The Preseason Top 100 Boys

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1. Casey Clinger, senior, American Fork (Utah): Returning NXN champion has a chance to become the first to go back to back.

2. Noah Affolder, senior, Carlisle (Pennsylvania): It's a new situation in a new school for the Syracuse-bound Foot Locker East defending champion. He ran 8:47.60 at the Loucks Games.

3. David Principe Jr, senior, La Salle Academy (Rhode Island): Returning New Englands champion; New Balance Nationals Outdoor 5,000 champion.

4. Reed Brown, senior, Southlake Carroll (Texas): Foot Locker 16th place; NXN 14th place; Texas 6A 3,200 champion (8:50.43).

5. Sam Worley, senior, Comal Canyon (Texas): Ran 4:04.86 mile at Olympic Trials exhibition race.

6. Brodey Hasty, junior, Brentwood (Tennessee): NXN 7th place; NXN Southeast champion; Tennessee Division 3 champion.  

7. Seth Hirsch, senior, Millard West (Nebraska): Returning from big post season in 2015 where he was Foot Locker 9th place and NXN 9th place.  

8. Cooper Teare, senior, St. Joseph Notre Dame (California): CIF Division 5 state champion won the state title in the 3,200 meters in the spring (8:51.85).

9. Michael Vernau, senior, Davis Senior (California): Tenth at Foot Locker last year and fourth in the CIF 3,200 (8:54.58).

10. Finn Gessner, senior, Madison La Follette (Wisconsin): The Wisconsin champion was 11th at Foot Locker last year and ran 9:01.81 for 3,200 in the spring.

11. Joe Benson, senior, Timpanogos (Utah): NXN 16th place and already running at a faster clip than he did at the start of last season.

12. Callum Bolger, senior, San Luis Obispo (California): He finished first or second in every race last fall and then backed it up with strong 3,200s on the track (8:51.58 at Arcadia).

13. Jack Aho, senior, Grayslake Central (Illinois): Reigning Illinois Class 2A champion.

14. Noah Jacobs, senior, Corunna (Michigan): LP D2 runner-up in cross country showed 8:55 speed on the track.

15. Joshua Schumacher, junior, Jesuit (Oregon): Came back from injury to close the spring season with impressive performances.

16. McKay Johns, senior, American Fork (Utah): After injury-plagued 2015, he’s a big part of American Fork’s hopes for a team title.

17. Luis Grijalva, senior, Armijo (California): Strong track season (4:07.68/8:59.98) has him pointed toward a big cross country season.

18. Noah Carey, senior, Guilderland (New York): He was fourth at New York Class A state and federation meets, then seventh at NXN New York.

19. Charlie Kern, junior, York (Illinois): He was second at the Illinois Class 3A state meet in 14:22.

20. Ahmed Muhumed, senior, West Salem (Oregon): Class 6A champion was fourth at NXN Northwest.

21. Tibebu Proctor, senior, Northwest School (Washington): He was 28th at Foot Locker last fall.

22. Matthew Pereira, junior, Lake Zurich (Illinois): He was fifth at the Illinois Class 3A state meet and then 24th at Foot Locker.

23. Waleed Suliman, senior, Douglas Freeman (Virginia): He placed 29th at Foot Locker.

24. Matt Grossman, senior, Milburn (New Jersey): The top returner in New Jersey, he won the MOC 3,200.

25. Patrick Parker, senior, American Fork (Utah): Could have a breakout year in cross after running 4:06.72 mile at Boost Boston Games.

26. Ty Brownlow, senior, Liverpool (New York): Had a strong run at NXN last year, taking 29th.

27. Steven Khan, senior, Ayala (California): The defending CIF Division 2 champion was 30th at NXN.

28. Daniel Bernal, senior, El Paso Eastwood (Texas): He was third in the UIL 6A 3,200 meters and fifth at NXN South last fall.

29. Patrick Roos, senior, Edina (Minnesota): Ready to go as the top guy coming back in Minnesota.

30. Irwin Loud, senior, Oak Park-River Forest (Illinois): Talented runner hopes to put late-season falls last year behind him.

