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Returning all five runners from last year, the Parry McCluer High School cross country teams will enter the 2023 fall season with high expectations, hoping to build on last year’s success.
Optimistic about his runners’ potential, PM head coach Chris Poluikis said, “Everyone has progressed really well, and the group has stayed really glued together.”
The PM coach said his runners had “a really good spring track, so it’s looking good for us going forward.”
Poluikis enters his 17th year as PM’s head cross country coach, and he’ll be assisted by Robert Williams, who helped with track and field in the spring. “Rob is really good to have around,” said Poluikis. “We have similar mindsets and he’s better at some of the aspects in coaching that I’m not as good at. I hope to keep him around.”
Last fall, the Blues had four runners in the Class 1 state meet, with Kovyk Chandler placing second, and Logan Wheelock and Josh Cooper finishing 34th and 41st, respectively. Chandler, who won the Pioneer District and Region 1C meets, is now a senior, while Wheelock and Cooper are sophomores. Chandler followed up that performance by winning state indoor titles in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs and capturing a state outdoor title in the 3200 and a runner-up finish in the 1600. Wheelock and Cooper are now sophomores.
For the PM girls last year, Kyra Lee finished an impressive freshman season by placing 23rd at the state meet. Also returning for the Blues is senior Jasmine De Souza, who placed 14th in the Region 1C meet last year, just one spot shy of qualifying for the state meet. “Kyra and Jasmine both had a really good spring track season, and they just continue to progress,” said Poluikis.
The PM boys have added three runners for a total of six runners, meaning they can compete as a team by having at least five runners. Freshman Kebryl Chandler looks to follow in his older brother Kovyk’s footsteps of being an elite runner, and freshman Sam Carpenter joins the team after running in middle school. Also joining the Blues is Caden Mason, who was a sprinter and middle-distance runner during the indoor and outdoor seasons.
“I think that Kebryl could be a top five runner in the state, and from what I’m looking at in returners, Kovyk could be up there with the best,” said Poluikis.
Poluikis expects the PM boys’ main competition to be Mathews and Pioneer District rival Eastern Montgomery. “Mathews returned most of their team and probably picked up some good eighthgraders too,” said Poluikis. “They have a good program.” The PM coach said that Blues’ cross country program Is looking to be in great shape for the next few years. “We will be losing Kovyk this year, but we also have three sophomores and two freshmen,” he said. “We also have a pair of eighth-graders (Caleb Cooper and Sebastian George) who are good. It looks good going forward.“ The Blues will start their season on Saturday in the Blacksburg Relays. PM’s first big invitational will be the Knights Crossing Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Salem.
The Blues have a home meet scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 4:30 p.m. at Glen Maury Park against Pioneer District teams.
