Last year, Brother Martin head coach Drew Haro went into the season with four of the top 16 returners in all of Louisiana. This year, the Crusaders only have one--Anders Maitrejean--in the top 25.
Regardless of what they rankings say, Haro's Harriers are going to hold off on the premature sweeping of the 2025 preseason-talk under the "Rebuild" Rug.
"I told a couple of my guys I would be on the call with you tonight," Haro said. "I said 'do y'all have anything you me to talk about or mention about the team'. One of the seniors said 'make sure you mention that we may have lost some key guys, but so far this summer--using some of our staple checkpoints--we look to be in pretty good shape relative to where we were this time a year ago'."
The message is clear. There are still some quality thoroughbreds in the Brother Martin distance running barn.
Haro is no stranger to losing a talented senior group. For the past two years, he has had to overcome losing four of his top five runners to graduation. Both seasons he was able to lead his Crusaders to runner-up finishes at the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships in Natchitoches, nearly upsetting rival Jesuit a year ago.
"It's a tall order," Haro said or replacing last year's talented to senior group. "But, we have filled the gap the last couple of years."
Hear what Coach Haro says about his team and their camp at Appalachian State earlier this summer, and proposed to changes to the LHSAA State Outdoor qualifying.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT: MileSplit LA Coaches Conversation: C.E. Byrd's Juan Plaza on Traincation
