2024 boys cross country All-GPC team

Caleb Aber was selected as the inaugural Graphic Printing Company Runner of the Year for boys cross country.

“Everyone on Wapahani High School’s cross country team is very supportive of everyone,” said Aber. “Everyone lifts each other up. ... And with my family as well, everyone is very supportive and they want what’s best for me.”

Aber, who was part of the Raiders’ state-medalist 4x800-meter relay team in the spring, was the Mid-Eastern Conference runner-up this year. He placed 26th Saturday in the regional meet at Huntington University and will close his career this weekend at the IHSAA Boys Cross Country State Finals.

“Caleb, he’s in it for the battle. He likes the blood. He likes the sweat. He likes the tears,” said WHS coach Bo Stevenson. “He embraces all of that when it comes to competition. You put him on a big stage, whether it’s a conference meet, sectional, regional or state meet ... he’s going to be up for the challenge.”

All-Graphic Printing Company first team

Peyton Engle, Delta sophomore: After finishing 10th in the sectional meet, Engle established himself as a contender for a state berth in the future, running the sixth-fastest time for a sophomore at the regional meet.

Mason Tomboni, Wapahani junior: Tomboni was the No. 2 runner for a strong Raider team that won the Mid-Eastern Conference title and finished second in the sectional to Bluffton.

Caleb Garringer, Jay County sophomore: With a time of 16:48.1, he finished just 13 seconds off of state-qualifying pace at the regional meet. He was the runner-up at the Winchester Invitational.

Dash Thacker, Jay County freshman: Thacker was consistently right behind his teammate in the tournament, placing sixth at the sectional and 38th in the regional where he was the fifth-fastest freshman.

Hunter Patterson, Winchester senior: The Randolph County Championships were the breakthrough meet for Patterson, who finished in 18:20.5 to become Winchester’s first winner since 2018.

Kason Thrasher, Wapahani junior: Thrasher placed sixth with a time of 17:55 for the Raiders to help them to the Mid-Eastern Conference title and ninth as they also won the Delaware County championship.

Honorable mentions:

Preston McCorkhill – Wapahani

Jason Rahe – Wapahani

Lane Dance – Monroe Central

Noah Parrott – Delta

Nolan Hutchison – Delta

Joseph Boggs – Jay County

Reese Diller – Fort Recovery