LAST YEAR: The Rockets were very very young. Three of their top runners were freshmen, and one was a sophomore, but they still showed some promising development.
One of their best days came at the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association Meet, when they faced every other team in the county. R-P finished seventh out of nine teams, which was not bad for its level of experience, and several of the youngest runners finished in the middle of the pack against a lot of older competition.
A LOT OF RUNNERS RETURNING: Four of the five top runners are back this year, giving the Rockets an experienced and still developing nucleus to keep building their team around.
Sophomore Landon Learn, who made a name for himself last year as an elite state medalist wrestler, will be among the top returners for the cross country team, He finished 35th out of 67 runners at the GMAA meet last year, and with his natural athleticism, should be one of the team’s top threats this year.
Sophomore Gabe Luna also had a very promising freshman season, finishing right behind Learn at the GMAA meet with a 36th place finish. He is a hard worker with strong focus and commitment and brings a positive vibe to the team, according to Coach Darin Grant.
Junior Kyron Novak and his brother (see below) both made big improvements last season, in only their second year as cross country athletes. Kyron, who finished 44th at the GMAA meet, has a strong mental focus and a drive to improve, according to Grant.
Sophomore Kasyn Novak finished right behind his brother and took 45th place at the GMAA meet. Like Kyron, he has a burning desire to improve his time every race, Grant said.
There are six others back from last year’s team, and all will play important roles in one way or another. They are junior Jon Visscher (a third-year R-P runner) and sophomores Bo Blair, Jon Steenhagen, Bryce Blair, Joey Jerome and Wyatt Harrington.
A BOOMING PROGRAM: If numbers are any indication, the R-P boys cross country program is definitely on the rise. A total of 15 boys attended the team’s preseason camp at Pioneer Trails in rural northern Muskegon County.
The team's breakdown is promising for the future, because there are no seniors, so all of the developing runners will presumably be back again next fall, and most will still be around in 2028. Of the 15 in camp, three were juniors, 11 were sophomores and one was a freshman.
TEAM STRENGTHS/CHALLENGES: A big roster, and having more runners with experience this year, are big pluses for the Rockets. One challenge may be at the top of the lineup, because nobody has emerged yet as a truly elite runner, like former R-P standouts Klay Grant, Jaxon Allen or Tate Bradley.
FIRST COMPETITION: Tuesday at the Fruitport Calvary Christian Invitational.
COACH COMMENT: “When these sophomores and juniors are able to handle 40 to 60 miles a week while notching up the intensity, other teams will be concerned about the R-P cross country team. Until then we are going to be working, competing, learning, and biding our time, knowing the Tanzania Proverb: ‘Little by little, a little becomes a lot.’” – Darin Grant.
