Photo by Craig Amoss
Preseason Power Rankings Daily Schedule
Monday, August 12th - 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 11th-20th 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!
9. Towson High School Generals (Towson, MD)
Photo by Brandon Miles
County: Baltimore (2nd) Region: 3A North (1st)
Top Seven Returners:
1. Peter Sorensen (junior): 16:46 5K, 4:37 1600, 9:44 3200
2. Samuel Fields (junior): 16:54 5K, 4:46 1600, 10:16 3200
3. Evelyn Parts (senior): 17:26 5K, 4:40 1600, 10:07 3200
4. Drew Conboy (senior): 17:32 5K, 4:42 1600, 10:17 3200
5. Miles Kline (junior): 17:37 5K, 2:09 800
6. Daniel Melia (junior): 17:45 5K, 4:56 1600, 10:38 3200
7. Matthew McShane (senior): 17:52 5K, 2:07 800
Others to Watch:
Quentin Pastore (senior): 18:38 5K, 2:07 800, 4:48 1600
Nicholas Lewis (junior): 2:16 800, 4:52 1600
After the 2017 Baltimore County Championships, it was clear that the Towson boys were a team on the rise. In fact, in the meet recap, we wrote about the young, promising group of runners that shined in the JV race at the meet:
"... the Towson boys have one of the brightest futures of any of the teams in the state, and certainly in the 3A classification."
Two years later, the Generals are coming off of a 3A North regional title and a third-place finish at the state meet. They are led by juniors Peter Sorensen (13th at the state meet, above) and Samuel Fields (16th), and they have one of the deepest returning top sevens in the state. In fact, their entire varsity squad from last year's state meet is back in 2019, and the lowest any of them finished was 52nd.
They could even add some depth this season if spring track performances are any indication. Senior Quentin Pastore isn't one of their top seven returners but clocked a 4:48 1600, and junior Nicholas Lewis wasn't far behind at 4:52.
The Generals will face some of the state's powerhouses this season in their postseason meets. The Dulaney boys haven't lost a county championship since 2012; could this be the year that someone else takes home the county trophy? And could Towson spoil River Hill's return to the 3A classification in November? No matter who they are up against, however, expect Towson to be one of the top teams at any meet this fall.