By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Preseason Boys Top 100 

1. Cole Sprout, junior, Valor Christian CO: Nobody was as surprised as he was when he smashed sophomore class records in the 3,000 meters and 2-mile last spring. Now, it seems like the sky’s the limit as he becomes an upperclassman. If he stays healthy, it’s hard to imagine him not being in contention at the end of a national championship race.

2. Liam Anderson, senior, Redwood (Larkspur) CA: A year ago, he was preseason No. 10 and went on to take third at NXN. He has made steady, consistent progress and is clearly one of the strongest runners in the country.

3. Drew Bosley, senior, Homestead WI: His victory in the USATF Junior Nationals 5,000 meters was one of the most impressive feats of prep distance running nationwide last spring. The Wisconsin champ was seventh at both Foot Locker and NXN last year.

4. Graydon Morris, junior, Aledo TX: He is trying to battle back from an injury and that setback is cause for a bit of caution, or he would be ranked higher. He was the Foot Locker runner-up as a sophomore last December.

5. Ryan Oosting, senior, Arlington MA: He won a bronze medal in the 3,000 meters at the European U-18 Championships over the summer, running for The Netherlands. This fall, he’s going to try and solve his cross country demons and make it to a national meet. He has the talent to be a factor in a national championship race.

6. Devin Hart, senior, Point Pleasant Boro NJ: This is the guy who ran sub-9 in the 2-mile in Seattle on a Friday night and sub-9 in the 3,200 meters in New Jersey the following afternoon. He’s up for big challenges.

7. Matt Strangio, junior, Jesuit CA: He won the CIF Finals in the 3,200 meters as a sophomore in June and earlier was 15th at NXN. He’s a student of the sport and ahead of his years when it comes to racing tactics.

8. Alex Maier, senior, Flower Mound TX: This is a conservative opening position based on a junior year that didn’t go quite as planned. He was preseason No. 2 last year, so at full strength he is a guy who can make a big impact in a national race.

9. Jake Renfree, senior, Knoxville Catholic TN: His best result in the spring was a 4:08.11 clocking in the 1,600 meters, but it’s impossible to ignore that he got fifth place at Foot Locker last December.

10. Nick Foster, senior, Ann Arbor Pioneer MI: The Michigan state champ missed the cut-off for Foot Locker last year by two spots, but his spring (4:05.50 full mile, 8:54.80 3,200 meters) was sensational.

11. Conant Smith, senior, Middletown OH: An IT Band injury held him back a bit in the spring, but he’s coming back this fall as the top runner in Ohio and was eighth at NXN.

12. Charles Hicks, senior, The Bolles School FL: He was the first Florida runner to finish in the top 10 at NTN/NXN when he took ninth last year in Portland. 

13. Carter Cheeseman, senior, Fort Worth Christian TX: After seventh-place finishes at Arcadia (3,200) and Brooks PR (2-mile), and sixth at Foot Locker last year, he could be in for a big fall. 

14. Kashon Harrison, senior, Kirtland Central NM: The New Mexico state champion and member of the Navajo Nation won the Foot Locker West regional title and then went on to 14th in San Diego.  

15. Sam Affolder, senior, Loudoun Valley VA: The best runner on the best team, Affolder has versatility and tons of big-stage experience.

16. Nicholas Russell, senior, Bishop Kelly ID: The two-time Idaho 4A champion was 16th at NXN last year.

17. Stetson Moss, junior, Thunder Ridge ID: Yes, back-to-back for Idaho. The Class 5A champion was 17th at NXN last year. This fall he transitions into a brand new school.

18. Easton Allred, junior, Mountain Vista CO: He finished third, as a sophomore, at NXR Southwest (one second behind Sprout) and went on to place 22nd at NXN.

19. Grant Gardner, senior, Springville UT: If he can approach the success of recent Utah champions Casey Clinger and Aidan Troutner he could be a steady riser all fall.

20. Ryan Kline, senior, Central Valley WA: It could be another big year for cross country in Washington, and Kline is the reigning Class 4A champion.

21. Daniel Maton, senior, Camas WA: He was neck and neck with Kline until about three feet to go in that 4A final last year. Maton is looking to assert his dominance on the trails after nailing down fast times on the track.

22. Matthew Payamps, senior, St. Anthony’s NY: He got exponentially faster during the track season, including an 8:56 for 3,200 at the Loucks Games and 4:08 at the Festival of Miles. If he can keep that momentum going into cross country, look out.

23. Parker Stokes, senior, Maine Endwell NY: He was the U.S. leader in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the spring and moved up to No. 12 all-time (9:05.67), and he also won the New Balance Nationals Outdoor title in the 2K steeplechase. He was 27th at NXN last year.

24. Joe Waskom, senior, Mt. Si WA: He saw big improvement this spring, including 8:54.25 for 2 miles at the Brooks PR Invitational.

