The following student-athletes have been selected to The Washington Post’s 2017 All-Met team for boys’ cross-country:
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Sam Affolder, Jr., Loudoun Valley
In his first year at Loudoun Valley, Affolder led the line of five Vikings boys who swept the Virginia 4A state championship race. The junior transfer from Carlisle High in Pennsylvania was the only area runner to break 15 minutes in the 5K, a feat he accomplished in 14 minutes 58.1 seconds for second place at the Nike Southeast regional in Cary, N.C.
FIRST TEAM
Colton Bogucki, Sr., Loudoun Valley
A staple of Loudoun Valley’s three straight state titles, Bogucki placed third at the Va. 4A state meet (15:55) and 14th at the Nike Southeast regional. Clocked a season-best 15:24.6 5K at the Loudoun County Championships.
Garrison Clark, Jr., Severna Park
Cruised to the boys’ Anne Arundel County title in 15:24.3 and placed second in the Md. 4A state championship before posting a seventh-place finish at the Nike Southeast regional in 15:12.4.
Justin Diehl, Jr., Calvert
Won the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference championship in 15:57.13 and went on to win the Md. 2A South region. Was runner-up to Ryan Lockett in the boys’ 2A state final.
Ryan Lockett, Sr., Poolesville
Secured the Md. 2A state championship in 16:13.07 after winning the 3A state title a year ago. Won his first Montgomery County Championship in 15:32.
Yared Mekonnen, Sr., Edison
The National District champion came in fifth at the state meet and a ran personal-best 5K in 15:13.6 for eighth place to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals at the Southeast regional.
Peter Morris, Sr., Loudoun Valley
Repeat All-Met took the Loudoun County title over Affolder. Finished second at the Va. 4A state meet and fourth at the Nike Southeast regional. Ran a personal-best 15:04.6 5K at the Great American Cross Country Festival.
Adam Nakasaka, Sr., Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Clocked the fastest boys’ time in 15:50.63 on the infamously difficult Md. state course at Hereford for the 4A state title. Placed second behind Ryan Lockett at the Montgomery County Championships in 15:35.6.
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Ausema, Gonzaga
Ausema, who has guided the Eagles since 2007, steered Gonzaga to its fifth Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship and its second D.C. state title under his reign with one of his top runners out injured. A science teacher at the Northwest Washington Jesuit school, Ausema had five runners – Gavin McElhennon, Cullen Capuano, David Giannini, John Travis and Daniel Roginski — place 11th or better for 28 points at the WCAC championship.
SECOND TEAM
Edward Cerne, Jr., Lake Braddock
Nicholas Deamer, Sr., Howard
Max Greczyn, Jr., O’Connell
Jacob Hunter, Jr., Loudoun Valley
Gavin McElhennon, So., Gonzaga
Ben Nibbelink, Sr., Tuscarora
Luke Tewalt, So., Washington Latin
HONORABLE MENTION
Luke Armbruster, Sr., St. Andrew’s
Andrew Delvecchio, Sr., Lake Braddock
Julian Dixon, Sr., Sidwell Friends
Jay Hall, Sr., Westlake
Ahmed Hassan, Sr., Oakton
Zach Holden, Sr., Madison
Patrick Howley, Sr., Georgetown Prep
Derek Johnson, Sr., Tuscarora
Jonathan Johnson, Sr., Parkdale
Jonah Lane, Sr., Severna Park
Silas Mathew, Jr., Robinson
John Moxley, Sr., Flint Hill
Kai Muniz, Sr., Reservoir
Tre Simmons, So., Episcopal
Benjamin Smith, Jr., Marshall
Garrett Suhr, So., Richard Montgomery
Mark Unger, Jr., Richard Montgomery
Daniel Weiss, Sr., Jewish Day School
Connor Wells, Jr., Loudoun Valley
Chamberlain Zulauf, Sr., Madison