To the casual observer, a 6th place finish at Saturday's invitational might look modest. But to anyone who witnessed the quiet, disciplined work of the boys cross country team this summer—the solitary early mornings, the steady grind of miles logged without fanfare—this performance was a testament to what diligence produces. Against a field of 11 teams, many drawn from larger districts, the Pioneers' 150-point effort reflected not only talent but also the collective commitment forged over months of preparation.
The day was led by James Johnston '27, who broke through with a stunning personal best of 16:44.9 to secure 8th place overall and bring home a medal. His race set the tone for the team, proving that steady growth can translate into breakout performances. Sophomore Brendan Bennett '28 followed with his own PR of 17:30.8, good for 18th place. He's cementing his place at the front of the pack with Johnson.
Close behind, team captains Ian Fleming '27 (18:18.8, PR) and Daniel Randazzo '27 (19:05.9, PR) both shaved off significant time from their previous bests, anchoring the team's scoring. Rian Arora '26 (19:37), last season's "most improvement runner" award winner, rounded out the top five with a gutsy effort, providing the balance that the lineup needed. He always comes through for the Pios.
The depth of the roster was on full display as nearly every runner delivered a personal record. New runner Leo Wang '27 (20:09.1, PR) and captain Victor Wang '26 (20:18.0, PR) each ran with poise in the middle of the pack, while sophomore Ronan Flowers '28 (21:22.5, PR) and senior Grant Adams '26 (21:26.7, PR) sharpened the team's back-end scoring strength. First-year sophomore Mekhi Hoyte '28 debuted on the team with a 22:25.0 PR, and Wen Xiao '27 (23:10.6) rounded out the varsity squad with a determined effort.
While the overwhelming theme of the day was "personal bests," these athletes also set their bar high for the season with intentionality. The team's finish was a declaration that this program can hold its own against larger schools, and that a culture of hard work is beginning to bear fruit.
As the season unfolds, the boys carry forward both the momentum of their PRs and the quiet confidence of athletes who know that the toughest miles are already behind them.
Full Results here:
https://oh.milesplit.com/meets/690305-brian-armstrong-northwest-cross-country-invitational-2025
Note: Generative AI helped to draft this story based on materials from milesplit.com. It was revised, reviewed and edited by the Boys' XC coaching staff.
