Three storylines to watch
Enjoy the moment: Due to COVID-19, there is no guarantee we'll crown a state champion or even have a postseason. We'll have a better idea in late September / early October when the WIAA is expected to announce the structure of the postseason.
A different look: As a result of the pandemic, the WIAA issued a series of recommendations that your school or favorite meet could use this season. Some of the large invitationals have been pared down or canceled. We could also see wave starts and greater limitations on where spectators can watch races.
Conference races: As mentioned earlier, there is a chance cross country has a shortened postseason that doesn't end with a state championship. That could
put more emphasis on the conference meet where we will have good showdowns. The Classic 8 returns three of its top four finishers. Westosha Central's Will Allen leads a contingent that includes five of the Southern Lakes' top six finishers from last season. The Woodland has eight of the top 14 back. Runners to watch
Will Allen, jr., Westosha Central: After a second-place showing at the Southern Lakes meet last season, Allen is the runner to beat in the league in 2020.
Nathan Baker, sr., Grafton: He posted a number of top-five finishes during the regular season last year before taking third at the sectional and finishing 10th in the Division 2 state meet in 16:42.8.
Owen Bosley, soph., Homestead: After finishing sixth at the North Shore meet, Bosley went on to win a spot in he D1
state meet as an individual qualifier.
Beau Brock, sr., Pewaukee: Based off last season's second-place finish at the Woodland Conference meet, Brock is the runner to beat in that league this season.
Trent Curry, sr., Brookfield East: After leading East to the Greater Metro title last season, Curry ran a season-best time of 16:08.4 at the sectional and then took 29th at the D1 state meet.
Vicente Janik, sr., Wisconsin Lutheran:
He is the area's top returner in Division 2 by virtue of his sixth-place finish last season in 16:37.6.
Cale Grotenhuis, sr., Slinger: The Journal Sentinel's 2019 runner of the year didn't lose a race until the state meet where he took second.
Nathaniel Osborne, jr., Brookfield
Academy: The 11th-place finisher in Division 3 last season, Osborne is
poised for an even bigger season this fall.
Josh Truchon, sr., West Allis Hale: The runner to beat in the Greater Metro Conference – he finished second last season.
Charlie Wesley, jr., Arrowhead: Sophomore season was a breakout campaign for Wesley, who took fourth at the Classic 8 meet.
Patrick Wills, jr., Waukesha North: A two-time state qualifier as an individual, Wills was the runner-up at the Classic 8 Conference and sectional meets.
Arthur Wellenstein, jr., Wauwatosa East: He capped sophomore year with top 10 finishes at the Greater Metro and sectional meets.
Joel Wolf, sr., Mukwaongo: After posting five top-three finishes last season, Wolf took fourth at the sectional to qualify for state as an individual.