Photo by Dasam Gill
Preseason Power Rankings Daily Schedule
Thursday, August 8th: Boys 31-40
Friday, August 9th: Boys 21-30
Saturday, August 10th: Boys 11-20
Sunday, August 11th - Tuesday, August 20th: Boys 1-10 (one a day)
Wednesday, August 21st: Girls 41-50
Thursday, August 22nd: Girls 31-40
Friday, August 23rd: Girls 21-30
Saturday, August 24th: Girls 11-20
Sunday, August 25th - Tuesday, September 3rd: Girls 1-10 (one a day)
Wednesday, September 4th: Boys Classification/Private School (top 15 each)
Thursday, September 5th: Girls Classification/Private School (top 15 each)
Our 2019 preseason XC power rankings continue with the 31st-40th boys teams. These rankings are subjective and based on last year's performances (season bests, plus performances at big meets like conferences and states), track performances, program depth and reputation (how certain programs stay strong year after year).
We will rank the top 50 boys and girls teams heading into the season, then provide weekly top 25 ranking updates!
Top seven returners are based on last year's 5K or three mile season bests. Other runners to watch include those with standout track performances (relative to the rest of the team), unless those runners have run multiple track seasons without running cross country - we don't want to assume they will be running cross country in the fall. Freshmen or rookies who did not run cross country but did run track are usually included.
Use these rankings to preview your rival teams, debate your friends, and lace up those shoes and prove us wrong about your team!
40. Centennial High School Eagles (Ellicott City, MD)
The Centennial boys lost most of their team that won the 3A state title last year, but they still have enough depth to remain one of the most competitive teams in Howard County. Rising juniors Andrew Bank (4:40 1600) and Fernando Duraes (4:41 1600) could help fill in for the graduation losses. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
County: Howard (4th) Region: 3A East (3rd)
Top Seven Returners: Jacob Cole, Kyle Scherock, Alex O'Connell, Charles Reisner, Christian Walker, Matthew Thomas, Andrew Bank
Others to Watch: Connor Brennan, Fernando Duraes, Alexander White
39. Northwest High School Jaguars (Germantown, MD)
Stefan Ney is the Jaguars' top returning senior on a team brimming with underclassmen heading into 2019. Ney finished his junior cross country season strong with a 62nd-place finish at the 4A State championships. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
County: Montgomery (11th) Region: 4A West (7th)
Top Seven Returners: Stefan Ney, Tinoda Matsatsa, Roger Arias, Austin Devereux, Austin Levchenko, Zaif Yusif, Joshua Mutamba
Others to Watch: Rhoman Elvis
38. Springbrook High School Blue Devils (Silver Spring, MD)
The Springbrook boys will go as senior Surafel Mengist goes in 2019. Coming off a top-ten finish at last year's 4A state meet, Mengist is still seeking his first major race victory - he came closest at last year's Barnhart Invitational, where he finished second. (Photo by John Roemer)
County: Montgomery (10th) Region: 4A North (5th)
Top Seven Returners: Surafel Mengist, Abel Shiferaw, Hayrenzy Hassan, Jai Mehra, Nick Paulter, Logan Cook, Kyle Kamani
Others to Watch: Eric Gomez
37. Archbishop Spalding High School Cavaliers (Severn, MD)
The Spalding boys can crack into the top five at the MIAA Championships this season with Ryan Miller leading the way. One of our potential breakout candidates based on his spring track times, he finished fifth in both the indoor and outdoor 3200 at the MIAA Championships. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
Conference: MIAA (4th)
Top Seven Returners: Ryan Miller, Coleman Ruiz, Sebastian Klinewicz, Loukas Athanitis, Thomas Nolan, Thomas Hinton, Jameson Aben
36. Eleanor Roosevelt High School Raiders (Greenbelt, MD)
The Raiders have one of the best trio of returners in the state, with Brandon Lewis (above, 9:50 3200), Andrew Okon (10:01) and Benno Wien (10:16). They could become the first Prince George's County team since 2011 to finish in the top ten at the 4A state meet. (Photo by Brandon Miles)
County: Prince George's (1st) Region: 4A South (1st)
Top Seven Returners: Brandon Lewis, Andrew Okon, Benno Wien, James Dawson, Aidan Cruz, Muzzamil Khan, Suerken Matsuyama
Others to Watch: Alain Jayme, Nejib Abdela, Ramsey Stuart
35. Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Falcons (Olney, MD)
The Falcons return their top five runners from 2018 (based on 5K season best), all of whom ran under 18 minutes last year. A strong return from their 2018 squad means they could contend for their first WCAC title since winning four in a row from 2013-16. (Photo by Brandon Miles)
Conference: WCAC (1st in MD)
Top Seven Returners: Liam Keefe, Logan Lazaro, Justin Grondine, Loick Ohresser-Joumard, Jantzen Washington, Alex Read, Brandon Lyne
Others to Watch: Aidan McElhennon
34. Fallston High School Cougars (Fallston, MD)
Two of Fallston's top three runners from the state meet graduated, but the Cougars have a strong group of rising sophomores who could help them remain a force in the UCBAC. Quinn Daly (above), Alex Xavier and Bryce Kahler all finished in the top 100 as freshmen. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
Conference: UCBAC (4th) Region: 2A East (3rd)
Top Seven Returners: Giles Daly, Tyler Flatau, Alex Xavier, Quinn Daly, Bryce Kahler, Gabriel Bruno, Owen Fabula
33. Kent Island High School Buccaneers (Kent Island, MD)
The Buccaneers will have one of the top duos in the state, not only this year but in 2020 as well. Isaiah Schulties (1:55 800) and Finn Walsh (4:22 1600) both broke out on the track this spring and could find themselves competing for a top five spot at the 2A state meet in November. (Photo by John Roemer)
Conference: Bayside (1st) Region: 2A East (2nd)
Top Seven Returners: Isaiah Schulties, Finn Walsh, Jack Pearse, Paul Rayner, Avery Haynesworth, Bereket Welch, Ryan Butler
Others to Watch: Rajan Turner, J.P. Kougoures
32. Bel Air High School Bobcats (Bel Air, MD)
The Bel Air boys will duke it out in a tough 3A North region this season, but they do have the defending regional champion in Caleb Zylka. He also finished 28th at the Footlocker Northeast Regional - one spot ahead of his new 3A rival, Anish Nanjappa. (Photo by Steven Pisano)
Conference: UCBAC (3rd) Region: 3A North (4th)
Top Seven Returners: Caleb Zylka, Andrew Giordono, Shane Ivy, Daniel Cross, Matthew Ervin, Sanjay Sethi, Ayden Namauu
31. Century High School Knights (Eldersburg, MD)
The Century boys lost a couple key runners from their 2018 team, but few teams have been more consistent than the Knights. Throughout the decade, they have only finished outside the top seven teams at the state meet once (2014). (Photo by Brandon Miles)
County: Carroll (3rd) Region: 2A West (4th)
Top Seven Returners: Hayden Hebert, Ryan Lustig, Jonah Zabik, Tyler Dregely, Will Heffernan, Aiden Michael, John Pavlick
Others to Watch: Jaron Martinsen, Andrew Sarver