31. Riley Collins, senior, Bozeman (Montana): Returns to try and help the Hawks qualify for NXN again.

32. Talon Hull, senior, Weber (Utah): He was third at Foot Locker West last year.

33. Andy Monroe, junior, Crater (Oregon): He was third at NXN Northwest last year.

34. Sam Affolder, sophomore, Carlisle (Pennsylvania): Running 9:16 in the 3K steeplechase showed he is catching up to his older brother.

35. Blake Evertsen, senior, Hinsdale Central (Illinois): He was fourth at the Illinois 3A state meet last year.

36. Tannor Wagner, senior, Ashwaubenon (Wisconsin): Turned in an 8:57.17 3,200 meters at the Midwest Distance Classic.

37. Marcelo Rocha, senior, Peabody Veterans Memorial (Massachusetts): Made it to Foot Locker last year and was 36th.

38. Josh Hoey, junior, Downingtown West (Pennsylvania): He was third at the Pennsylvania 3A state meet and seventh at NXN Northeast.

39. James Mwaura, junior, Lincoln (Washington): Runner-up in the Washington 3A 3,200 meters.

40. Noah Wells, senior, The Woodlands (Texas): He was runner-up in the wet, sloppy UIL 6A meet last year.

41. Matt Young, senior, Jenks (Oklahoma): He was fourth in the New Balance Nationals Outdoor 5,000.

42. Tanner Norman, senior, Classical Academy (Colorado): Returning Colorado Class 4A state champion.

43. Austin Hindman, senior, Lafayette (Missouri): He is the top returner in Missouri.

44. Jack Landgraf, junior, Dana Hills (California): He reached the CIF Finals of the 3,200 meters as a sophomore.

45. Soren Knudsen, senior, Minooka (Illinois): Ran impressive 4:08.70 at the Festival of Miles.

46. C.J. Ambrosio, senior, St. Ignatius (Ohio): Runner-up in the state 3,200 finals.

47. Nathan Lawler, junior, Pittsford Mendon (New York): The top returner in New York Class B.

48. Yared Nuguse, senior, DuPont Manual (Kentucky): Top returner in Kentucky won state title in the 1,600 (4:12.10).

49. Vince Zona, senior, Lyons Township (Illinois): He was sixth at the Illinois 3A state meet.

50. Danny Kilrea, junior, Lyons Township (Illinois): He was 10th at the Illinois Class 3A state meet.

51. Micah Pratt, senior, Home Schooled (Virginia): Qualified for Foot Locker last year.

52. Nathan Henderson, senior, J.P. McCaskey (Pennsylvania): Third at the Penn Relays 3,000; fifth at PA state cross country meet.

53. Miguel Villar, senior, Madera South (California): Taking the lead spot after graduation of Eduardo Herrera.

54. Patrick Perry, senior, Fayetteville-Manlius (New York): Returns to perennial powerhouse with NXN experience.

55. Isaac Green, senior, Monarch (Colorado): The reigning Class 5A champion in Colorado.

56. Dustin Horter, junior, Lakota East (Ohio): He was third at the Ohio state meet last fall and ran 9:02 in the spring.

57. Connor Lane, senior, Cardinal Gibbons (North Carolina): He was runner-up in in the North Carolina Class 4A state meet.

58. Mitchell Day, senior, Alpena (Michigan): Runner-up last year at the Michigan state meet.

59. Hunter Lucas, senior, Davies (North Dakota): State champion in the 1,600 and 3,200.

60. Nick Dahl, senior, Germantown Friends (Pennsylvania): Fifth in the 2-Mile at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.

61. Jordan Brannan, senior, Colts Neck (New Jersey): Fourth at the New Jersey MOC in the 3,200 and sixth at Penn Relays in the 3,000.

