OK, we'll only remind everyone of the Coatesville boys' Nike Team Nationals 2006 championship once (this week). It was quite a run, and one worth remembering. The immediate impact of that win was the respect it garndered for Pennsylvania cross country. The Radnor girls helped our rep as well when they traveled to New York and nearly knocked off the #1 team in the nation at the time. They were left home in a selection process that required more reading tea leaves than anything else. But Coatesville's win was big for everyone.
Enter BorderChallenge, and Nike makes a change... With the BorderChallenge system of regional races for both individuals and teams, Nike Team Nationals responded with a regional system of their own, eliminating the need for the rankings that count. This time it's just for fun.
Starting the year, you'll see North Allegheny (as Allegheny XC Club) who was 5th in AAA and has 6 of 7 back with top 5 returning a 16:39 5k avge on tough course, PLUS the return of a top runner who was overseas last year. North Allegheny is #3 in the Northest NTN rankings. Joining them in the top 10 at #4 is Germantown Friends, who returns 5 of 6 from Manhattan's 4th place team behind Shenendehowa NY, Danbury CT and Clovis (CA. Other PA teams received mentions, including Cedar Cliff, Coatesville, Henderson, West Chester East and West Middlesex.
For the girls, it should be no surprise that returning state AAA runner-up Emmaus received some props, getting #5 in the NTN pre-season poll. They return their top six, and that includes 4 sophomores and two juniors. Also receiving mentions were Central Cambria, Lancaster Mennonite, Radnor and St. Basil.
Our PennTrackXC.com pre-season poll will be released next week. You probably won't be surprised by the top teams, but PA is a lot deeper than the NTN mentions suggest. And this year for the first time, we'll include a weekly Top 5 of the AA teams. The Top 10 will include all AA and AAA and private school teams.
Nike Press Release
(August 15, 2007) – Defending Nike Team Nationals girls champion Manlius XC Club of New York headlines a long list of powerful returning lineups across the country that were well represented in the official preseason NTN Regional Rankings released today by Nike.
Manlius is the top-rated team in the newly formed New York Region, while Carroll XC Club of Texas, which placed sixth at last year’s NTN meet, is top rated in the South Region. Colts Neck of New Jersey, fourth at last year’s NTN meet as a wild-card entry from the Northeast Region, tops this year’s Northeast Region poll. Yankton of South Dakota is the top team in the Heartland Region after returning the majority of its squad that took fifth at nationals last year. Midlothian of Virginia, 10th at NTN a year ago, is the cream of the crop in the Southeast Region yet again.
The situation is very different on the boys’ side entering 2007 as 8 of the top 10 team placers at last year’s NTN meet have undergone massive rebuilding. In fact, only Clifton Park Shen XC Club of New York (6th at NTN last year), Academy XC Club of New Mexico (7th last year) and Trabuco XC Club of California (9th last year) are projected qualifiers into the 2007 NTN event. Shen is top rated in the New York Region, Academy gains the top spot from the Southwest and Trabuco is ranked second in the California Region.
In a new format this year, two automatic berths per gender will be awarded in the seven newly created NTN Regional Championship meets slated for November. Four national at-large berths per gender will also be awarded via a points system based on success in head-to-head competition.
