The 2024 European cross country season will end with two new champions.

Former Lakenheath star Abra Mills moved back to the States in the summer after claiming the girls title a year ago. Wiesbaden senior Luke Jones, who has won three boys titles in as many seasons, won’t earn a fourth as he’s decided to concentrate even more on schoolwork and getting accepted to a university of his choice next year, according to school Athletic Director David Brown.

In the team races, a Jones-led Wiesbaden usurped Stuttgart for the boys title, and the Panthers will have taking it back as the top item on their list. The Stuttgart girls are poised to defend their championship and could be stronger than ever.

Here’s a team-by-team look, based off coaches’ responses:

AFNORTH

Katy Nix takes over a Lions squad that has just two returners – Daina Pasvenskaite and Hadley Keaton.

Three athletes transferred in: senior Holden Burkhard, junior Logan Conrad and sophomore Patrick Stevens. Freshmen joining the varsity squad are Avalonne Alexander, Mark Blaszczyk, Lucas Masiulionis, Partick Roy, Joseph

Walkusky, Sopia Wick and Lora Wilson.

Alconbury

The Dragons are bringing back a good core, especially on the boys side. Alan Smith and brothers Felix and Orlando Milionis are the trio expected to lead Alconbury back to Baumholder, Germany, for the European meet.

New to the squad are Gabriel Nicholsen and sophomore Edison Vega. On the girls side, Isabella Free will be joined by her sister, Ariana.

Aviano

The Saints will field a full girls team this year to go along with the defending Division II champion boys squad.

Returners Madeleine Tolley and Topanga Stone (juniors) and Paige Rogers (senior) will pace the girls team. New to the team are Emma Burrows (freshman), Lillian McGowen (sophomore) and Annika Haas (senior).

For the boys, the Saints can count on two-time European qualifier Wyatt McGowen and fellow senior Harry Gallion to show the ropes to senior newcomers Alan Clark and Christian Perkins.

Bahrain

It’s a family affair for the Falcons.

Bahrain has three sets of brothers – Ryan (senior) and Cameron (freshman) Hulitt, Nicholas (senior) and Carson (junior) Cicchi, and William (senior) and James (freshman) Supple. The Cicchis are transfers, while Cameron Hulitt and James Supple are young talent on whom to keep an eye, according to new coach Kimberly Moneymaker.

Ryan Hulitt, senior Paulo Sarmiento and sophomore Kenji Simon are the team’s veterans. Other Bahrain rookies are sophomores Charles Miller and Damian Herrera.

Black Forest Academy

The Falcons are a bit of a mixed bag heading into the 2024 campaign.

The boys lost five of their top six runners, while the girls had three of their top five depart. Still, BFA has 15 returners and 15 newcomers, so the squads will have plenty of options.

Coach Bill Helmus said it will be a challenge for the girls team to qualify for the European meet again. Coming back are Jacqueline Kim, 24th in Baumholder last October, and Eva Darnell, who crossed the line in 35th. The rest of the roster is filled with a majority new to the sport.

Only Jonthan Bryan remains from last year’s third-place boys squad after placing 19th individually. Still, Helmus said he’s confident six boys will advance to the European meet.

Brussels

Chuck Schwindt takes over a program that experienced plenty of success in 2023, with a boys team title and runners-up honors for the girls in Division III.

This fall, Schwindt expects the girls to take the next step.

Senior Kate Baird is in the running for the top overall individual after producing a seventh-place finish in a time of 21:34.03. Junior Emilie Isaacson is a multisport athlete who has joined the team, while freshman Irelynn Foster rounds out the roster.

For the boys, junior Josh Isaacson and sophomores Josh Isaacson, Edward Napalan and Ethan Slack provide the core. Freshmen Alex Pantoja, Alex Schwindt and Jackson Stokes could help the team retain its title.

Frankfurt International

The Warriors once again are looking forward to qualifying teams for the European meet.

Seth Leishman took fifth place in Baumholder last year, completing the course in a time of 17:26.10. Also back are Vivaan Kartik, Rasmus Byskov and Santiago Gantmacher.

Hohenfels

The Tigers have plenty of reasons to be excited this fall.

Dynamic twins Malea and Jalissa Jobity should be in the running for the individual crown on the girls side. Malea placed fifth last fall in 21:02.85, and Jalissa took ninth in 21:57.84.

