Eight.
That's how many athletes in the MileSplit50 remain undefeated in 2024, with plenty more never finishing off a podium. It shows how diverse the sport's landscape is, ranging from schools that travel to mega-invites and others that opt to stay in-state. Luckily, we have the National Championships to settle the rankings once the season is over.
California leads the country with four athletes, while Colorado and Kansas follow closely with three. Each region from NXN is represented, and athletes represent an equal showing of sophomores, juniors, and seniors (the top freshman in the country hails from Texas, in case you were wondering).
A lot has happened since our last ranking update. Manhattan, Clovis, and plenty of action in Terre Haute all helped contribute to the rankings shuffling that has seen a new national leader, and four new additions yet unranked. Mt. SAC remains the last major invitational of the season before the State Meets start to provide some of the best action we've seen yet.
As we've hit mid-October, our rankings calculations have shifted. Much of what was achieved last year remains behind us, and much consideration has gone into what has happened so far. Both reigning National Champions have remained stagnant since September, racing sparingly, but have earned their right in the ranks. Outside them, though, the shuffling continues, as new names rise in their efforts to end up on top of the podium.
We can't wait for what comes next.