No. 1: Air Academy (CO)
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Analysis: Air Academy enters the 2024 cross country season as the team to beat, holding the #1 ranking after capturing the 2023 Nike Cross Nationals title. Despite losing their only graduate, national runner-up Bethany Michalak, the team remains formidable. They return six of their top seven runners from last fall, led by Tessa Walter, who boasts a 5K PR of 16:55. The team's depth is further highlighted by four other girls in the top five with 5K PRs under 18 minutes and a scoring average time of 17:36.70, the best in the country.
However, Air Academy will face heightened pressure this season with the addition of Niwot to their region, which already included #2-ranked Mountain Vista. With their top six runners returning, a standout #1 in Walter, and the challenge of new competition, Air Academy is poised to defend its national title while navigating an even more competitive landscape.
COROS MILESPLIT50
PRESEASON GIRLS TEAM RANKINGS
*Click on the teams below for analysis
RANK | Team |
|---|---|
| 25 | Champlain Valley Union (Vt.) |
| 24 | Wayzata (Minn.) |
| 23 | Flower Mound (Tex.) |
| 22 | Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) |
| 21 | Timpview (Utah) |
| 20 | Jesuit Portland (Ore.) |
| 19 | East Aurora (N.Y.) |
| 18 | Brentwood (Tenn.) |
| 17 | Lincoln (Ore.) |
| 16 | Downers Grove North (Ill.) |
| 15 | Webb School (Knoxville, Tenn.) |
| 14 | Union Catholic Reg (N.J.) |
| 13 | Barrington (Ill.) |
| 12 | Romeo (Mich.) |
| 11 | Ventura (Calif.) |
| 10 | Lone Peak (Utah) |
| 9 | Bethlehem (N.Y.) |
| 8 | Santiago Corona (Calif.) |
| 7 | Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.) |
| 6 | JSerra Catholic (Calif.) |
| 5 | Trabuco Hills (Calif.) |
| 4 | Niwot (Colo.) |
| 3 | Buchanan (Calif.) |
| 2 | Mountain Vista (Colo.) |
| 1 | Air Academy (Colo.) |