25. Garrett Brennan, senior, Fayetteville-Manlius NY: He was the NXR New York champion last fall.

26. Cruz Culpepper, junior, Niwot CO: He has the pedigree and the pace (4:11.75 sophomore mile) and is looking to put it all together on the trails this fall.

27. Matthew Meinke, senior, Neenah WI: He built upon his 28th place at NXN with a runner-up finish to Bosley in the Wisconsin state 3,200 meters final on the track. He was also sixth at NBNO in the 5,000 meters. 

28. Camren Fischer, senior, Fayetteville AR: The Arkansas Class 7A champ qualified for both national meets last year.

29. Jacob Hunter, senior, Loudoun Valley VA: He has taken a bit more time to develop than his older brother Drew, but he seems to get a little better with every race.

30. Jarrett Kirk, junior, Flower Mound TX: He won the Texas UIL Class 6A cross country title as a sophomore.

31. Shea Weilbaker, senior, Saratoga Springs NY: He won the New York state title in the 3,200 meters and a season’s best 8:59.46 at the Loucks Games.

32. Kevin Ramos, senior, Rubidoux CA: He was just five seconds behind Liam Anderson for third place in the CIF Division 3 final and then 51st at NXN.

33. Josh Methner, junior, Hersey IL: He was an impressive seventh place at NXR Midwest as a sophomore.

34. Evan Holland, junior, Ashland OR: He has matured into the top runner in Oregon after running sophomore times in the spring of 8:26.44 for 3,000 meters and 3:54.32 for 1,500.

35. Ethan Danforth, senior, Canyon CA: He was the CIF Division 2 runner-up in cross country and ran 9:00.30 for fourth in the 3,200 meters at the CIF Finals on the track.

36. Tommy Brady, senior, Maine South IL: He is the top returner from the Illinois 3A state cross country championships and ran 14:29 at Detweiler Park.

37. Zach Kinne, senior, North Allegheny PA: He beat both Methner and Brady in the IHSA 3,200 meters final, going 9:03, but now he is adjusting to a move to Pennsylvania.

38. Connor Nisbet, senior, Wilmington Friends DE: The Delaware state champion was second in the 3,000 meters at the Penn Relays in April.

39. Kyle Harkabus, junior, East Coweta GA: He won the Georgia Class 7A titles in the 800 (1:52.44) and 1,600 (4:13.35) as a sophomore and has Foot Locker experience.

40. Luke Grundvig, senior, American Fork UT: He won the Utah Class 6A 3,200 meters in the spring.

41. Nate Pendleton, senior, Eastlake WA: He was fourth at NXR Northwest.

42. Ben Perrin, senior, Flathead MT: He’s the top returner in Montana and the younger brother of former state champions Zach and Jake Perrin.

43. Cole Hocker, senior, Indianapolis Cathedral IN: The Indiana state runner-up went on to place 15th at Foot Locker Midwest.

44. Alex Comerford, senior, Otsego MI: The Michigan D2 runner-up in cross country ran 9:00 for 3,200 meters in the spring.

45. Bradley Peloquin, senior, Gig Harbor WA: Another successful runner in a running family from Gig Harbor, he ran junior times of 4:14/9:04 in the spring.

46. Lucas Aramburu, senior, Brookline MA: He’s the top returning finisher from the Massachusetts All-State Meet and was third at Foot Locker Northeast.

47. Silas Winders, junior, Henry County TN: The Tennessee state cross country runner-up ran 9:01.85 for 3,200 meters in the spring.

48. Michael Abeyta, junior, El Paso Hanks TX: He was runner-up to Morris in the Class 5A UIL cross country final and also won a state track title in the 800 meters.

49. Anthony Grover, junior, J Serra Catholic CA: He won the CIF Division 4 state cross country title and then took 11th at Foot Locker West.

50. Michael Keehan, senior, Salesianum DE: The Delaware D1 state champ was 13th at NXR Southeast.

51. Leo Daschbach, junior, Highland AZ: He is the reigning AIA Division I cross country champion.  

52. Zane Fodge, senior, McMinnville OR: He was the runner-up in the Oregon Class 6A meet last fall and qualified for NXN in 2016.

53. Jack Jennings, junior, West Morris Mendham NJ: He placed fifth last year in the New Jersey Meet of Champions.

54. Daniel McGoey, junior, North Allegheny PA: He was third in the PIAA Class 3A cross country final last year. 

55. Jantz Tostenson, senior, Crater OR: He was the runner-up to Holland in the Oregon Class 5A 3,000 meters.

56. Acer Iverson, senior, Roseville Area MN: He was second in the Minnesota Class AA cross country final and then sixth at NXR Heartland.

57. Sebastian Belkin, senior, Bainbridge WA: He was second in the Washington Class 3A cross county final and also second at BorderClash.