The fourth annual Nike Team Nationals event will be contested on Saturday, December 1st at Portland Meadows Race Track in Portland, Ore. More details on the NTN series of events can be found at www.niketeamnationals.com
The preseason regional rankings follow:
Boys New York
1. Shen XC Club (Shenendehowa, NY) -- State Fed champ and #2 NE loses 5 of 7 but re-loads well while coach Matt Jones departs
2. Smithtown XC Club (Smithtown, NY) -- State 4th-place team loses top 2 but has next 5 back
3. Latham XC Club (Shaker, NY) -- Returns 5 of 7 from 6th-place team plus transfer and soccer convert adding depth
4. Queensbury XC Club (Queensbury, NY) -- Returns 4 of 7 from 5th-place squad led by state contender Matt Flint
5. Warwick XC Club (Warwick Valley, NY) -- Returns good depth after excellent track season from team that excelled in early ‘06
6. Chaminade XC Club (Chaminade, NY) -- Returns 4 of 7 from 9th-place team after excellent track season
7. Guilderland XC Club (Guilderland, NY) -- Returns 5 of 7, all juniors, with team that could surprise
8. New Windsor XC Club (Cornwall, NY) -- Returns all 7 from state class A 4th-place squad
9. Manlius XC Club (Fayetteville-Manlius, NY) -- Rebuilding with bottom 4 of 7 returning for ’04 NTN runner-up
10. Lagrange XC Club (Arlington, NY) -- Returns 6 of 7 with potential to be a top-5 squad
Boys Northeast
(CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, PA, RI, VT)
1. Danbury XC Club (Danbury, CT) -- State and New Eng champs return 9 of 10 led by blue-chippers Matt Terry and Willie Ahearn
2. Glastonbury XC Club (Glastonbury, CT) -- Danbury rival returns solid line-up led by national contender Donn Cabral
3. Allegheny XC Club (North Allegheny, PA) -- State 3A 5th-placer has 6 of 7 back with top 5 returning a 16:39 5k avge on tough course
4. Friends XC Club (Germantown Friends, PA) -- Returns 5 of 6 from Manhattan meet 4th-place team behind Shen, Danbury and Clovis (CA)
5. Brooklne XC Club (Brookline, MA) -- State Div I 3rd-placer has solid front 4 and good depth led by state contender Bob Gibson
6. Merrimack XC Club (Merrimack , NH) -- State class L defender has 6 of 7 back that averaged 16:18 on hilly 5k course
7. Jackson XC Club (Jackson, NJ) -- State Meet of Champs winner returns 4 of 7 back with good back-up on all-senior squad
8. Con-Val Xc Club (Con-Val, NH) -- Returns top 3 scorers from 4th-place New England team
9. Don Bosco XC Club (Don Bosco, NJ) -- State runner-up brings back a solid top 5 led by 9:28 3200 man
10. Brothers XC Club (Christian Bros, NJ) -- Colts seek to regain state supremacy with 7 harriers between 9:46 and 10:07 for 3200m
Bubble teams alphabetically: Brockton (MA), Cedar Cliff (PA), Coatesville (PA), East Greenwich (RI), Haddonfield (NJ), Henderson (PA), La Salle (RI), Manchester Central (NH), Mascenic (NH), Nashua South (NH), West Chester East (PA), West Middlesex (PA).
Boys South
(AR, LA, MS, OK, TX)
1. Carroll XC Club (Southlake Carroll, TX) -- NTN 11th-placer has a brilliant 1-2 in state 5A champ Colby Lowe and 3rd-placer C.J. Brown
2. Woodlands XC Club (The Woodlands, TX) -- State 5A champ and NTN 12th-placer has 9:14 3200 man plus 11 more under 10:00
3. Del Rio XC Club (Del Rio, TX) -- Returns 4 from state 5A 5th-place team
4. Cedar Park XC Club (Cedar Park, TX) -- Sleeper returns 6 of 7 after excellent track season
