What teams do you guys think are going to be the best in Idaho based off of the early season results seen so far?
My 5 team watchlist:
1. Rocky Mountain - Pretty self explanatory, Landon Heemeyer had a breakout race and broke 15, they return a state track champion who ran 15:14 and 4:13, and then you add in a high value transfer from Texas as well as 11 guys sub 17, they have depth and some low sticks. If Hunter Hill and Keith are able to close the gap on the Sainsbury a bit, they might even be a contender in the Northwest.
2. Boise - No crazy times run by any of the Boise guys yet, but they have historically been incredibly deep, and they had a really solid track season, with a pack of guys around the 4:30s. They are a no brainer contender for 2nd.
3. Idaho Falls - This team is currently missing Athay, which is undoubtedly a huge handy cap. However, they ran extraordinarily well last year when it came to the meets that mattered. If Athay gets healthy, they are in a really good spot.
4. Bishop Kelly - Traditionally, BK has been decent, but never great at XC. However, it seems as though they may be a real contender for the 4A state title, especially if Athay is out. Unlike Coeur D'Alene, which only has 4 guys sub 17 before the depth falls off, BK has 6 guys sub 17, which gives them some extra breathing room.
5. Victory Charter - VC has the same problem as Coeur D'Alene, with their depth falling off heavily after their 4th man. However, they have a big advantage over other teams that lack depth, due to the Stockett brothers, who have both proven themselves to be very quick. If VC's 3-5 (especially their 5) can all drop a bit of time, Victory Charter stays in the conversation for one of Idaho's best teams.