There's nothing like preseason rankings.
In cross country, August is the time of year when promise takes center stage, with talent and hope and hype leading the way. Performances will have their day. But with preseason comes evaluations, prognostication, a signal for what will come in December.
Today, we're releasing the first five entries in our national girls top 25 preseason national rankings (the boys' list is in the link below). We will continue to release a new ranking every day until Sept. 7, when we anoint preseason No. 1 team and the next four.
To find out where we're ranking teams across the United States, check the links below. In the meantime, here are a selection of the preseason honorable mention programs who will begin the season outside the top 25.
Preseason Honorable Mention: Edina (MN), Newbury Park (CA), Columbus North (IN), Campolindo (CA), Olathe West (KS), Southlake Carroll (TX), American Fork (UT), Mountain Vista (CO), Eastlake (WA), Oak Ridge (CA), Orem (UT), Colts Neck (NJ), Great Oak (CA), Springville (UT), Highland (AZ), East Greenwich (RI), Mount Tabor (NC), Alamosa (CO), Hinsdale Central (IL).
Related Links:
The Preseason Top 25 Boys National Team Rankings
The MileSplit50 Preseason Girls Team
National Rankings Countdown
ranking | date-team |
|---|---|
| 25 | Aug. 22 -- Naperville North (IL) -- Page 2 |
| 24 | Aug. 22 -- Weddington (NC) -- Page 3 |
| 23 | Aug. 22 -- Morgantown (WV) -- Page 4 |
| 22 | Aug. 22 -- Minnetonka (MN) -- Page 5 |
| 21 | Aug. 22 -- Wayzata (MN) -- Page 6 |
| 20 | Aug. 23 -- Mountain Brook (AL) -- Page 7 |
| 19 | Aug. 24 -- Cherry Creek (CO) -- Page 8 |
| 18 | Aug. 25 -- Prospect (IL) -- Page 9 |
| 17 | Aug. 26 -- North Allegheny (PA) -- Page 10 |
| 16 | Aug. 27 -- Cardinal Gibbons (NC) -- Page 11 |
| 15 | Aug. 28 -- Holland West Ottawa (MI) -- Page 12 |
| 14 | Aug. 29 -- Summit (OR) -- Page 13 |
| 13 | Aug. 30 -- Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI) -- Page 14 |
| 12 | Aug. 31 -- Lucas Lovejoy (TX) -- Page 15 |
| 11 | Sept. 1 -- Portland Jesuit (OR) -- Page 16 |
| 10 | Sept. 2 -- Flower Mound -- Page 17 |
| 9 | Sept. 3 -- Boise Senior (ID) -- Page 18 |
| 8 | Sept. 4 -- Valor Christian (CO) -- Page 19 |
| 7 | Sept. 5 -- Fayetteville-Manlius (NY) -- Page 20 |
| 6 | Sept. 6 -- Cuthbertson (NC) -- Page 21 |
| 5 | Sept. 7 -- York (IL) -- Page 22 |
| 4 | Sept. 7 -- Arapahoe (CO) -- Page 23 |
| 3 | Sept. 7 -- Buchanan (CA) -- Page 24 |
| 2 | Sept. 7 -- Niwot (CO) -- Page 25 |
| 1 | Sept. 7 -- Saratoga Springs (NY) -- Page 26 |