Photo by Lisa McArthur
Preseason Power Rankings Daily Schedule
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 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!
1. Northern-Calvert High School Patriots (Owings, MD)
Photo by Craig Amoss
Conference: SMAC (1st) Region: 3A South (1st)
Top Seven Returners:
1. Oakley Olson (junior): 18:22 5K, 5:00 1600, 11:09 3200
2. Hannah Mack (junior): 18:42 5K, 5:12 1600, 11:10 3200
3. Sydney Yankanich (sophomore): 19:26 5K, 5:17 1600, 11:22 3200
4. Abby Setzfand (junior): 20:43 5K, 5:21 3200, 11:48 3200
5. Roni Dolan (sophomore): 20:49 5K, 5:36 1600, 12:24 3200
6. Julia Devine (sophomore): 22:06 5K, 5:47 1600, 12:22 3200
7. Anna Finn (junior): 22:26 5K, 6:05 1600, 13:19 3200
Four years ago the Northern girls made the school's first-ever trip to the state podium, finishing as state runners-up in 2015. They haven't been runners-up since - because nobody has beaten them. The Bel Air girls came close last year, taking them down at the Bull Run Invitational, but the Patriots rose to the challenge at the state meet and extended their winning streak. They may be even stronger this year.
Last year's state runner-up, Claudia Dolan, graduated this past spring, but Northern was able to replace her with the only runner who beat her at the state meet. Oakley Olson joined the team in the winter and fit right in, winning state titles in the 4x800, 3200 and 1600 in the spring. The rest of the team behind her is equally young and talented; junior Hannah Mack and sophomore Sydney Yankanich (above) finished third and sixth, respectively, at the state meet. Roni Dolan and Abby Setzfand round out the returning top five having finished in the top 30, as well. It wouldn't be a surprise to see a newcomer or two make an impact this season for the Patriots, either, as they have gotten contributions from freshmen in the past few years.
Going into 2019, the Northern girls look like far and away the top team in the SMAC and in the 3A South region. The big showdown, it appears, may come at the state meet, where the Bel Air girls (ranked fifth in the state) will be waiting, as they were last year when Northern beat them, 56-68. We'll see them in action against Severna Park this weekend.