending competitions? It’s anyone’s guess.
A lot of questions will be asked between now and November. By championship time, we’ll have plenty of answers.
For now, were going to feature what we believe are the best of the best.
***
We begin with Brookline’s Liam Hartmann. The Warriors’ senior was the top returning runner in the Div. 1 race at the Meet of Champions (MOC), placing fifth overall in 15:55.54 at Fort Devens and improving by 11 places from his finish at the 2025 meet. He also was fifth at the Div. 1A meet.
The Warrior standout’s biggest race of the fall came at the Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational, where he beat eventual Div. 1B champion John Bianchi of Natick by five seconds, clocking 15:04.80.
Where Hartmann may hold the edge over his competition during the champion season is the closing stages of the race. He has 54-second speed for 400 meters.
Hartmann was the No. 2 runner for Brookline’s winning squad at the MOC, behind graduating senior Theodore Butty. He’ll be looking to lead another talented Warrior team, which has captured the last four titles at the MOC.
