(Amity's Kyle Beaudette (1017) had a strong sophomore campaign last year.)
With five of the top eight runners gone to graduation, including nationally-ranked individual champion Alex Ostberg of Darien, this year's State Open appears to be wide open with a number of runners capable of breaking the tape. Below we included five runners that we feel have the best shot at getting it done on Nov. 6. Among that list is Eric van der Els of Brien McMahon, a third-place finisher in the 5K at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championships this past June. Glastonbury's Randy Neish, who was fourth at the Open last year, is certainly a worthy candidate. The remaining three harriers featured in this week's poll are Darien Armstrong Noonan, who was sixth at the championship meet and clocked a two-mile best of 9:05 at NBNO, Ridgefield's Gabriel Altopp, seventh at the 2014 states, and Amity's Kyle Beaudette, who ran 9:23 for two mile at the indoor state meet as a tenth-grader last year.
Now it's your turn. VOTE for who you think will this year's coveted title? Voting ends at midnight on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Who will win the girls' crown? Click here.