Jets hit the ground running in the 2026 season opener
MADISON – The James Clemens cross country program opened its 2026 season with an impressive showing at the First Chance 2-Miler, hosted by Bob Jones High School. The Jets’ season opener was highlighted by an individual varsity victory, two junior high team runner- up finishes, and a strong team showing from athletes across grades 7–12.
Senior John Litavec delivered the Jets’ top performance, winning the varsity boys 2-Mile overall in 10 minutes, 19.0 seconds. The victory also marked a remarkable personal best for Litavec as his previous recorded 2-mile best was 14:28.5 as a freshman in 2023. His latest performance represents an improvement of 4 minutes, 9.5 seconds.
Senior Megan Angelucci also broke into the top 10, finishing sixth overall in the varsity girls race with a time of 13:15.4. The performance is especially notable because 2026 marks Angelucci’s first season competing in high school cross country.
While the seniors provided leadership at the varsity level, the Jets’ younger athletes offered an impressive look at the future of the program.
The junior high boys finished second overall, led by eighth-graders John “Jack Jack” McFalls and Liam Ullom. McFalls finished seventh in 13:19.1, while Ullom followed in eighth at 13:55.0. The Jets continued to pack the top 20 with Christian Ross finishing 12th in 14:01.1, Ekamjeet Saini 14th in 14:07.1, Robbie Wade 15th in 14:09.2, Jack Benson 17th in 14:12.3 and Zaden Williams 20th in 14:31.6. Seven James Clemens junior high boys finished 20th or better.
The James Clemens junior high girls also earned a second-place team finish, led by seventh-grader Emily Jones, who produced an outstanding runner-up performance of 14:03.9. Behind Jones came an impressive wave of Lady Jets who claimed five consecutive finishing positions from sixth through 10th. Lovisa Bergqvist finished sixth in 15:17.2, Caylee Townsend seventh in 15:22.4, Vivianne Price eighth in 15:42.4, Olivia Couch ninth in 15:43.6 and Louise DeArment 10th in 15:47.7. Six James Clemens girls finished among the top 10, demonstrating the depth of a young group made up of seventh through ninthgrade athletes.
The results provide an encouraging start for Head Coach Cheryl M. Ross, who is beginning her second season leading the James Clemens cross country program. Ross and her coaching staff have emphasized building a complete grades 7–12 program and developing athletes at every experience level. Many members of the 2026 team are first-time runners, first-time cross-country athletes or are experiencing organized team competition for the first time.
From a senior winning the varsity race to seventh through ninth grade athletes packing the front of the junior high fields, James Clemens demonstrated both current strength and considerable potential for the future.
