Editor’s note: SteveU’s individual rankings (originally Foot Locker Favorites) began appearing on DyeStat.com eight years ago and are continuing with DyeTrack.com. The rankings have always been based on distance-running accomplishments to date, with an emphasis on XC and 3200/2M track results, rather than a projection of how the Foot Locker Finals or NXN Finals will turn out (predictions run later in the season). As the season progresses, weight is shifted from overall career credentials to most recent accomplishments. With the transition between the closing of DyeStat.com on ESPN to the launch of DyeTrack.com, no preseason top 25 was published. The initial 2012 ranking, however, included unpublished preseason assessments (in parentheses, after each athlete’s name). Also, the first list was 20-deep, but lists since then have extended to the normal 25.

The Rankings, through 10/27 races (previous ranking in parentheses):

1. Ed Cheserek (1)
St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Unbeaten, 1st FL NE, 1st FL Finals
Analysis: The second race of the season for Ches was almost as impressive as the first, in its own way, as he soloed a very fast, nation-leading CR on a quick layout.
2012 races to date:
10/26-1st Essex Co. Champs 14:18.7 5k
10/13-1st Eastern States 11:58.7 2.5M

2. Sean McGorty (2)
Chantilly (Va.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 6th FO South, 10th FL Finals (#5 returnee)
Analysis: McGorty began his AAA state title quest with a fast district victory. Northern Region is next, followed by state.
2012 races to date:
10/24-1st Concorde District 14:38 3M
10/13-1st Glory Days Grill 14:45 5k
10/6-1st Octoberfest Invite 15:10 5k
9/29-1st Great American ROC 14:43.6 5k
9/22-1st Oatlands Invite 15:26 5k
9/8-1st Monroe Parker Inv 14:50 3M

3. Jacob Thomson (3)
Holy Cross (Louisville, Ky.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 7th FL South, 19th FL Finals (#6 returnee)
Analysis: No meet last weekend; region and state are next for Thomson.
2012 races to date:
10/20-1st Lexington Cath. Champs 15:29.36 5k
9/29-2nd Great American ROC 14:43.9
9/22-1st MW Cath. XC Champs 15:37 5k
9/15-1st Trinity/Valkyrie 14:52 5k
9/1-1st Terre Haute Prev 15:39 5k
8/25-1st Tiger Run 15:27.61 5k

4. Nick Ryan (4)
Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, N.Y.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN NY, 5th NXN Finals (#1 returnee)
Analysis: Ryan cruised to victory in his division of the CNYCL meet, his only major race since his Eastern States debut.
2012 races to date:
10/24-1st CNYCL (“American”) 15:55 3M
10/13-2nd Eastern States 12:05.7 4k

5. Bernie Montoya (5)
Cibola (Yuma, Ariz.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 10th NXN SW, 12th NXN Finals (#3 returnee)
Analysis: With no major race for nearly three weeks, Montoya busted the rust with a fast section victory that prepared him for this week’s state champs.
2012 races to date:
10/26-1st D1, Sect. 1 Champs 14:27.25 5k
10/6-1st Central Park Invite 14:39.7 3M
9/28-1st Desert Twilight 15:12.88 5k
9/15-1st Cibola Inv 15:32 5k
9/1-1st Sole Sports Fest 14:53.1 3M

6. Jake Leingang (7)
Bismarck (N.D.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL Finals, 8th NXN Finals (#2 returnee in each)
Analysis: Pushing a hard, solo effort in cold and snowy conditions, Leingang got his third straight state title in style and moves up a spot. Next will be next weekend’s NXN Heartland meet.
2012 races to date:
10/27-1st Class A state 15:09.3 5k
10/13-1st West Reg. Champs 15:24 5k
9/29-1st Roy Griak Gold 15:42.37 5k
9/22-1st Anderson/Stravn 15:20.41 5k
9/15-1st Mandan Kiwanis 15:35 5k
8/30-1st Rusty Bucket 15:59 5k

7. Andrew Gardner (6)
Mead (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL West, 6th FL Finals (#3 returnee)
Analysis: Gardner stayed unbeaten with an impressive regional victory as he continues his quest for this weekend’s 4A state title. It would have been nice to have had a comparison with #9 Kai Wilmot of North Central with the 3A regional on the same course, but Wilmot sat out with an injury.
2012 races to date:
10/27-1st Reg. 3A/4A 14:52.1 3M
10/17-1st GSL 4-way 15:43 5k
10/13-1st adidas XC Classic 14:45.5 5k
10/10-1st GSL vs SP, MS 15:29 5k
9/29-1st Mountain West 14:25.9 3M
9/26-1st dual 15:24.63 5k
9/19-1st GSL vs. Ferris 15:49 5k
9/15-1st Mead Invite 16:31 5k
9/12-1st GSL vs. LC, NC 15:34 5k
9/8-1st Highlander Invite 12:16.36 2.5M

