The River Hill boys cross country team enters 2026 looking to prove that last year's 2A state championship was the beginning of a new chapter, not the culmination of one. After finishing second at counties and winning both regions and states in 2025, the Hawks graduated their top three runners, but return a program that has spent years developing depth throughout its roster.
Head coach Chad Boothe is excited to see that depth take center stage this fall. With Colin Campbell stepping into a leading role, and Ananth Shanbhag and Jayden Brown among those expected to make significant contributions, River Hill believes the foundation built through its successful junior varsity program can help fuel another championship pursuit. Senior captain Brown has even given this year's team a fitting one-word description: RELOAD.
Coach Questions - Answered by Head Coach Chad Boothe
1. Looking back now, what does that championship mean to you and your program?
Coach Boothe: Last year were me and the other head coach's -- Emily Hazzard -- fourth year as head coaches of the program and coming second in Counties, winning Regions, and winning the 2A State Championship showed that the program and the different parts me and Emily have implemented were putting the program on the right path.
2. Was there a race, workout, or turning point when you realized your team had the potential to accomplish something special?
Coach Boothe: We knew we had a solid top three at the beginning of the season and after we made it through the middle of the season with the top 8+ runners healthy, we knew we had a shot. After comparing our team times to the other teams we were competing against, we knew that if they ran what they were capable of running, we could win.
3. As you turn the page to 2026, what excites you most about this year's team?
Coach Boothe: Though we lost our top three, the team got to see what hard work can turn into. This has inspired most of the returning runners to train over the summer to try to repeat a championship. What always excites me as a coach is the next group of runners stepping up.
4. Who are some athletes that you expect to take on bigger roles this fall?
Coach Boothe: Colin Campbell was a freshman last year and was a consistent 4th / 5th person on the Varsity team during the 2025 season. Since Cross-Country he has been running indoor and outdoor track and will most likely be the team's number one runner. In addition, Ananth Shanbhag and Jayden Brown have broken the sub-five barrier in the 1600 during outdoor and have consistently been training throughout the summer. I expect them to be in the mid 17 minutes in most races.
5. What goals have you and your team set for this season, and are there any invitationals or championship meets you're especially looking forward to?
Coach Boothe: We have the same goals we had last year, which is to place well in our county, win Regions, and win States.
6. What do you hope this year's team is remembered for when the season is over?
Coach Boothe: I hope that other teams and coaches see our team as good competitors and show sportsmanship to others. That when other teams see our team, they know that we have a solid program and can expect a competitive race.
7. How long have you been coaching? How did you get your start?
Coach Boothe: As mentioned above I have been the head coach at River Hill for going on five years. I got into coaching, because running instilled in me a confidence that I did not have when I got into high school. It wasn't until I found running my freshmen year and distance running my sophomore year that I became more confident. I want others to find success in running and become confident in who they are.
8. What's one of your favorite memories from your coaching career that still makes you smile?
Coach Boothe: Having athletes that you have coached for four years visit after they have graduated, because the program has meant that much to them.
A more specific memory was overhearing a freshman once upon a time tell another freshmen at the end of the season how glad they were they joined the team, because they met so many new friends.
9. If someone spent one practice with your team, what's something they'd quickly learn about your program's culture?
Coach Boothe: We try to instill in our runners that they are accountable for their own success. We lay out the practice structure and explain a particular workouts goal (pace, heart rate, exertion level, etc.). Then it is up to the individual to implement to the best of their abilities.
Captain Questions - Answered by Jayden Brown
1. What's one word that best describes this year's team, and why?
Jayden: One word that best describes this year's team is RELOAD. I believe that even with a multitude of departures, this year's team may still be better than the championship team last year. I believe that through the process of elite development that River Hill has shown through extreme JV success has properly paid off and will massively help the varsity team to repeat as state champions.
2. What's one goal this team has that goes beyond winning races?
Jayden: One goal that the team has beyond winning races is to foster a welcoming and competitive environment. In any sport, a winning culture is key for good performance, which is why in many pro leagues the same teams can rebuild and become contenders very quickly. By creating an environment welcome to competition, individual success for many of our runners will follow, leading to a winning culture being created.
3. What message would you like to send to your teammates and fans as the 2026 season begins?
Jayden: I would like to send a very powerful message for my team, which is about a very common thing: mindset. In most sports, but especially running, the mental side of the sport is just as important as the physical side. For this reason, I want to change my team's mentality around a bad race. Instead of bad races being a negative moment in the season, they should be portrayed as part of the process and should be used for what to work on. Overall, a positive mindset of working harder, even after bad races is the message I want to convey.
Don't see your stats or think something's missing? Claim your MileSplit athlete profile now to take control of your results, PRs, and recruiting profile.