It’s time to begin looking ahead to the return of Maryland high school fall sports! As we prepare for the start of the fall season, CSZ works hard to get you the high school sports info you are looking for, faster and easier. This weekly newsletter brings the latest scores, updates, and highlights straight to your inbox. If you live it, share it so others can subscribe too. If it is not for you, feel free to unsubscribe and visit us anytime at CountySports.Zone. Most of the content below is image based, so depending on how you are viewing, you may need to download the images to see everything.

Hereford has hosted the cross country state championship meet for the last dozen years, and their team’s success is indicative that the meet is on home turf–or grass. Click this link or scroll down to read more about what this coming cross country season could hold for Baltimore County!

Eli Aitken was the fastest finisher in his sophomore season last fall, crossing the line in 16:49 to earn fourth place while representing the Bulls. In addition to the fourth place finish at states, Aitken won gold in the Baltimore County championships while also setting a personal best and finishing third at the Top of the Hill Invitational. Katahdin McClure and Nate Berkowitz are the only other Hereford runners returning to this year’s squad that finished in the top 40 in last year’s state championship meet.

Pikesville’s Eitan Beck was the top finisher in the 1A championship meet who will return this fall, setting his junior season best. He’ll be leading the Panthers this year in his senior season alongside fellow seniors Casey Silverman and Jake Weisman. Carver finished three spots ahead of Pikesville, but they’ll be without their top two runners this season including Ian Pawluczkowycz who finished in the top 10 in the state last fall.

Rising junior Matthew Foster finished 39th in the 3A class last year, and he was the highest ranked Baltimore County athlete last fall who will return in 2026. Foster’s best meet was the Maryland XC Invitational at Shawan Downs where he set a personal best 16:32, but he notably also won silver at the 3A north regional championship meet at the Baltimore County Agriculture Resource Center. Foster, along with Ever Fielding and Connor Bateman, are the lone Comets returning to the course this fall.

The Towson Generals could also move up significantly in the county standings. Their top five will be made up entirely of seniors including Isaac Abed, Jack Dobrosielski, Colin McCloskey, Henry Navyac, and Andrew Robinson. Each of those five athletes reached last fall’s state championship, finishing between 46th and 93rd place.

Three of Dulaney’s top five finishers in last fall’s state championship meet will also return for the Lions in 2026. The team will be led by senior Christopher Martin, who finished 27th at states and fourth in all of Baltimore County. Martin will lead juniors Luke Sales, Cole Kardian, and Bryce Mikles this season. Parkville was the only other BCPS team to make the 4A state meet where rising senior Jayvien Fayall’s 112th place finish was the Knights’ best.

Stop in at your local High’s convenience store to pick up a quart or pint of premium ice cream! Click here to find a location near you!

Carver was the lone 1A BCPS team last year to make the team scores leaderboard at states, and despite losing state champion Maren Blanks, the Wildcats appear to be in a good position to have another successful season. This fall, senior Anna Bibo will be the best returnee on Carver’s roster, having finished sixth in the 1A class with a personal best set in the state championship. Cara Domsic and Meara Parker will also look to improve and help the Wildcats’ team results throughout the season.

While hosting the state title meet, Hereford had three athletes finish in the top six, all of whom will return this fall. Dempsey Nelson, Charlie Brill, and Kylie Jacobson represented the Bulls finishing third, fourth, and sixth, with Nelson and Brill separated by 0.75 seconds. Eastern Tech’s Evette Otieno set her personal best of 20:27.82 at states to place fifth in the 2A class. She, along with Hereford’s trio, will return this fall and will have a stronghold for the top of the 2A standings.

This season will see a pair of sophomores likely to lead Baltimore County’s 3A runners. Towson’s Emmalee Houston and Catonsville’s Bella Hernandez were the best non-seniors to compete at states last fall. Houston finished 43rd in the state, but her best podium performance came in the 3A north regional championship where the freshman set a personal best 5K time of 22:34.2. Hernandez finished 85th at states, but saw a 12th place finish at the regional championship meet and a 16th place result in a 12-team home meet in late September.

Dulaney was the lone BCPS team to record an overall score at states last fall, but they will have three returning seniors ready to lead the team this season. Nicole Lin, Alya Chawaf, and Nicole Valekha finished 24th, 54th, and 62nd at Hereford in the state championship. Perry Hall and Woodlawn also had athletes competing in the 4A championship meet. Then freshman Julia Hemler represented Perry Hall and placed 40th finishing in 21:37.47. Woodlawn's Kaitlyn Polk also finished in the top half, finishing in 60th place in 22:13.56 as a sophomore.

Stay tuned to County Sports Zone for more preview articles for Baltimore County high school sports in the coming weeks! Practices kick off on August 12 before the regular season gets underway on September 4.

Stop in at your local High’s convenience store to pick up a quart or pint of premium ice cream! Click here to find a location near you!

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