8. Jacob Burcham (10)
Cabell Midland (Ona, W.V.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Skipped post-season; 1st Trinity Valkyrie, 2nd Great American
Analysis: Burcham really put on a show in his final state meet, tearing up his home course with his first sub-15. This bumps him up two spots. Next is to get to NXN Southeast fit and ready, a month hence, and try and help get his team to Portland while making his own individual quest.
2012 races to date:
10/27-1st AAA state 14:58.04 5k
10/18-1st AAA Reg. III & IV 15:18.2 5k
10/10-1st MSAC Champs 15:47.2 5k
9/29-1st Maymont Festival 15:28.46 5k
9/15-2nd Trinity/Valkyrie Inv 15:04.42 5k
9/1-1st GEICO Classic 16:11.18 5k

9. Joe Hardy (9)
Seattle Prep (Wash.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 5th NXN NW, 43rd NXN Finals (#13 returnee)
Analysis: Hardy cruised to victory in his state qualifying race; next is what should be a brutal 3A state meet this weekend, hopefully facing rival Kai Wilmot (see below) and a host of other standouts.
2012 races to date:
10/25-1st Dist. 2, 3A Sea-King Champs 15:25.36 5k
10/18-1st Metro Champs 15:07.2 5k
10/11-1st Metro League meet 15:29.78 5k
10/6-2nd Richland Invite 14:47.61 3M
9/26-1st 5-way meet 16:23.45 5k
9/22-1st Bob Firman Inv 15:03.01 5k
9/15-1st Sundodger Inv 14:57.10 3M
9/12-1st Six-way meet 15:52.53 5k

10. Kai Wilmot (8)
North Central (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 8th NXN NW, 49th NXN Finals (#17 returnee)
Analysis: Wilmot missed his regional meet, reportedly nursing a tendon (or IT band) injury, but his team won easily. The big question is how ready he’ll be Saturday at 3A state to race Joe Hardy and other standouts.
2012 races to date:
10/17-1st GSL #5 Mt. Spokane 14:55 3M
10/6-1st Richland Invite 14:44.73 3M
9/26-3rd GSL #3 (3-way) 15:21.64 3M
9/22-2nd Bob Firman Invite 15:06.35 5k
9/19-1st GSL #2 (3-way) 16:09.10 5k
9/12-12th GSL #1 (3-way) 17:27 5k
9/8-1st Tracy Walters Invite 14:44 3M

11. Ben Saarel (11)
Park City (Utah), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st 3A State, 11th FL West
Analysis: Saarel had a week of training/rest after winning his state meet. Next up will be either NXN Southwest or Foot Locker West.
2012 races to date:
10/17-1st 3A State 14:56.7 3M
10/9-1st Region 10 Champs 15:02 3M
9/22-3rd Bob Firman Invite 15:08.26 5k
9/7-1st Murray Invite 15:28.40 5k
9/1-1st Utah County Inv 14:58.91 3M
8/24-1st Highland Invite 14:49.1 3M

12. Bryan Fernandez (12)
Don Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 8th Woodbridge, 39th Southern Sect. Finals
Analysis: Coming off his huge Mt. SAC win, his third major invitational triumph, Fernandez had a very solid win in his county meet. His 14:47 3M was reportedly the second best ever on the course behind a Michael Coe time from 2005.
2012 races to date:
10/26-1st Santa Barbara Co. Champs 14:47 3M
10/20-1st Mt SAC D1-2 Team Sweeps 14:34 2.93M
10/11-1st Channel League #2 15:47 5k
10/6-1st Clovis Invite 15:09 5k
9/19-1st Channel League 14:21 3M
9/15-1st Woodbridge Inv. 14:19 3M
9/7-1st Seaside Invite 14:05.77 3M

13. Josh Brickell (13)
Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL South, 8th FL Finals (#4 returnee)
Analysis: After a two week break from major races, Brickell won a “last chance” meet on the state meet course by 29 seconds. Regional and state action are next.
2012 races to date:
10/27-1st Carrollton Last Chance 16:23.89 5k
10/13-1st Bale-N-Trail Inv 15:11.8 5k
9/29-3rd Great American ROC 14:57.5 5k
9/22-1st Gwinnett Co. Champs 15:43.5 5k
9/8-1st Covered Bridge Inv 15:48.14 5k
9/1-1st UGA Bulldog Inv 14:53.77 3M