5. Mayde XC Club (Mayde Creek, TX) -- Returns 6 varsity runners, 5 under 10:00 for 3200
6. Cinco XC Club (Cinco Ranch, TX) -- Depth and experienced led by state 6th-placer Zac Flowers
7. Rogers XC Cub (Rogers, AR) -- State 7A champ returns 5 runners from state’s top 13 after excellent track season
8. Socorro Xc Club (El Paso Socorro, TX) -- Returns 4 from 11th-place state 5A team
9. Tupelo XC Club (Tupelo, MS) State 5A champ with perfect score returns 3 of its top 5
10. Jesuit XC Club (Jesuit , LA) -- State 5A champ by 63 returns 4 top-20 runners, but 2 may choose other sports
Bubble teams alphabetically: Big Spring (TX), Corpus Christi Carroll (TX), Deer Creek (OK), Edinburg North (TX), Flower Mound (TX), Kingwood (TX), Lockhart (TX), Plano West (TX)
Boys Southeast
(AL, DE, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
1. Midlothian XC Club (Midlothian, VA) -- State 3A champ and #1 SE returns a terrific top 4 led by state favorite Jason Witt
2. Liburn XC Cub (Parkview, GA) -- State 5A champ and #3 SE has 6 of 7 back led by 5-6 state placers
3. Orchard XC Club (Quince Orchard, MD) -- State 4A champ returns 4 of 5 with 25-second spread in bid for region supremacy
4. ViewVA XC Club (Mountain View, VA) -- State 3A 5th-placer has strong 5 back led by FL finalists Thomas Porter
5. Walton XC Club (Walton, GA) -- State 5A runner-up has 5 of 7 back in bid to challenge Parkview again in state 5A
6. Oak Ridge XC Club (Oak Ridge, TN) -- State 2A champ by 41 returns 6 of 7, with excellent depth on all-senior squad
7. Chapel Hill XC Club (Chapel Hill, NC) -- State 3A champ and #2 SE has 5 of 7 back led by star Taylor Gilland but lacks depth
8. Jamestown XC Club (Jamestown, VA) -- State 2A runner-up has 6 of 7 back, all sophs and juniors
9. Vienna XC Club (Oakton, VA) -- State 3A runner-up has 4 of 7 back but lacks depth
10. Nokesville Xc Club (Brentsville, VA) -- State 2A champ loses top 2 and 5 coming back must close the gap
Bubble teams alphabetically: Baylor (TN), Flagler Palm Coast (FL), Jefferson Sci/Tech (VA), Mountain Brook (AL), St. Paul’s (AL), Western Albemarle (VA), Westminster (GA), Winter Park (FL), Wheeling Park (WV).
Boys Midwest
(IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)
1. Pinckney XC Club (Pinckney, MI) -- State Div I champ and #5 MW returns 5 of 7 with 46-second spread
2. Fremont XC Club (Fremont, MI) -- Third-place team from state Div II has top 6 back
3. Nequa XC Club (Nequa Valley IL) -- Five state scorers return led by state 3rd-placer Chris Derrick
4. Naperville XC Club (Naperville No, IL) -- Five state scorers return with 45-second spread
5. Elmhurst XC Club (York, IL) -- State Div I champ and #1 MW returns two stars but big gap to pack
6. Dexter XC Club (Dexter, MI) -- State Div II champ and #2 MW has 4 of 7 back
7. Wheaton XC Club (Wheaton No, IL) -- Six state scorers return with 60-second scoring spread
8. Medina XC Club (Medina, OH) - Top 6 back for state Div I 4th-place team
9.Fishers XC Club (Fshers, IN) -- All 7 back with marquee top 2 for that that took 9th in one-race state final
10. LaFollette XC Club (Madison LaFollette, WI) -- Top 6 back for state Div I champs
Bubble teams alphabetically: Aquinas (OH), Carmel (IN), Franklin Central (IN), Hersey (IL), Milford (MI), Saline (MI), St. Charles No (IL), Stevens Point (WI), Williamston (MI), McCutcheon (IN), Bloomington No (IN).
