Analysis: For most programs, losing four out of your top seven runners would cause a few hiccups for the upcoming season, but it's quite the opposite for the reigning NXN champions. The Herriman Mustangs are rightfully all alone at the top of this list, even after losing over half of their top seven to graduation. After falling to in-state rival American Fork at both the Utah State Championships and NXR Southwest, Doug Soles' experienced squad didn't miss a beat when the stakes were the highest, comfortably taking down American Fork 83-100.
This fall, Herriman has a huge target on their back, but it's going to take a lot to keep pace with them, let alone beat them. In their first 5000m of the 2024 season, they won the UIAAA Invite in Spanish Fork, UT, thanks to a 1-2-3-4. So far this season, the defending national champions have the five fastest times in the state this year and an unprecedented four-second split between their five scoring runners.
At the end of the day, this is Herriman's world and everyone else is just living in it.
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) |