The boys, meanwhile, hope to improve upon their fourth-place team finish in Division III. Coach Todd Cobb pointed to Benjamin Hastings (50th at Euros) and Lucas Buford (66th) as possible podium contenders. Other Euros returners are Haylen McClanahan (85th) and Emmitt Stewart (104th).

Joining the squad are sophomore Adane Lopez and freshmen Jason Cooley, Elijah Granahan, Altair Houghton and Jace Jobity.

Kaiserslautern

The Raiders lost their top runner on both the boys and girls sides from teams that finished fourth and second respectively.

Yet coach Amy Mathews-Soto likes the depth the boys team will have and she said freshmen will help keep the girls side strong.

Back for the girls are Alina Carney, Ryann Phillips and Uno Tate, who placed 16th, 38th and 44th individually last fall. Transferring from Vicenza is Hannah Pratt, who took 79th in Baumholder. Freshman Bailey Wesseler rounds out the top five.

For the boys, a triplet of returners – Noah Lutz (40th), Ian Sevegney (48th) and Max Worley (63rd) – are joined by Collins Higgins, a transfer from AFNORTH who placed 44th at the European meet. The Raiders also have a trio of brothers – sophomores Emilo and Cohen and freshman Cooper Geraci.

Lakenheath

The Lancers have doubled in size thanks to 10 incoming freshmen and other transfers.

Three seniors will lead the squads in Ezra Landers, Tim Wesley and Isabel Stillman. Others coming back are Kadyn Falk, Matthew Mihalyi, Ariana Doane, Elliot Adam, and Kiarra Taylor.

Ramstein

The Royals came agonizingly close to a boys team trophy, losing out by four points to Wiesbaden last fall.

Gone is Frank Lozano, Ramstein’s top runner, but three of the top five are back. Spencer Jackson took 10th in a time of 17:55.04, Tyrell Downs placed 17th in 18:31.97 and Adden Lowe finished 23rd in 18:57.23.

New to the team are Christopher De La Torre and Keenan Griffith.

For the girls, Idaly Lozano had a solid freshman year, placing 21st at Euros in 22:49.97. Mya Loringer crossed the finish line almost 24 seconds later in 26th, and Rose Thompson also returns for the Royals.

Kayla Groat and Lily Farrington have shown promise.

Sigonella

The Jaguars enter this fall as young and inexperienced.

Still, coaches Aaron Mundy and Jenn Wilson said they believe Sigonella will surprise folks by the end of the season.

Vaughn Dimapilis and Claire and Tess Martinsen are veterans. New to the team is Katelyn Holman.

Spangdahlem

Coach Jillian Besemer said the Sentinels will be a force with which to be reckoned.

Three Euros qualifiers – sophomores William Crofton and Parker Valdivia and junior Shaun Addams – are among those returners. Also back is junior Azzan Alexander.

The new crop includes junior Ryan Roe, sophomore Troy Truscott and freshmen Jaelynn Reed and Zachariah Von Schimpf.

Stuttgart

The Panthers have been a powerhouse in the cross country scene for years, and 2024 seems like it will be no exception.

The girls are loaded once again, with 13 back - including five who ran at last year’s championships. Junior Regan Stewart and senior Sophie Templeton will vie for the individual championship after coming in second and third.

Junior Lillian Austin came in 11th, senior Mackenzie Welsh took 18th and sophomore Aliana Martinez traversed the Baumholder course after spraining her ankle in the first 100 meters to cross in 48th place.

Scary for the rest of Europe is that core has been strengthened by a pair of newcomers. In practice, freshman Anna Konon has finished second, while junior Pacha Miletich has slotted in fifth after transferring from Vicenza.

The boys, meanwhile, were dethroned last season and fell to third place. The Panthers will be looking to return to the top this fall.

Stuttgart brings back 17 runners, including eight who went sub-19 minutes last year. Senior Henry Talcott (27th) and juniors Patrick Bailey (28th) and Jackson Balfrey-Boyd (30th) ran at the European meet last fall.

Sophomore transfer Ethan Cohen joined from the States and posted the team’s third-best time during a team time trial.

Vilseck

The Falcons are rebuilding and have a young squad after losing many runners, including last year’s boys runner-up, Jackson Cochran.

Eva Bangerter is the top runner for either the boys or girls after coming in 13th last year. Also back are seniors Sam Bangerter and Sydney Zufelt.

Freshman stepping up to the high school level are Lylah Ingram and Lena Tocco and Ben Tocco.