Consistency marks a great runner. No one was more consistent at the top of the pack than junior Wyatt Windham from Lumpkin County, who earns Runner of the Year honors for the 2023 season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 3A State 4th-Place Finish (16:17)
• Region 7-AAA Runner-Up (16:45)
• PR 15:27
• 3 1st-Place Finishes
• 9 Top-5 Finishes
• Meet of Champions 13th Place (16:05)

Wyatt Windham was a busy man this fall. He raced in 14 events from August 19-December 2. In that span, he had a few 1st-place finishes, 9 top-5 runs, and competed in the Meet of Champions (13th Place), Foot Locker Championships South Region (79th), and the RunningLane XC Championships (156th). He was the Region 7-AAA Runner-Up with a time of 16:45, and followed it up with a 4th-place finish at the GHSA State Championships, crossing the line at 16:17. He set a new PR on September 30 at the Alexander/Asics Inv with a 15:27, placing 18th in the highly-touted event.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Wyatt Windham – 56.5 pts (9 1st-place votes)
2. Ben Davis – 45.5 pts (4)
3. Austin Click – 30.5 pts
4. Alex Brannon – 16.5 pts (2)
5. Pepper Davis – 16 pts
6. Ben Sherrill – 15 pts

Voting included our 15-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

After capturing 3 1st-place votes last year and finishing Runner-Up, Windham ran away with it this time around. Behind him was Ben Davis with 4 1st-place votes, and Alex Brannon captured a couple of 1st-place tallies as well. Still, Windham was the overwhelming favorite.

HISTORY OF BOYS XC ROY

• 2023 – Wyatt Windham – Lumpkin JR
• 2022 – Ben Sherrill – Lumpkin JR
• 2021 – Evan Prince – Tallulah Falls SR
• 2020 – Brandon Martin – Commerce SR
• 2019 – Griffin Stephens – Banks SR
• 2018 – Guy Gober – Rabun SR
• 2017 – Lance Underwood – Union SR
• 2016 – Jacob Poston – Dawson SR
• 2015 – Jacob Poston – Dawson JR
• 2014 – Tyler Grimsley – Towns SO
• 2013 – Dylan Forester – Dawson SR
• 2012 – Dylan Johnson – Hayesville SR
• 2011 – Dylan Johnson – Hayesville JR
• 2010 – Brian Elder – Habersham SR
• 2009 – Brian Elder – Habersham JR

Wyatt Windham makes the second straight and overall winner from Lumpkin County, and now the sixth underclassmen to claim it. He has a real shot to become the fourth repeat winner if he can claim it again next season.