14. Sam Wharton (14)
Tippecanoe (Tipp City, Ohio), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th NXN MW, 21st NXN Finals (#5 returnee)
Analysis: Wharton moved within one step of a D1 state title (this Saturday) by taking a close battle from the lead trio from US#1 St. Xavier.
2012 races to date:
10.27-1st Troy Regional 15:37.89 5k
10/20-1st Miami Valley District 15:43.43 5k
10/13-1st Cent. Buckeye Conf. 15:51.77 5k
10/6-1st Tippecanoe Inv 9:37 3M
9/29-1st Miami Co. Champ. 16:14 5k
9/22-1st Culver Acad. Invite 15:14.40 5k
9/15-1st Alliance Invite 15:15 5k

15. Thomas Madden (15)
Skyline (Front Royal, Va.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 8th FL South, 23rd FL Finals (#9 returnee)
Analysis: Madden dominated his district meet, winning by 39 seconds. His regional and state meets are next.
2012 races to date:
10/24-1st Northwestern Dist. Champs 16:31 5k
10/13-2nd Glory Days Grill 15:03 5k
9/29-4th Great American ROC 14:59.2 5k
9/22-3rd Oatlands Invite 16:04 5k
9/8-1st Judges Classic 15:55 5k

16. Aaron Templeton (16)
Hardin Valley Acad. (Knoxville, Tenn.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 5th 3A State, 24th NXN SE
Analysis: Templeton rolled to victory in his regional meet, beating a teammate by 37 seconds. Saturday’s state championship is next.
2012 races to date:
10/25-1st Region 2-AAA Champs 15:31.5 5k
10/11-1st K.I.L. Champs 15:02.5 5k
10/6-1st Wendy’s Invite 14:54 5k
9/15-1st Hardin Vall. Inv. 15:28.8 5k
9/8-1st Victor Ashe Pk Classic 16:12.6 5k

17. Bakri Abushouk (19)
Cary (N.C.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th 4A State, 20th NXN SE
Analysis: Abushouk sped to another impressive victory, winning his region by more than 30 seconds on the Great American/NXN SE course in Cary. He’s now run 15:20 or better six times and moves up two spots. Next up is 4A state this weekend.
2012 races to date:
10/27-4A Mideast Regional 15:11.62 5k
10/17-1st Tri-9 Conf. meet 15:17.62 5k
10/6-1st Wendy’s Invite 15:05 5k
9/29-5th Great American ROC 15:03.3 5k
9/15-2nd adidas Challenge 15:13.4 5k
9/8-1st Seahawk Invite 15:27 5k
8/25-1st Providence Inv 15:20 5k
8/18-1st Bay Six Kickoff 9:01.3 3k

18. Grant Nykaza (17)
Beecher (Ill.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 9th NXN MW, 7th FL MW, 33rd FL Finals (#11 returnee)
Analysis: Nykaza completed his buildup to Saturday’s 1A state final with his victory at Lisle by 39 seconds.
2012 races to date:
10/27-1st Lisle 1A Sectional 15:49 5k
10/20-1st Bishop McNam. Regional 14:52 3M
10/13-1st Patriot Invite 14:48 3M
10/8-1st Amboy Invite 14:10 2.9M
9/29-1st Loyola Lakefront 15:23 5k
9/22-1st Palatine Inv 14:36.4 3M
9/15-1st New Prairie Inv (1A) 15:31.4 5k
9/8-1st First to the Finish Inv (1A) 14:41 3M

19. Luis Martinez (18)
Cleveland (Rio Rancho, N.M.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN SW, 30th NXN Finals (#9 returnee)
Analysis: Martinez stayed unbeaten with a final invitational win, now on to district and state competition before attempting defend his NXN SW crown.
2012 races to date:
10/27-1st Los Alamos Invite 15:39.08 3M
10/20-1st Rio Rancho Invite 15:50.3 3M
10/13-1st Metro Champs 15:16.14 5k
9/28-1st Albuquerque Acad. Inv. 15:40.18 5k
9/21-1st Socorro Stampede 15:45.11 5k
9/8-1st Cleveland Invite 15:23.85 3M
8/31-1st Lobo Invite 16:01.7 5k

