The Scoop: Breaking Down This Past Week Of XC


Hunter Jones Clocks Nation's Fastest Time At Pete Moss Invite

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Hunter Jones is no stranger to fast times. 

The Benzie Central (MI) High School senior, who opened up at No. 20 on the MileSplit50, clocked a remarkable five performances under 15 minutes for 5K over the 2021 season, his junior campaign. 

Of course, he wasn't done. 

On Saturday, Jones broke 15 minutes for the first time at the Pete Moss Benzie Central Invite -- on his home course soil --and ran home with the nation's fastest time in 14:36.50. 

He was one of nine athletes to go under 15 minutes on the weekend and was 21 seconds faster than last week's U.S. No. 1 opening time of 14:57, achieved by Jake Liebert in South Carolina. 

Better yet, Jones also put down a course record, surpassing Riley Hough's record time of 14:41 in 2021.

Was it a bit of foreshadowing? If comparisons are of any indication, Hough won the Eastbay Cross Country Championships a season ago and began his year with two meets in August, including Pete Moss. 

BOYS 5000 METER RUN FINALS	
PLACE	ATHLETE		TEAM	RESULT	POINTS
1	Hunter Jones	12	Benzie Central	14:36.50	1
2	Clayton Ackley	12	Hart	16:19.40	2
3	Seth Ackley	12	Hart	16:27.50	3
4	Drew Moore	11	Grayling	16:28.30	4
5	Josh Kerr	12	Traverse City St. Francis	16:32.80	5
6	Brad White	11	Clare	16:34.60	6
7	Wyatt Dean	12	Hart	16:38.50	7
8	August Rohde	10	Reed City	16:42.10	8
9	Anthony Kiaunis	11	Reed City	16:49.30	9
10	Pol Mollins	12	Benzie Central	16:54.70	10