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Preseason Girls Top 40 XC Teams 2021Published by
Saratoga Springs Still Remains Top Team in Pursuit of Rare Title Repeat By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor 2021 Girls Preseason National Rankings When Saratoga Springs High from New York won the Nike Cross Nationals title in 2019, the Blue Streaks weren’t considered among the favorites to capture the championship when the season began, starting under the radar and working their way to the top of the podium in Portland. Two years later and still without an opportunity to defend the title after NXN was canceled last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saratoga Springs is front and center as the undisputed top-ranked team in the country and the leading contender to secure a third overall title in December in Oregon. Saratoga Springs is trying to join New York rival Fayetteville-Manlius, an 11-time champion, as the only girls programs to win consecutive championships. Hilton High from New York (2005), Wayzata of Minnesota (2013) and Summit from Oregon (2018) have all captured one national title apiece. Seniors Ella Kurto and Mackenzie Hart, both members of the July 2 national record 4xMile relay performance at The Outdoor Nationals, presented by Nike, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., provide impressive leadership for Saratoga Springs, which also features Anya Belisle, Emily Bush, Alycia Hart, Sadie McBain, Catherine Mongan, McKinley Wheeler and Sheridan Wheeler on one of the deepest girls rosters in U.S. prep history. Summit, the only girls team to make the NXN podium in 2018 and 2019, will look to extend that streak this season, led by senior Teaghan Knox, a member of the national championship lineup. The Storm could be joined on the NXN podium by Oregon 6A rival Jesuit, or potentially another elite Northwest Regional program in Boise High from Idaho. Senior Chloe Foerster leads the Crusaders in their pursuit of their first podium appearance, as Jesuit has previously competed nine times at Nike Team Nationals or NXN, with its best showing a fourth-place finish in 2010. Boise boasts two of the top sophomores in the country in Allie Bruce and Samantha Smith and is looking to become the first Idaho program to make the NXN podium. The state of Colorado has the potential to make a huge impact at the national level, led by Cherry Creek, which captured the title last year at the XC Town USA Meet of Champions, presented by The Garrett Companies, in Terre Haute, Ind. Riley Stewart leads the Bruins, who not only return their lineup from last season after winning the Colorado 5A state crown, but have added promising freshman Paisley Piepgras to the roster as well. But NXN veterans Niwot and Valor Christian are also capable of returning to Portland and challenging for spots on the podium, along with Arapahoe, the 2019 Colorado 5A champions and last year’s runner-up. Illinois could showcase a familiar presence at NXN in two-time national runner-up Naperville North, along with an impressive potential first-time qualifier in York. Minnesota also has programs in Edina and Wayzata with plenty of NXN history, in addition to Minnetonka, which is attempting to secure its first berth at nationals. And California has all three of its 2019 qualifiers – Buchanan, Great Oak and Newbury Park – ready to battle for not only Division 1 supremacy, but also the prestigious two automatic berths from the state, along with a potential at-large bid. Among the 22 NXN finalists from 2019, 15 are recognized in the top 40. The Southwest leads all regions with eight ranked teams, including five from Colorado. The Midwest and Northwest regions both have seven entries, with California boasting the most teams of any state with six programs recognized. Cherry Creek, Arapahoe, York, Minnetonka and IMG Academy, the top team in the Southeast Region, are the highest ranked programs all seeking their first NXN berths.
The Preseason Top 40
Top 40 Teams By Region Southwest: 8 Midwest: 7 Northwest: 7 California: 6 Heartland: 4 South: 3 New York: 2 Southeast: 2 Northeast: 1
Top 10 Teams By Region Northwest: 3 Southwest: 3 Midwest: 2 California: 1 New York: 1 |
