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мÓƶà¶à¿ª½±¼Ç¼'s Boys Cross-Country Athlete of the Year: Ryan Maher, Auburn 

Maher helped the Maroons capture their third consecutive Section III, Class A championship this year by taking first place with a 15:34.3. But the junior saved the best performance of his career for his third straight trip to the Class A state finals. Maher finished in eighth place with a time of 15:30.0, which was 25 seconds away from first place and ranks second all-time in Auburn boys history. He concluded his 2024 season by finishing in 14th (16:26.1) at the New York State Federation/Nike Cross Regionals. 

Austin Ferrin, Auburn 

Like Maher, Ferrin had the best performance of his career at the state championships. The senior finished .1 seconds behind his teammate for a ninth-place finish, as the Maroons placed fourth out of nine teams. Prior to the state finals, Ferrin recorded a 15:41.2 in third place at sectionals. In his last time on the course as a Maroon, he was the boys' top runner at the New York State Federation/Nike Cross Regionals, ending in 12th with a time of 16:21.9.

Owen Gasper, Auburn 

Gasper started off his season strong at the Mustang Invitational, where he proceeded to run a program-best 15:25.7 as he placed first. During the postseason, he took second overall at sectionals with a 15:39.2, and posted a 15:46.9 for 16th place at the state finals. The junior capped off his cross-country year at the New York State Federation/Nike Cross Regionals, placing 31st with a time of 16:46.5. 

Tritan Boucher-Wattson, Skaneateles

While taking part in the Section III, Class C championships last season, Boucher-Wattson ended in 17th with a time of 18:13.0. The sophomore claimed the top spot at sectionals this year by running a program-best 16:04.2. At states, he was close to matching that time when he placed 24th with a time of 16:35.8. 

Brady Young, Southern Cayuga

Young came away with a 24th-place finish (19:47.60) while competing at the Section IV, Class D championships last year as a freshman. This season, he jumped up 20 spots at the sectional championships by improving his time to 18:18.5. Young’s finish earned him a trip to the Class D state finals, where the sophomore posted a personal record of 17:57.3 in 59th place. That time currently ranks third all-time in the program’s history.

Everett Cox, Cato-Meridian 

The junior opened the season at the Mustang Invitational on Sept. 7, where he ran a personal best of 17:45.0. His finish earned him 22nd place and marked the fourth-best time in Blue Devil boys history. To end the season, Cox recorded a 17:57.7 in 22nd at the Section III, Class D championships as the Blue Devils earned third place. 

Joseph Bonanno, Cato-Meridian 

In his final season as a Blue Devil on the course, Bonanno put on the best performance of his career at sectionals. The senior ended with a personal record 18:08.3 as he placed 28th. His time at sectionals stands at sixth all-time in Cato-Meridian boys history. 

James Lowery, Weedsport

At last year’s Section III, Class D championships, Lowery came in 109th place with a time of 21:57.20. The senior improved on both marks at the sectional championships in 2024. Lowery posted a time of 19:16.3 — a personal record — and was the 55th runner to cross the finish line.

Kurt Akins, Port Byron/Union Springs

After finishing 40th with a time of 19:28.6 at the Section III, Class D championships last year, the senior took a big leap in his final season on the course. Akins posted a time of 17:12.4 as he ended in 12th place at the sectional championships. His postseason time was a personal record, and ranks sixth in the boys team’s history. 

Anthony King, Jordan-Elbridge

The sophomore had one of his best finishes of the season when he took fourth place with a time of 18:43.0 in a meet at Skaneateles on Oct. 10. However, he would shave nearly a minute off that time in the postseason. At the Section III, Class C championships, King ran a personal record 17:49.10 as he claimed 22nd.