Photo by John Roemer
Preseason Power Rankings Daily Schedule
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 girls 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!
20. Leonardtown High School Raiders (Leonardtown, MD)
With junior Nelle Ray leading the way, Parker O'Brien has emerged as the second half of one of the better 1-2 punches in the state. As a freshman last spring, she ranked just outside the top ten in the 1600 (5:22). She was also one of just 11 freshmen to break 20:00 last fall. (Photo by John Roemer)
Conference: SMAC (2nd) Region: 4A East (5th)
Top Seven Returners: Nelle Ray, Parker O'Brien, Rachel Geiger, Anna Kate Carrigg, Hannah Haynes, Maddie Engel, Madelyn Spalding
Others to Watch: Alexis Pope, Mariel Peabody, Sophia Cadena, Olivia Whittington
19. Brunswick High School Railroaders (Brunswick, MD)
Is history repeating itself? The Brunswick girls finished as state runners-up in both 1989 and 1990 before winning three straight state titles from 1991-1993. Now, coming off of two more second-place finishes in 2017 and 2018, could this generation of Railroaders be on the verge of one (or more) 1A state titles? (Photo by Dasam Gill)
County: Frederick (3rd) Region: 1A West (1st)
Top Seven Returners: Jena Rhodes, Rebekah Shullenbarger, Elizabeth Willman, Amy Tarcza, Alison Laverty, Mette Madsen, Alana Gantley
Others to Watch: Michelle Cincotta
18. Middletown High School Knights (Middletown, MD)
The Knights are coming off of a fourth-place finish at last year's 2A State championships, and things are looking up as their top six runners from last year's team will likely be back in 2019. They have a shot at the program's first state title since they won four straight from 1997-2000. (Photo by Brandon Miles)
County: Frederick (2nd) Region: 2A West (1st)
Top Seven Returners: Eleanor Stafford, Campbell Caldwell, Marin Bartman, Renee Washart, Keren McRea, Zofia Gemignani, Annushka Aliev
17. Mount de Sales High School Sailors (Catonsville, MD)
Juliette Whittaker leads the way coming off a season when she ran 2:05 and 4:48 as a freshman, but the Sailors' depth has them poised to repeat as IAAM champions in 2019. Senior Bella Whittaker (left) and sophomore Elizabet Freymann figure to be big parts of their team once again this fall. (Photo by Lisa McArthur)
Conference: IAAM (1st)
Top Seven Returners: Juliette Whittaker, Bella Whittaker, Elizabet Freymann, Mackenzie Bell, Ryleigh Hicks, Sarah Mima, Lucia Rutkowski
Others to Watch: Lauren Gulmert
16. Richard Montgomery High School Rockets (Rockville, MD)
A return to last fall's form for Charlotte Turesson would be huge for Richard Montgomery, as she raced strong throughout the latter half of the season. That sophomore campaign included an 18:09 5K and dominant victories at counties and regionals. Could she take it to the next level and add a state title as a junior? (Photo by Phil Grove)
County: Montgomery (5th) Region: 4A West (6th)
Top Seven Returners: Charlotte Turesson, Emma Wolf, Michelle Campano, Maria Rodriguez, Da Young Kim, Mirabella Funk, Aral Markert
Others to Watch: Nisha Athrey
15. Thomas S. Wootton High School Patriots (Rockville, MD)
Unsurprisingly, Wootton returns a deep group in 2019, even after losing four of the seven runners from last year's team that finished sixth at the 4A State championships. Their top six returning runners all ran between 20:36 and 21:24 last fall, led by junior Emma Helgeson. (Photo by Dasam Gill)
County: Montgomery (4th) Region: 4A West (5th)
Top Seven Returners: Emma Helgeson, Victoria Shumakovich, Nicole Parent, Anna Baldwin, Jessia Penry, Alyssa D'Arpa, Angela Parra
Others to Watch: Catherine Ledoux, Mia Mikowski
14. C. Milton Wright High School Mustangs (Bel Air, MD)
Seniors Haley Cummins and Lindsay Perry (above) form one of the top duos in the state of Maryland, one that may be strong enough to keep the Mustangs in contention for at least a top-three finish at the state meet. Only three other teams in the state can boast two returning runners who broke 20 minutes at last year's state meet, and only the Northern girls have more. (Photo by Craig Amoss)
Conference: UCBAC (2nd) Region: 3A North (4th)
Top Seven Returners: Haley Cummins, Lindsay Perry, Abbey Battaglia, Julianne Tenaglia, Ashley Pelletier, Victoria Walker, Hannah Beegle
Others to Watch: Corinne Smith, Sophia Skinner
13. Towson High School Generals (Towson, MD)
Battling in the 3A North region won't get any easier for Towson now that Hereford is back, but the Generals still have an impressing returning squad that can compete with almost any team in 3A. They have five returning runners from last year's team that placed fifth at the state meet. (Photo by John Roemer)
County: Baltimore (3rd) Region: 3A North (3rd)
Top Seven Returners: Madeline Till, Maggie Grandsire, Sylvie Wolff, Avery Zellweger, Anna Vaikness, Sofia Grose, Nalani Mumm
Others to Watch: Alessandra Crippa
12. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Barons (Bethesda, MD)
BCC's state meet squad last fall was remarkably young, featuring three juniors, three sophomores and a freshman. Another year of experience - plus a roster that regularly tops out over 50 girls - could catapult the Barons back into the top ten at the state meet. (Photo by Mary Ann Magnant)
County: Montgomery (3rd) Region: 4A West (4th)
Top Seven Returners: Rosalind Van der Does de Willebois, Fiona Kelleher, Aiko Abo Dominguez, Soraya Bernal, Juliana Capizza, Regan Waterman, Sarah Williams
Others to Watch: Rachel Wilson, Eleni Kambouris
11. Hereford High School Bulls (Parkton, MD)
Caroline Benda came up big for the Bulls as a sophomore, finishing fifth at the state meet to help them capture their seventh state title of the decade last year. Now, even with three key seniors having graduated and Hereford moving up into the highly-competitive 3A classification, could the Bulls find themselves in the mix for their eighth title in ten seasons? (Photo by Craig Amoss)
County: Baltimore (2nd) Region: 3A North (2nd)
Top Seven Returners: Piper Lentz, Caroline Benda, Mary Ellen Revitte, Brooke Wilson, Reese Miller, Ginny Farley, Olivia Westerberg
Others to Watch: Erin Blar, Kaitlyn Crowley