First three regionals begin to shape NXN field

By Paul Schmitz of DyeStat

On the heels of more than 20 state meets, there are adjustments up and down this week's rankings, but Loudoun Valley VA and Great Oak CA remain the top two teams in the country.

In Washington, 3A winner Kamiakin and 4A winner Lewis & Clark and runner-up Central Valley are all so close they share the No. 30 slot this week. But all three could have a hard time reaching NXN ahead of Jesuit OR or Crater OR at the NXR Northwest meet. 

Many of the preseason top teams are rounding into form and getting healthy just in time for the postseason. Preseason No. 2 Wayzata ran again without one of its top runners and cruised to a Minnesota large class final scoring 30 points. All of Wayzata’s top six runners improved their time from the sectional meet on a state course that averaged slower than the section course for the other top runners. This improvement moves the Trojans back to the No. 6 spot. Another highly ranked preseason team that slipped slightly in the ranking mid-year and is back on the rise is Downers Grove North IL. DGN was scored an impressive 73 points in the packed 3A Illinios field and finished with a tight 17-second 1-5 split and a 14:45 average at Detweiller Park. The 14:45 average is very close to the 14:44 average of 2016 champion Neuqua Valley and the 14:43 average of 2015 champion Sandburg. Those two teams went on to finish fifth and fourth at NXN.

Sticking with the theme of the rise of preseason favorites, we look to Oregon. National preseason No. 8 Crater is finally healthy and put together a complete team effort in its 5A race at the Oregon state meet. Led by low stick state champion Andy Monroe, Crater dominated the 5A meet scoring only 32 points. Not to be outdone, regional No. 1 Jesuit OR scored only 35 points in Class 6A. 

A slight dip for some California teams comes as coaches rest runners and prep for a push toward the CIF final. Expect them to move back up in the coming weeks.       

Top 30

1. Loudoun Valley VA

2. Great Oak CA

3. Springville UT

4. Loyola CA

5. Downers Grove North IL

6. Wayzata MN 

7. Chrisian Brothers Academy NJ

8. Jesuit OR

9. Milton GA 

10. Desert Vista AZ

11. Burnt Hills Ballton NY

12. Carmel IN 

13. Crater OR

14. American Fork UT

15. Dana Hills CA

16. Crescenta Valley CA

17. Fayetteville-Manius NY 

18. Green Hope NC

19. The Woodlands TX

20. Corning NY

21. Eleanor Roosevelt CA

22. Neuqua Valley IL

23. Timpanogos UT

24. Mounain Visa CO

25. Dublin CA 

26. St. Xavier KY

27. Niskayuna NY 

28. Bishop Hendricken RI 

29. Wheaton Warrenville South IL

30. Central Valley WA

(tie) Kamiakin WA

(tie) Lewis and Clark WA