Boys Heartland
(IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
1. Rosemout XC Club (Rosemount, MN) -- State 2A runner-up and #4 HL returns 5 of 7
2. Riverdale XC Club (Pleasant Valley, IA) -- State 4A champ and #9 HL has 5 of 6 back led by 9:16 and 4:15 runners
3. Potosi XC Club (Potosi, MO) -- #1 HL and #8 NTN has strong top 4 but lacks depth
4. Bismarck XC Club (Bismarck, ND) -- State A champ and #7 HL has 4 of 5 back and good depth
5. SLUH XC Club (St. Louis U, MO) -- State 4A runner-up returns experienced, balanced squad
6. Omaha XC Club (Omaha Benson, NE) -- State A runner-up returns 5 of 7
7. Brainerd XC Club (Brainerd, MN) -- State 2A 4th-place team loses top man but has next 6 back
8. Wayzata XC Club (Wayzata, MN) -- #8 HL has top 7 runners between 4:28 and 4:37 for 1600
9. Willmar XC Club (Willmar, MN) -- State 2A champ and #2 HL loses 4 of 6 but still has a nucleus of 3 and some in the wings
10. Northwest XC Club (SM Northwest , KS) -- State 6A winner returns 4 of 7 after excellent track season
Bubble teams alphabetically: Aquinas (KS), Fremont (NE), Jamestown (ND), Lebanon (MO), Marshalltown (IA), Millard South (NE), Roosevelt (SD), Stillwater (MN), West Plains (MO), Yankton (SD).
Boys Southwest
(AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, WY)
1. Academy XC Club (Albuquerque Acad, NM) -- State 4A champ, #1 SW and 7th NTN returns 13 of 14 led by NTN runner-up Ben Johnson
2. Los Alamos XC Club (Los Alamos, NM) -- State 4A runner-up by 4 pts to AA, #2 SW and 13th NTN returns 14 of 15
3. Wheat Ridge XC Club (Wheat Ridge, CO) -- #4 SW team returns its top 5
4. Timpview XC Club (Timpview, UT) -- State 4A champ has 6 of 7 back
5. Cheyenne XC Club (Cheyenne Cent, WY) -- State 4A champ and #3 SW has 3 state top-10 harriers back
6. Mountain View XC Club (Mountain View , UT) -- State 5A runner-up has proven performers plus newcomers in molding another contender
7. Vista XC Club (Desert Vista, AZ) -- State 5A-1 winners have excellent front 4 with developing depth
8. Crest XC Club (Mountain Crest, UT) -- State 5A runner-up loses top man but next 5 return
9. Greenwood Xc Club (Cherry Creek, CO) -- State power boosted by blue-chip transfer from NY, Charles White
10. Gallup XC Club (Gallup, NM) -- For State 5A champs, 3rd-best in NM is pretty good this season
Bubble teams alphabetically: Battle Mountain (CO), Campbell County (WY), Carson (NV), Dakota Ridge (CO), Fort Collins (CO), Hopi (AZ), Mingus (AZ), Regis (CO), Reno (NV), Rio Rico (AZ).
Boys Northwest
(AK, HI, ID, MT, OR, WA)
1. North Central XC Club (North Central-WA) -- State 3A champ returns top 7 in bid for NTN title
2. Portland Harriers XC Club (Jesuit-OR) -- State 4A runner-up by 2 returns 6 of 7 with deep team
3. Veradale XC Club (Central Valley-WA) -- State 4A 3rd behind Ferris/Mead returns 4 key runners in tight spread
4. Crater XC Club (Crater-OR) -- State 3A winner returns 5 of 7 with 4 all-staters
5. Stark Street XC Club (Central Cath-OR) -- State 4A champ suffered big losses but has 2 blue-chippers and others coming off injury
6. Mead XC Club (Mead-WA) -- #2 NW and 5th NTN returns only 2 of 6 but has improving young talent
7. Kodiak XC Club (Kodiak-AK) -- State 4A winner and #5 NW returns 3 of 7 led by state champ with strong JV moving up
8. Lake Stevens XC Club (Lake Stevens, WA) -- State favorite Joey Bywater leads an excellent squad
9. Kalispell XC Club (Flathead, MT) -- A tight pack of 4 pace team looking to regain state title
10. Maple Valley XC Club (Tahoma-WA) -- Return 5 of 6 from 5th place state 4A race
Bubble teams alphabetically: Borah (ID), Bozeman (MT), Burlington-Edison (WA), Ferris (WA), Gig Harbor (WA), Klamath Union (OR), Lake City (ID), Mountain View (ID), North Bend (OR), Seattle Prep (WA), Skyline (WA), Tahoma (WA).
