Photo by Craig Amoss
Preseason Power Rankings Daily Schedule
Sunday, August 18th - 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!
3. River Hill High Schools Hawks (Clarksville, MD)
Photo by Craig Amoss
County: Howard (1st) Region: 3A East (1st)
Top Seven Returners:
1. Anish Nanjappa (senior): 16:08 5K, 4:23 1600, 9:32 3200
2. Ryan Rose (senior): 17:11 5K, 4:40 1600, 9:55 3200
3. Sean Krein (senior): 17:26 5K, 4:50 1600, 10:20 3200
4. Joshua Galindo (junior): 17:35 5K, 4:30 1600, 9:46 3200
5. Rishi Shet (junior): 17:35 5K, 4:37 1600, 9:55 3200
6. Bradley Hoffman (senior): 17:59 5K
7. Awais Khan (junior): 18:11 5K, 2:08 800
Others to Watch:
Darren McGowan (senior): 18:32 5K, 2:02 800, 4:50 1600
The River Hill boys came within seven points of snapping Liberty's 2A title streak and winning their fourth title in five years. Seeing as both teams suffered minimal graduation losses, it was shaping up to be a rematch for the ages, as two of the most successful programs of the decade were poised to square off one more time.
Alas, it was not to be. River Hill moves back to the 3A classification this year, and the last time they competed in 3A, they dominated. The Hawks won three straight titles from 2014 to 2016, the last of which featured contributions from an up-and-coming freshman named Anish Nanjappa. Fast-forward to November 2018 and it was Nanjappa running away from a talented field to claim his first individual state title. With Nanjappa leading the way, the Hawks will have a chance for the lowest scorer at any meet of the year.
That's not to say they're short on any depth. With Joshua Galindo (top left, 9:46), Ryan Rose and Rishi Shet (both 9:55), they have four returning runners who broke ten minutes this past spring - a number matched only by Severna Park. Their four returning runners from the state meet all rank among the top 50 returning runners from the meet (across all classifications).
With one of the top returning runners in the state and a supporting core that also ranks among Maryland's best, River Hill will be a contender - if not the favorite - at any meet this season. After finishing as runners-up to Howard at the county championships in each of the past two seasons, they look like the overwhelming favorites heading into 2019.