Analysis: What do you get when you mix incredibly talented runners, great coaching, and a lifetime of training at altitude? You get the Niwot boy's cross-country program. The defending Colorado 4A state champions would love to run it back, and honestly, there aren't many teams that will be able to threaten them for it. After a tremendous sophomore year, junior Rocco Culpepper is the fastest returner for the Cougar squad, but Quinn Sullivan, Keegan Geldean, Hunter Robbie and Ryder Keeton are all within 25 seconds of him, combining for one of the best pack times in the country. Their sixth and seventh runners Cole Mazurana and Evan Kear are right there as well, giving the 2023 NXN fifth-place finishers a 1-7 split of 31 seconds.
Just like a few other teams on this list, Niwot is the clear-cut favorite in their state, and it would take nothing short of a miracle to de-throne from their rightful spot on the throne.
COROS MILESPLIT50
PRESEASON BOYS TEAM RANKINGS
*Click on the teams below for analysis
| RANK | ATHLETE |
| 25 | Monroe-Woodbury (NY) |
| 24 | Jesuit (CA) |
| 23 | Valor Christian (CO) |
| 22 | Mountain View (UT) |
| 21 | Cheyenne Mountain (CO) |
| 20 | Rockhurst (MO) |
| 19 | Coronado (CO) |
| 18 | Jesuit Portland (OR) |
| 17 | Buchanan (CA) |
| 16 | Plainfield North (IL) |
| 15 | Austin Vandegrift (TX) |
| 14 | ML King (CA) |
| 13 | Jesuit New Orleans (LA) |
| 12 | Bridgeland (TX) |
| 11 | Great Oak (CA) |
| 10 | Ridgefield (CT) |
| 9 | Crater (OR) |
| 8 | Coeur d'Alene (ID) |
| 7 | Downers Grove North (IL) |
| 6 | American Fork (UT) |
| 5 | Belen Jesuit Prep (FL) |
| 4 | Southlake Carroll (TX) |
| 3 | Niwot (CO) |
| 2 | |
| 1 | Herriman (UT) |