Boys California
1. Ventura Area XC Club (Ventura, CA) -- 5 of 6 returns for team that nearly beat Jesuit (4th at NTN) in state Div II
2. Trabuco XC Club (Trabuco Hills, CA) -- Pair of all-West picks lead 5 returnees from state Div I champs
3. Placentia XC Club (Valencia, CA) -- Six returnees from Div I 8th-place team in deepest race in state history
4. Dana Point XC Club (Dana Hills, CA) -- Five returnees from Div I 9th-place squad
5. Central Valley XC Club (Buchanan, CA) -- Top 6 return from frosh-soph crew that ran 12th in state Div I
6. Arcadia Foothills XC Club (Arcadia, CA) -- Four returnees from 7th-place Div I team
7.Petaluma Everyone back from soph-laden team that took 5th in state Div II
8. Los Angeles XC Club (Loyola, CA) -- Four returns plus Natl Youth frosh champ for team that barely missed making state finals
9. Barstow Desert XC Club (Barstow, CA) -- Four returnees from last year’s state Div III runaway champs
10. Sacramento XC Club (Jesuit, CA) -- Three runners back from Div II 4th-place team
Bubble teams alphabetically: Brea Olinda, Carlmont, Crescenta Valley, Fallbrook, Madera, Murrieta Valley, Sultana, Vista Murrieta, Whittier, Woodcreek.
Girls New York
1. Manlius XC Club (Fayetteville-Manlius –NY) -- Reigning NTN champs return 4 of 7 with several young runners moving up
2. Burnt Hills XC Club (Burnt Hills-Balston Lake-NY) -- Fourth-place State Fed team has all 7 back after terrific track season
3. Saratoga XC Club (Saratoga Springs, NY) -- Third-place State Fed team has 4 of 7 back and much improved young runners
4. Aurora XC Club (East Aurora-NY) -- Fifth-place State Fed team has 6 of 7 back, one scorer back after broken ankle
5. Hilton XC Club (Hilton-NY) -- 2006 NTN runner-up loses top 2 “twin towers” but next 5 back plus new talent
6. Warwick XC Club (Warwick Valley, NY) -- 6 of 7 return for 8th-place State Fed team led by super soph Lillian Greibesland
7. Greenwich XC Club (Greenwich-NY) -- Sixth-place State Fed team has 5 of 7 back led by state contender Caitlin Lane
8. Bronxville XC Club (Bronxville-NY) -- All scorers return for team that was 2nd to Greenwich in state class C
9. Honeoye XC Club (Honeoye Falls-Lima-NY) -- Lose FL finalist Liz Deir but return next 6 from 10th-place State Fed squad
10. BayShore XC Club (Bay Shore-NY) -- 3 of 7 back for 7th-place State Fed team with several young girls moving up
Girls Northeast
(CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, PA, RI, VT)
1. Colts Neck XC Club (Colts Neck, NJ) -- State champ, #2 NE and 4th-place NTN returns 5 of 7 led by rebounding Bri Jackucewicz
2. Hanover XC Club (Hanover, NH) -- State and New England champ has everyone back led by state/NE winner Georgia Griffin
3. Bromfield XC Club (Bromfield, MA) -- State Div II champ has 6 of 7 back led by state winner Emily Jones
4. Succasunna XC Club (Roxbury, NJ) -- State 4th-place squad has all back led by a pair of sub-5:00 milers, plus top frosh
5. Emmaus XC Club (Emmaus, PA) -- Top 6 back from state 3A runner-up team, 2 juniors and 4 sophs
6. Providence XC Club (LaSalle, RI) -- Returns state’s 1-2 finishers plus solid back-up after excellent track season
7. Donovan XC Club (Msgr. Donovan, NJ) -- All scorers return for team that was 2nd to Colts Neck by 3 pts in conf champs
8. Sudbury XC Club (Lincoln-Sudbury, MA) -- All 7 back plus deep J.V. group for state Div I runner-up squad
9. RBC XC Club (Red Bank Catholic, NJ) -- State 3rd-place team has 6 of 7 back
10. South Yarmouth XC Club (Dennis-Yarmouth,MA) -- State Div I champ has 4 solid performers plus developing new talent
Bubble teams alphabetically: Central Cambria (PA), Champlain Valley (VT), Coventry (RI), Glastonbury (CT), Lancaster Mennonite (PA), Pinkerton (NH), Pope John (NJ), Radnor (PA), St. Basil (PA), Voorhees (NJ).