62. Rohann Asfaw, senior, Richard Montgomery (Maryland): The top returner in Maryland.

63. Stephen Schulz, senior, Liverpool (New York): Picked up valuable experience at NXN last year.

64. Alex Slenning, junior, Wilson (Oregon): He was fifth in the Oregon 6A 3,000 meters.

65. Curtis Eckstein, senior, Oldenburg Academy (Indiana): He was third at the Indiana state meet last fall.

66. David Melville, junior, Northern Guilford (North Carolina): He was ninth at the NXN Southeast regional.

67. Joshua Collins, junior, Belen Jesuit Prep (Florida): He was third at the Florida 3A state meet last fall.

68. Gabe Fendel, junior, Hamilton Southeastern (Indiana): He was runner-up in the 1,600 at the Indiana state track meet.

69. Cole Johnson, junior, Rockford (Michigan): He was third at the Michigan state meet last fall.

70. Taylor Vroon, senior, Brentwood (Tennessee): He was third at the Tennessee Div 1 state meet last fall.

71. Belesti Akalu, senior, Shawnee Mission North (Kansas): Returning Kansas 6A state champion.

72. Dalton Hengst, junior, McDonogh (Maryland): Private schools champ ran 4:10 mile at New York Relays.  

73. Jack Shea, senior, Cherokee (New Jersey): He was sixth in at the MOC cross country final last fall.

74. Justin Cornetta, junior, Hunterdon Central (New Jersey): He was sixth at the MOC in the 3,200.

75. Sam Schillinger, senior, Cedar Falls (Iowa): Top returner from the Iowa 4A state meet in XC and the 3,200.

76. Ben Naeger, senior, Ste. Genevieve (Missouri): Returns as Class 3 state champion.    

77. Trent Mandato, senior, Trinity Prep (Florida): Finished 12th at NXN Southeast last year.   

78. Milo Greder, senior, Omaha Westside (Nebraska): The Nebraska 1,600/3,200 champion.

79. Jordan Lesansee, senior, Albuquerque Academy (New Mexico): The New Mexico 1,600/3,200 champion.

80. Alexander Hirsch, junior, Burroughs (California): An impressive fourth at Mt. SAC last year.

81. Jonathan Lauer, senior, Sachem North (New York): He was 13th at NXN New York last fall and seventh at state.

82. Sam Toolin, sophomore, North Kingstown (Rhode Island): One of the top 10th graders in the country.

83. Cameron Ponder, junior, Mount Tabor (North Carolina): He was the Class 4A runner-up in the 3,200.

84. Solomon Fountain, senior, Great Oak (California): Top returner for the NXN champions.

85. Danny Cohen, senior, Solon (Ohio): He was fourth at the Ohio state cross country meet.

86. Nick Wolk, senior, Peters Township (Pennsylvania): Second at the Pennsylvania 3,200 meters this spring.

87. Travis Feeny, senior, Ogden (Utah): He was 10th at the Utah state meet in Class 4A last fall.

88. Brandon McGorty, senior, Chantilly (Virginia): A mid-distance phenom with loads of potential for cross country.

89. Gus Newcomb, senior, Middleton (Wisconsin): He was fifth at the Wisconsin state meet last year.

90. Eric Coston, senior, St. Paul (Louisiana): He’s the Class 5A 1,600/3,200 champion.

91. Gabe Peters, senior, Lincoln (South Dakota): State champion in cross country and on the track.

92. Jackson Ellenburg, senior, Ashley Ridge (South Carolina): Two-time state champion in South Carolina.

93. Henry Weisberg, senior, McQueen (Nevada): Reigning state champion in cross country and the 3,200.

94. Dylan Jacobs, junior, Sandburg (Illinois): Returning from powerful Sandburg team with NXN experience.

95. Seth Eliason, senior, Hopkins (Minnesota): He was sixth at the Minnesota state cross country meet.

96. Ace Castillo, junior, CC Tuloso-Midway (Texas): He was the Class 5A state meet runner-up in cross country.

97. Connor Lyons, senior, Lake Braddock (Virginia): Won the Virginia 6A title in the 3,200 meters.

98. Matthew Watkins, senior, Henry Jackson (Washington): Third in the Washington 4A 3,200 meters.

99. Luke Mason, senior, Brophy College Prep (Arizona): State champion in the 3,200 meters.

100. Zane Fodge, sophomore, McMinnville (Oregon): Strong freshman track season bodes well for the fall.