2020 Men's Cross Country Preview

2019 Heart Finish: 11th out of 12
Letterwinners returning/lost: 6/3

Notable returners:
Axel Arzate-Vazquez, So., Wray, Colo.
(Letterwinner, season-best 8K 30:34)
Kenneth Bolton III, Jr., South Riding, Va.
(Letterwinner, season-best 8K 28:58)
William De Jesus, So., Homestead, Fla.
(Letterwinner, season-best 8K 28:55)
Vernon Trozzi, So., Hesperia, Calif.
(Letterwinner, season-best 8K 26:23)

Notable losses:
Julian Davis
(Two-time letterwinner)
Terry Jackson
(Four-time letterwinner)
David Perry
(Two-time letterwinner)
David Williams
(Four-time letterwinner)

Notable newcomers:
Isaac Knockel, Fr., New Sharon, Iowa
Ruben Rodriguez, Fr., San Antonio, Texas
Josiah Valdez, Fr., Crane, Texas

With a disappointing 2019 season behind them, the Statesmen men's cross country team will look to take another step forward after relying heavily on underclassmen in 2019.

Sean Gosewich, entering his fourth year as head coach, will look to improve on William Penn's 11th-place finish in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships.

With a roster consisting of 13 returning members from 2019, Gosewich will be looking for last year's underclassmen to continue to improve. Kenneth Bolton III (Jr., South Riding, Va.) decreased his 8K best time by nearly two minutes, finishing with a season-best time of 28:58, while freshmen Axel Arzate-Vazquez and William De Jesus finished with season-best 8K times of 30:34 and 28:55, respectively.

One big name to watch for is returner Vernon Trozzi (So., Hesperia, Ca.). Trozzi held team-high marks for the 6K, four-mile, and 8k with times of 20:16, 20:47, and 26:23, respectively. He placed as high as 11th and had two other finishes in the top 20 last year.

Schedule/Conference

William Penn will begin the year on Saturday, September 5 in Ankeny as it competes in the Grand View Invitational. From there, the Statesmen will have four more meets as they prepare for the Heart Championships on November 7. Baker will be looking to repeat as conference champions.