Girls Southeast
(AL, DE, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
1.Midlothian XC Club (Midlothian, VA) -- State 3A champ, Manhattan winner and #1 SE has 6 of 7 back
2. Greenbelt XC Club (Roosevelt, MD) -- State 4A champ, #2 SE and 8th NTN returns 5 of 8 after “nation’s best” track season
3. Jacksonvlle XC Club (Episcopal, FL) -- State 2A champ and #4 SE returns top 4 that placed in state top 6, and then some
4. Braddock XC Club (Lake Braddock, VA) -- State 3A runner-up to Midlo has 5 of 7 back after excellent track season
5. Mauldin XC Club (Mauldin, SC) -- State 4A champ by 62 and #5 SE returns top 4 that placed in state top 11
6. Mountain Brook XC Club (Mountain Brook, AL) -- State 6A champ by 60 has 6 of 7 back, adding 2:12 800 runner and top youngsters
7. Oak Ridge XC Club (Oak Ridge, TN) -- State 3A runner-up returns 6 of 7 after excellent track season
8. Tatnall XC Club (Tatnall, DE) -- State Div II champ w/18 pts loses 3 of 5 but state winner Julie Bottorff leads solid group
9. Nokesville XC Club (Brentsville, VA) -- State 2A runner-up has 5 of 7 back
10. Springfield Xc Club (West Springfield, VA) -- State 3A 5th-placer returns 5 scorers with 48-sec spread
Bubble teams alphabetically: Collins Hill (GA), Dulaney (MD), DuPont Manual (KY), Morgantown (WV), Padua (DE), Parkview (GA), Providence (NC), Scottsboro (AL), Severna Park (MD), St. Paul’s (AL), Westfield (VA).
Girls South
(AR, LA, MS, OK, TX)
1. Carroll XC Club (Southlake Carroll, TX) -- State 5A champ, #1 SO and 3rd-place NTN leads the field
2. Keller XC Club (Keller , TX) -- State 5A runner-up and #3 SO has its top 5 back
3. Hereford XC Club (Hereford, TX) -- State 4A champ and #4 SO has top 5 back plus new talent
4. Kingwood XC Club (Kingwood, TX) -- State 5A 3rd-placer has solid 7 back led by 2 all-staters
5. McGuinness XC Club (McGuinness, OK) -- State 4A champ by 59 has all 7 back, led by 5 who placed 1-2-4-8-10
6. Cinco XC Club (Cinco Ranch, TX) -- State 5A 5th-placer has top 4 back with tight spread
7. Tupelo XC Club (Tupelo, MS) -- State 5A champ and #2 SO has 3 of 7 back and needs to regain groove after sub-par track
8. Clear Lak XC Club (Clear Lake, TX) -- State 5A 6th-placer has tight pack of 5 varsity girls returning
9. Plano XC Club (Plano West, TX) -- State 5A 4th-placer has good squad back
10. Woodlands XC Club (The Woodlands, TX) -- Up-and-down team from last year seeking more consistency
Bubble teams alphabetically: A&M Consolidated (TX), Bentonville (AR), Canyon (TX), Corinth (MS), Guthrie (OK), Rogers (AR), Tulsa Kelley (OK)
Girls Midwest