20. Connor Sorrells (HM)
Barr Reeve (Montgomery, Ind.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th IN Semi-State, 22nd IN State, 160th FL Midwest
Analysis: After an inauspicious finish to his 2011 XC campaign at state and Foot Locker Midwest, Sorrells made monster improvements in the spring as he went from a 9:30s 3,200 guy in March, to successive PRs of 9:21, 9:08, 9:02 and finally 9:01.40 behind Zienasellassie at state. This fall, he had three early losses, but by early October his fitness level began to approach what he had last spring and he went unbeaten the rest of the way through last Saturday’s state title.
2012 races to date:
10/27-1st State Champs 15:21.3 5k
10/20-1st Brown Co. Semi-State 15:17.3 4k
10/13-1st Pike Central Regional 15:26 5k
10/9-1st South Knox Sect. 16:35 5k
10/4-1st Blue Chip Conf. 14:58 5k
9/22-1st Pike Central Invite 15:25 5k
9/18-1st Barr Reeve Invite 16:14 5k
9/15-1st South Knox Invite 15:35 5k
9/8-2nd Eagle Classic 15:47.41 5k
9/1-4th Terre Haute State Prev. 15:58.2 5k
8/25-2nd Purdue Invite 16:16.2 5k

21. Jack Keelan (20)
St. Ignatius (Chicago), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Did not qualify for state; 15th NXN MW
Analysis: Keelan continued his quest toward Saturday’s 3A state championship race with a solid section win over the front group from US#10 York.
2012 races to date:
10/20-1st Niles West Sectional 14:44.86 3M
10/13-1st Chicago Cath. Champs 14:28.81 3M
9/29-1st Pat Savage Inv. 14:59.21 3M
9/22-2nd Palatine Invite 14:37.0 3M
9/15-1st Connelly Polka Inv 15:11.23 3M
9/8-1st First to the Finish Inv (3A) 14:35.0 3M
9/1-1st ICOPS Invite 15:31.7 3M

22. Sumner Goodwin (24)
Lewis and Clark (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 7th 4A state, 18th NXN NW, 33rd FL West
Analysis: Goodwin was beaten in his regional meet by his 4A rival #7 Andrew Gardner, but ran another fast time. He’s a good bet to be in the top 2-3 at 4A state Saturday.
2012 races to date:
10/27-2nd Reg. 3A/4A 15:06.2 3M
10/17-1st GSL #5 14:50.83 3M
10/10-1st GSL #4 16:04 5k
10/6-3rd Richland Invite 15:11.81 5k
9/29-2nd Stanford Invite 15:09 5k
9/26-1st GSL #3 17:11 5k
9/19-1st GSL #2 15:59 5k
9/12-2nd GSL #1 15:43 5k
9/8-1st Toaster Splash 12:52 4k

23. Zach Perrin (23)
Flathead (Kalispell, Mont.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 2nd State
Analysis: No races for Perrin the week after he won his Class AA state title. Next up: NXN Northwest and/or Foot Locker West.
2012 races to date:
10/20-1st Class AA State 15:08.7 3M
10/11-2nd Glacier Invite 16:07 3M
10/4-2nd Capital City 7-of-7 14:46.6 3M
9/29-5th Mtn. West Classic 14:58.2 3M
9/22-1st Butte Invite 14:52.98 3M
9/15-1st Ronan Invite 14:28 3M
9/8-3rd Flathead Invite 15:43.73 3M

24. Sibby Hanson (25)
Arlington (Lagrangeville, N.Y.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 17th NY Feds, 12th NXN NY
Analysis: No meets for Hanson the week after he stayed unbeaten with a pair of Section 1 victories.
2012 races to date:
10/20-1st Section 1 Coaches Inv 16:12.65 5k
10/16-1st Section 1 Lg Champs 16:26.3 5k
10/13-1st Burnt Hills Invite 15:07.17 5k
9/29-1st McQuaid Invite 14:39 3M
9/22-1st Queensbury Inv 15:42.21 5k
9/15-1st Somers Big Red Inv 16:08 5k

25. Joe Sansone (22)
Carroll (Southlake, Texas), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th NXN South, 22nd NXN Finals (#6 returnee)
Analysis: Sansone was second behind a teammate as his team took the top three spots in its district. Regionals and state are next.
2012 races to date:
10/25-2nd District 4-5A Champs 15:52.64 5k
10/13-1st Chile Pepper Fest. 15:06.0 5k
10/6-9th Nike South Invite 15:34.9 5k
9/1-1st Marcus I Invite 15:14.8 5k