The first preseason rankings are out and this one is by High School Harrier (A little optimistic for an inexperienced Loudoun Valley team with Springville, St. Xavier and Flower Mound underrated) :
Rank-Team-Region-Surety Rating
1) Loudoun Valley (SE) 8.5- LV is making a big jump this year. The VA 4A state champs and 3rd place NXN SE finisher looked strong heading into the season but now even more so after a couple top notch transfers have declared including a 9:02 runner in Sam Affolder.
2) Great Oak (CA) 8- D1 state champs last year and 5th place at NXN, Great Oak is now synonymous with top level consistent performance. They have the fastest average of returning teams in the 3200 with a 9:25 and could lead a contingent of CA team that may include as many as 4 squads this year at NXN.
3) Downers Grove North (MW) 8- DGN made it to NXN last year and finished 12th after winning IL 3A and placing runner-up at NXR MW. The majority of that team returns this year and their experience should help them go far at nationals.
4) Christian Brothers(NE) 8- Perennial powerhouse CBA was third at NJ MOC last fall and placed first at NXR NE then 7th at NXN. They return a strong squad that averaged 9:28 this spring.
5) Wayzata (H) 8- While Wayzata graduated some important runners, everyone else in the Heartland graduated more. Last year they placed 11th at NXN to go along with a MN 2A and NXR Heartland title. The top 5 averaged 9:30 in the spring.
6) Carmel (MW) 7.5- After finishing runner-up at the Indiana state meet and 7th at NXR MW, the Carmel boys hit the track hard, averaging 9:28 for 3200.
7) Loyola (CA) 7.5- The D2 runner-up at state brings back a solid crew that averaged 9:28 during track.
8) Jesuit (NW) 7.5- While only finishing 3rd at OR 6A with no post season finishes as a team, Jesuit averaged 8:52 in the spring for 3k which easily translates to sub 9:30 for 3200.
9) Springville (SW) 8- Another region where graduation opens up some big gaps. After placing 4th in UT 4A and third at NXR SW regional, Springville placed 15th at NXN and return five runners from that squad. They averaged 9:43 for 3200 in track.
10) Dana Hills (CA) 7- Bringing back 4 from their runner-up team at CA D1 state last year, the Dana Hills boys averaged 9:41 this spring. There is a chance they could improve on their 14th place finish last year at NXN.
11) St. Johns (NE) 7- While only finishing 6th at NXR NE last year, St. John’s had a great year on the track averaging 9:36 for 2 miles.
12) Burnt Hills (NY) 7.5- 6th place at NXR NY last year with only one senior in the top 5, Burnt Hills also won NY B then placed 2nd at Feds. Their spring 3200 average was 9:37.
13) Woodlands College Park (S) 7.5- College Park finished at 9th in TX 6A, then runner-up at NXR South before finishing 21st at NXN. They returned enough talent and experience to run 9:39 for their returning 3200 average.
14) Roosevelt (CA) 6.5- 3rd in CA D1 last year, Roosevelt finished out the year hot with their top 5 returners hitting 9:28 average for 3200, all of whom ran at XC state.
15) St. Xavier (SE) 7.5- Returning 6 of 7 from last year’s 13th place team at NXN should get them back in the big dance. The returners bring the slowest 3200 average from the spring on this list at 9:49. St. Xavier was runner-up at NXR SE after winning KY 3A.
16) Flower Mound (S) 6.5- 3rd in TX 6A then 6th at NXR South, Flower Mound gets the nod over the Woodlands this year due to low stick Alex Maier who will also be looking for top individual honors. Their spring 3200 average was 9:36
17) Staples (NE) 7- With a competent fifth runner, last year’s 22nd place NXN squad could return as four of their top 5 come back. Staples won New Englands, was NXR NE runner-up and averaged 9:44 last year.
18) Woodlands (S) 6.5- Your TX 6A state champions from last year looked in contention for a national title but struggled at NXR South finishing 3rd and getting in on the wildcard before finishing 8th at NXN. They look like they will be in the same position this year, getting in on at least a wildcard bid. Woodlands averaged 9:42 this past spring. They were last years Hoka Postal Nats runner-up last year with a 9:20 avg.
19) Central Valley (NW) 6.5- Second in WA 4A last year but only 11th at NXR NW, CV helped themselves this spring by averaging 9:43 on the track.
20) Middleton (H) 6.5- Finishing 3rd in WI D1, Middleton did not move on to compete in Nike Heartland. They made good progress in the spring, though, and is averaging 9:41 with top 7 all under 10.
21) Palmer Ridge (SW) 6- PR is barely sliding in over the rest of the field currently but their 9:49 average for returners is enough to get it done for the time being. Palmer placed 7th last year in the NXR SW regional. They were also the CO 4A champions last year.
22) Niskayuna (NY) 6.5- After a very rough race at NXR NY in 2016 (13th overall), the squad developed a tight pack during the track season having a 26 second spread and a 9:44 average.