(IL, IN, OH, MI, WI)
1. Hinsdale XC Club (Hinsdale, IL) -- State 2A champ and #2 MW returns 4 of 5 after excellent track season
2. Westfield XC Club (Westfield, IN) -- State champ, #1 MW and 7th at NTN has nucleus of top 3 with next 4 making big gains
3. Carmel XC Club (Carmel, IN) -- State 5th-placer has 5 of 7 back led by 3 all-staters
4. Middleton XC Club (Middleton, WI) -- State Div I champ and #3 MW loses top girl but has next 6 back
5. Lockport XC Club (Lockport, IL) -- State 2A 6th-placer has all 7 back including 2 blue-chippers
6. Livonia XC Club – (Churchill, MI) -- State Div I runner-up on tiebreaker returns 6 of 7 with 3 all-staters
7. Magnificat XC Club (Magnificat, OH) -- State Div I 4th-placer has 6 of 7 back, with 5 sophs
8. McAuley XC Cub (McAuley, IL) -- State 2A 4th-placer has 6 of 7 back
9. St. Ursula XC Club (St. Ursula, OH) -- State Div I champ and #6 MW has 4 of 7 back and newcomers moving up
10. Rochester XC Club (Adams, MI) -- State Div I champ has 5 of 7 back
Bubble teams alphabetically: Barrington (IL), Brecksville (OH), Clarkston (MI), Mason (OH), Minster (OH), Naperville North (IL), Noblesville (IN), Rockford (MI), Salem (OH), Wheaton North (IL).
Girls Heartland
(IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
1. Yankton XC Club (Yankton, SD) -- State 2A champ, #1 HL and 5th NTN has 4 of 7 back with young runners moving up
2. Sioux Falls XC Club (SF Roosevelt, SD) -- State 2A runner-up, #2 HL and 11th NTN returns 5 of 7 with new frosh to develop
3. Dowling XC Club (Dowling Cath, IA) -- State 4A runner-up has all 7 back led by national contender Katie Flood
4.I Iowa City XC Club (Iowa City, IA) -- State 4A champ and #3 HL loses 1-3 scorers but still strong while lacking depth
5. Minot XC Club (Minot, ND) -- State A titlist has top 6 back led by 2-3-4 state placers
6. Savage XC Club (Prior Lake, MN) -- State 2A 5th-placer has all 7 back
7. Bismarck XC Club (Bismarck, ND) -- State A runner-up has all 7 back who placed in top-20 at state
8. Marian XC Club (Marian, NE) -- State A winner and #4 HL loses superstar Emily Sisson (transfer) but still solid
9. Prairie XC Club (Eden Prairiie, MN) -- State 2A 3rd-placer has 6 of 7 back with tight pack
10. Fenton XC Club (Rockwood Summit, MO) -- State 4A runner-up has top 4 back with 41-sec spread
Bubble teams alphabetically: Adrian (MN), Aquinas (KS), Blue Valley NW (KS), Davenport North (IA), Fargo South (ND), Lakeville North (MN), Manhattan (KS), Marshall (MN), Millard North (NE), Shawnee Mission South (KS), West Plains (MO), Woodbury (MN), Urbandale (IA).
