Boys Regional Rankings - 10/21/2021

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Manhattan High School Invitational Presented by Hoka returned to the cross country landscape in 2021, but it didn't hit with the weight of its usual impact. Some schools that are Manhattan staples were unable to attend due to travel restrictions or other factors, but the meet still drew enough of the powerful teams together to produce a shakeup in the Northeast. 

For a team like U-32 of Montpelier, Vt., Manhattan was a chance to make history. The public school has an enrollment of 400 (200 boys) and it still managed to place third in the Eastern States Championship race, led by twin brothers Austin and Carson Beard and another set of brothers, Oliver and Cyrus Hansen. In defeating Rhode Island powers Bishop Hendricken and La Salle Academy, albeit not by much, U-32 has put itself in position to vie for Vermont's first New England Championship title. 

Meanwhile, LaSalle College of Pennsylvania rode a victory at Manhattan to the top of the Northeast rankings, unseating Ridge of New Jersey, which had the fastest runner of the day on the 2.5-mile circuit at Van Cortlandt Park (Jackson Barna), but not enough supporting pieces. 

There is not a lot of shifting this week in the regional rankings because in many states, the march toward state championship dates has begun. With top programs mowing over competition at conference and regional meets, the next major developments should come from the state meets themselves. Case in point, Utah and Colorado are getting ready to go next week. 

In the Heartland region, the conference meets are the time to step on the gas and Wayzata and Minnetonka of Minnesota both elevated their performance to make a push back up the rankings. Millard West of Nebraska, the region's No. 1, will try to make a statement this weekend at the NSAA Championship meet. 

In California, Granada won the Roughrider Invitational and San Clemente won the Orange Country Championships with performances that warranted inclusion in this week's top five. 

SOUTH

1. Grapevine TX

2. Southlake Carroll TX

3. El Paso Eastwood TX

4. The Woodlands TX

5. Jesuit LA

SOUTHEAST

1. Mount Tabor NC

2. Severna Park MD 

3. Belen Jesuit FL

4. Hardin Valley Academy TN 

5. University WV

NORTHEAST

1. Lasalle College PA

2. Union Catholic NJ 

3. U-32 VT

4. Hempfield PA

5. Ridge NJ

NEW YORK

1. Corning-Painted Post.

2. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 

3. Fayetteville-Manlius

4. Fairport

5. Webster Thomas    

MIDWEST

1. Orland Park (Sandburg) IL 

2. Hilliard Davidson OH

3. Columbus North IN

4. St. Xavier OH  

5. Center Grove IN

HEARTLAND

1. Millard West NE

2. Sioux City North IA

3. Wayzata MN

4. Minnetonka MN

5. Dowling Catholic IA 

NORTHWEST

1. Jesuit OR

2. Central Catholic OR

3. Bishop Blanchet WA

4. Lincoln OR

5. Franklin OR

SOUTHWEST

1. Cheyenne Mountain CO

2. Niwot CO

3. Farmington UT

4. Valor Christian CO

5. Mountain Vista CO

CALIFORNIA

1. Newbury Park

2. Loyola

3. Great Oak

4. Granada

5. San Clemente