58. Tim Sindt, senior, Ankeny IA: He is the Iowa Class 4A cross country champion.

59. Rowen Ellenberg, senior, Kimberly WI: He was eighth and NXR Heartland last year.

60. Joey Nokes, senior, Riverton UT: He’s already off to a good start with a victory at the Highland Invitational.

61. Connor Livingston, senior, De La Salle CA: He was sixth in the CIF 3,200 meters final in June.

62. Behailu Bekele-Arcuri, junior, Warwick Valley NY: He was second in the New York Class A cross country final.

63. Quincy Norman, junior, Forest Grove OR: He was third in the Oregon Class 6A race last year.

64. Matthew Farrell, junior, The Loomis Chaffee School CT: He has run 8:35 for 3,000 meters.

65. Garrison Clark, senior, Severna Park MD: He was seventh at NXR Southeast and is the Maryland Class 4A champ in the 3,200 meters.

66. Haftu Knight, senior, Tyler Lee TX: He was third in the Texas UIL Class 6A cross country race last year.

67. Mathias Powell, senior, Mahomet-Seymour IL: He was ninth at NXR Midwest last year.

68. Jonas Price, junior, Eisenhower WA: He was 10th at NXR Northwest.

69. Nick Majerus, junior, Humble Kingwood TX: He was fourth in the Texas UIL Class 6A meet.

70. Conner Ohlson, junior, Dakota Ridge CO: He was 16th at NXR Southwest.

71. David Ahlmeyer, senior, Beech TN: He was third at the Tennessee state meet.

72. Yonas Haile, senior, Cleveland NM: He is the reigning New Mexico Class 6A cross country champion.

73. Dalton Brems, senior, American Fork UT: He took a step forward during track season and looks like the team's No. 2.

74. Carson Clinger, senior, American Fork UT: The younger brother of two-time NXN champion Casey Clinger is usually within arm's reach of Brems.

75. Max Dimuccio, junior, La Salle Academy RI: He was fourth at the New England XC Championships.

76. Mason Norman, junior, Classical Academy CO: He’s the Colorado Class 3A cross country champion.

77. Owen Mackenzie, senior, Los Altos CA: He followed up a 14th place finish in the CIF D1 cross country final with a strong track season.

78. Asefa Wetzel, senior, Star Valley WY: He’s the top returner in Wyoming.

79. James Gedris, senior, Grosse Ile MI: He was second in the Michigan D2 3,200 meters in the spring.

80. Josh Hill, senior, Amherst Steele OH: He was 15th at NXR Midwest.

81. Harrison Gryzymkowski, senior, White Lake Lakeland MI: He was third at the Michigan D1 cross country final.

82. Wil Smith, junior, Lewis and Clark WA: He was sixth in the Washington Class 4A cross country final.

83. Will Stone, senior, Homewood AL: He’s the dominant runner in Alabama and the Class 6A champion on the trails and on the track.

84. Nick Nyman, senior, Starr’s Mill GA: He’s the Georgia Class 5A cross country champion.

85. Ethan Marshall, senior, St. Thomas Aquinas KS: He is the Kansas Class 5A champion and was 10th at NXR Heartland.

86. Caleb Niednagel, junior, La Costa Canyon CA: The transfer was 10th last year for Dana Hills in the CIF D1 cross country final.

87. Benjamin Hartvigsen, senior, Sarasota FL: He is the reigning Class 4A cross country champion in Florida.

88. Tyler Berg, senior, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake NY: He was second at NXR New York last year.

89. Tyler Wirth, senior, Wallenpaupack Area PA: He was fifth at the PIAA Class 3A cross country final.

90. Sameer Das, senior, West Windsor-Plainsboro South NJ: He was eighth at the New Jersey MOC cross country final.

91. Edwin Gomez, sophomore, San Elizario TX: He won the Texas UIL Class 4A cross country title as a freshman.

92. Chase Rivera, senior, The Bolles School FL: He was 12th at NXR Southeast.

93. Tim McInerney, senior, Christian Brothers Academy NJ: He made big strides on the track in the spring, lowering his 1,600 meters time to 4:10.37.

94. Garrett Suhr, junior, Richard Montgomery MD: He was fourth at the Maryland Class 4A state meet.

95. Robert Dillon, senior, Shelton CT: He placed sixth at the New England Cross Country Championships.

96. Nico Young, junior, Newbury Park CA: He made the CIF 3,200 meters final as a sophomore.

97. Carter Solomon, junior, Plymouth MI: He was fifth at the Michigan D1 cross country championships.

98. Marcus Mota, senior, Stockdale CA: He won the CIF Central Section title.

99. Colin Baker, senior, Academic Magnet SC: He is the South Carolina Class 2A champion and was 17th at Foot Locker South.

100. Keeton Thornsberry, senior, Louisville Holy Cross KY: He's the Kentucky Class 1A state champ.