Girls Southwest
(AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, WY)
1. Albuquerque XC Club (Eldorado, NM) -- State 5A champ, #2 SW and 9th at NTN has everyone back in bid for national title
2. Dakota Ridge XC Club (Dakota Ridge, CO) -- Rocky Mtn champ and #4 SW returns 5 of 7 plus super transfer Kaitie Vanatta, 4th at FL Natls
3. Phoenix XC Club (O’Connor, AZ) -- State 5A-II champ, #1 SW and 13th NTN returns 5 of 7 led by state champ Lindsay Prescott
4. Park City XC Club (Park City, UT) -- State 3A champ and #5 SW has 5 of 7 back, with front 4 placing in state top-20
5. Sandy XC Club (Jordan, UT) State 5A champ has all 7 back with 40-sec spread
6. Los Alamos XC Club (Los Alamos, NM) State 4A champ returns 13 of top 15 girls
7. Greenwood XC Club (Cherry Creek, CO) -- State 5A champ and #3 SW loses #1 and #4 but has 5 back and 100 girls to draw from
7. Los Alamos XC Club (Los Alamos, NM) -- State 4A champ returns 13 of top 15 girls
8. Fort Collins XC Club (Fort Collins, CO) -- ’06 regional power that faltered at state meet returns 5 of 7 plus up-and-coming talent
9. Page XC Club (Page, AZ) -- State 4A-II champ returns strong team seeking overall state supremacy
10. Academy XC Club (Albuquerque Acad, NM) -- State 4A runner-up returns 5 all-state track performers
Bubble teams alphabetically: Cheyenne Central (WY), Classical (CO), Davis (UT), Gallup (NM), Heritage (CO), Mountain View (UT), Reno (NV), Rock Springs (WY), South Tahoe (NV), St. Michael’s (NM), Xavier Prep (AZ).
Northwest Girls
(AK, HI, ID, MT, OR, WA)
1. Portland Harriers XC Club (Jesuit-OR) -- State 6A champ and #3 NW has 6 of 7 back plus improving newcomers
2. Fairbanks XC Club (West Valley-AK) -- State 4A champ, #1 NW and 15th NTN returns 4 of 7 as coach Doug Herron departs
3. Gig XC Club (Gig Harbor-WA) -- State 4A champ and #4 NW loses #1 and #3 girls but strong enough to be state favorite
4. Boise Striders Xc Club (Boise-ID) -- State 5A champ and #5 NW has 4 back from state top-16 and lots of experience
5. Billings XC Club (Billings Sr -MT) -- State 2A champ, #2 NW and 14th NTN loses 2 key scorers, working with 5 back
6. Bozeman Xc Club (Bozeman-MT) -- State 2A runner-up has top 5 back plus returning 11:22 3200 runner
7. Sammamish Xc Club (Eastlake -WA) -- State 4A 3rd-placer has top 5 back
8. Jefferson XC Club (Jefferson-WA) -- State 4A runner-up and #6 NW loses #1 and #5 but still returns 7 of top 10
9. Sunset XC Club (Sunset -OR) -- State 6A runner-up has 5 of 7 back
10. South Eugene XC Club (South Eugene-OR) -- State 6A 3rd-placer has 4 of 7 back after excellent track season
Bubble teams alphabetically: Bear Lake (ID), Bellarmine (WA), Billings West (MT), Eagle (ID), Juneau (AK), Redmond (WA), Snohomish (WA), Squalicum (WA), Tualatin (OR), W. Anchorage (AK).
California Girls
1. Concord Area XC Club (Carondelet-CA) -- State Div II champ returns all 7 girls
2. Santa Clarita XC Club (Saugus-CA) -- Shannon Murakami is gone from Div I champ but next 6 return
3. La Crescenta XC Club (Crescenta Valley-CA) -- Return 6 from State Div I 4th-place squad after excellent track season
4. Fountain Orange Co. XC Club (Fountain Valley-CA) -- Four back from Div I 5th-place team with addition of 2:09 800 runner
5. Oak Park Area XC Club (Oak Park-CA) -- Div III runner-up has 5 back plus Courtney Lightfoot back from injury
6. Clemente Area XC Club (San Clemente-CA) -- Alex Dunne leads 7 returners from Div I 8th-place team
7. Clovis Valley XC Club (Clovis-CA) -- Top 4 (5 of 7) back for Div II 4th-place team
8. Belmont XC Club (Carlmont-CA) -- 6 of 7 back for Div I 10th-place team
9. Central Valley XC Club (Buchanan-CA) -- Lauren Saylor gone but 5 of next 6 back for Div I 3rd-place squad
10. Ponderosa Area XC Club (Ponderosa-CA) -- All 7 back for Div II 11th-place squad