Photo by John Roemer
Preseason Power Rankings Daily Schedule
Wednesday, August 14th - 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 top ten 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!
7. Dulaney High School Lions (Timonium, MD)
Photo by Craig Amoss
County: Baltimore (1st) Region: 4A North (1st)
Top Seven Returners:
1. Zak Audia (senior): 16:40 5K, 4:39 1600, 10:00 3200
2. Vinay Khosla (junior): 16:55 5K, 4:49 1600, 10:23 3200
3. Cooper Giesler (senior): 17:11 5K, 4:31 1600, 9:40 3200
4. Caleb Sedgwick (senior): 17:12 5K, 4:59 1600, 10:51 3200
5. Ethan Samels (senior): 17:13 5K, 4:47 1600, 10:17 3200
6. Max Fisher (senior): 17:21 5K, 4:48 1600, 10:21 3200
7. Xander Smith (senior): 17:51 5K, 4:52 1600, 10:54 3200
Others to Watch:
Robbie Gehman (junior): 18:08 5K, 4:45 1600, 10:22 3200
Cameron Giesler (sophomore): 18:15 5K, 4:55 1600, 10:42 3200
In the fall of 2012, the Dulaney boys were not the class of Baltimore County. That distinction belonged to Hereford; the Bulls, led by seniors Jonathan Luckin and Julian Rivera, were in the midst of their third straight state-title season. Meanwhile, the Dulaney boys finished fourth at counties, fifth at regionals and 13th at states.
That, however, was also the year that Eric Walz, Austin Carey, Elijah Hawkins and Andrew King debuted for the Lions. The next year, they won both the county and regional titles, finished second at states and haven't looked back. Since 2013, Dulaney has been one of the deepest and most consistent teams in the state, winning every Baltimore County title since then and every 4A North title up until last season.
After graduating another core class of seniors, they will have to regroup once again in 2019. Leading the way is a pair of seniors, Zak Audia (their top returning cross country runner) and Cooper Giesler (their top returning 3200 runner). Ethan Samels (above), Vinay Khosla and Caleb Sedgwick all finished in the top 70 at last year's state meet as well, giving them an experiened returning top five.
The Lions will also have depth on their side; last year, their total of 14 runners who broke 18 minutes was their lowest total since 2014. They will likely need that depth as they face arguably their biggest challenge at the county meet (in ninth-ranked Towson and 15th-ranked Hereford) since 2012, and wrestle back their 4A North title status from eighth-ranked Northwood.