Photo by Craig Amoss
Now seniors, Finn Walsh (left) and Isaiah Schulties are just the latest in a line of Buccaneers who have kept a decade-long stranglehold on the Bayside Conference. Since 2010, six different Kent Island boys (including Walsh last fall) have won individual conference titles, and aside from a close race with Cambridge-South Dorchester in 2016, they have won the team title by 18 points or more every season. Now seniors, the bigger question will be whether or not Walsh (who finished second at last year's 2A state meet) and Schulties (who finished 20th) can lead Kent Island back to their third top-five finish in the past five seasons.
Bayside Conference Boys XC Preview: By the Numbers
Photo by Craig Amoss
Last fall, John Condon made a sophomore leap and was one of the top runners in the 1A classification. His 16:19 three mile personal best was eighth in the state among sophomores and he finished third at the conference championships and second at the 1A East regionals. The Vikings were dominant on their home course at the regional meet but slipped back to eighth place at states; however, returning three of their top four runners from last year's team could make them the team most likely to take down Kent Island in the conference and keep them in the running for a podium finish at states.
Photo by Keeley Olson
Speaking of sophomore leaps, Bennett's Billy Joinville was new to the cross country scene last fall, but after clocking an 11:02 3200 as a freshman he formed one of the better duos on the eastern shore alongside senior Yousuf Al Naseri. Joinville finished sixth at the conference championships and was just two spots away from all-region honors at the 3A South meet. Entering 2020 his 17:20 three mile personal best ranks fourth among Bayside returners.
Photo by Keeley Olson
Based on returning three mile times, neither Cambridge-South Dorchester nor Bennett nor Queen Anne's County (the second- through fourth-place teams) are the projected runners-up in 2020. That position is currently occupied by Easton, who finished fifth last year at the conference championships and return four of their top five from the meet. They have easily the tightest 1-5 spread (1:35) of any team's returning group in the Bayside conference - only Mardela (1:54) is under two minutes.