The Dark Horse: Boys 4A Pre-Season

Conifer's Zack Gacnik could be a real threat on the course this fall.

Dark Horse: "A previously less known person or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals."

Two of the best runners in the country graduated, leaving the door wide open for a new state champion, and a new epic battle, to ensue on the course. 

Erik Le Roux and Grahm Tuohy-Gaydos are the two-top returners, but who could potentially make gains from within the pack? 

As mentioned in previously in the Dark Horse series...

The lack of an outdoor track season definitely added to the difficulty in deciphering who fits this definition of a "dark horse."

Editor's Note: Results from the National Trail Championships were factored into this article.

So, to clarify: this list is subjective, and taken mostly from the 2019 cross country season. The criteria used to come up with the following athletes was heavily based on how sharp of a curve a runner had from the beginning of the season to the end of the season.

And bare with me - some drastic leaps cannot be predicted. The following is simply a look as to who could most likely make a big splash on the cross country course this fall.

Next Page: four runners to keep an eye on this fall, and a bonus...