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 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. This initial 2012 ranking, however, includes unpublished preseason assessments (in parentheses, after each athlete’s name). Also, this first list is 20-deep, with subsequent lists to extend to the normal 25 and include an extensive honorable mention. Next week’s list will include a story on some of the top storylines to date.

(through meets of Sept. 22)

1. Ed Cheserek (1)
St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Unbeaten, 1st FL NE, 1st FL Finals
Analysis: Ches probably once seemed unbeatable to other national class preps, but no more after his 12th in the adidas Dream Mile. And it appears the senior will be held out until at least late in the fall to work on his academics. There’s a chance he won’t race at all. All that said, don’t be surprised if the rest does him some good, and he emerges in November back to the overwhelming force he was last fall and almost all of last winter.
2012 races to date: None

2. Jacob Thomson (5)
Holy Cross (Louisville, Ky.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 7th FL South, 19th FL Finals (#6 returnee)
Analysis: While a “purely XC” preseason analysis might have had him below 2-time Foot Locker Finals top-10 finisher Andrew Gardner and fellow South finalists Josh Brickell and Sean McGorty (who beat him in both FL races), an exceptional spring (two sub-9:00 3200s and an NBNO 5,000 runner-up behind Jake Leingang in 14:34.78) elevated Thomson to the #5 slot to start. Now with his huge win at Trinity/Valkyrie over Jacob Burcham, he’s up to #2. Great American is next.
2012 races to date:
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

3. Jake Leingang (2)
Bismarck (N.D.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL Finals, 8th NXN Finals (#2 returnee in each)
Analysis: Leingang was slotted at #2 in the preseason as the #2 returnee for BOTH Foot Locker and NXN (he ran better at Foot Locker, where he was 4th), and because he was the NBNO 5k champ last spring in 14:27.16 (succeeding 2011 champ Cheserek). He backed it up in track not just with that NBNO title, but his 8:51.23 3200 (4th at Arcadia) and 8:59.66 2M indoors (2nd at Brooks). Three easy wins in XC so far (missed one with a cold) with first big race at Griak 9/29.
2012 races to date:
9/22-1st Anderson/Stravn 15:20.41 5k
9/15-1st Mandan Kiwanis 15:35 5k
8/30-1st Rusty Bucket 15:59

4. Bernie Montoya (3)
Cibola (Yuma, Ariz.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 10th NXN SW, 12th NXN Finals (#3 returnee)
Analysis: Montoya kind of squeaked into NXN Finals with his 10th in the SW region, then ran a solid 12th in Portland. So we knew he was good, but no one was really ready for the US#2 8:48.25 3200 bomb he dropped at Arcadia in April for 2nd behind Futsum Zeinasellassie. Even better was the US#1 4:01.32 to win the adidas Dream Mile. Suffice it to say, if he can reach that level in XC, he could be the best. Could make a statement at Mt. SAC in late October.
2012 races to date:
9/15-1st Cibola Inv 15:32 5k
9/1-1st Sole Spts Festival 14:53.1 3M

5. Joe Hardy (12)
Seattle Prep (Wash.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 5th NXN NW, 43rd NXN Finals (#13 returnee)
Analysis: Hardy was a very good soph last fall in XC, taking 43rd at NXN Finals after a 5th-place finish in the Northwest. But it was his jaw-dropping progression in the spring that really opened eyes: He twice ran under 9:00 for 3,200 with a best of US#9 8:55.22 for the 3A state title, and twice ran 4:09 for 1,600. He was slotted at #12 in the preseason and now jumps to #5 after four early wins, capped by a big 15:03.01 to win Firman over Kai Wilmot and others.
2012 races to date:
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

6. Nick Ryan (4)
Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, N.Y.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN NY, 5th NXN Finals (#1 returnee)
Analysis: Ryan’s early pace last fall at the NXN Finals looked almost suicidal, and while he didn’t win, he held on for a very good 5th-place finish. That surprised some of the experts, then he impressed again at the end of outdoor with a 9:03.81 3,200 / US#2 4:05.24 1,600 double to win both events at NY state. His emergence reminds some of how Alex Hatz came on for F-M a few years ago. Manhattan on 10/13 might be only major race until state series.
2012 races to date: None

7. Andrew Gardner (6)
Mead (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL West, 6th FL Finals (#3 returnee)
Analysis: Gardner blew people away with his 9:01.40 3200 as a frosh, then followed it up in Fall 2010 with 2nd at Foot Locker West and 4th in the Finals. You could say last fall he took a tiny step back with 4th and 6th-place finishes in those two meets. This past spring, he got his first sub-9 with an 8:59.83 at state, but it’s fair to say he’s plateaued a bit since his explosion on the scene. Solid start to 2012 so far; if he can take the next step, he’ll truly contend for a national title.
2012 races to date:
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 (7)
Cabell Midland (Ona, W.V.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Skipped post-season; 1st Trinity Valkyrie, 2nd Great American
Analysis: Burcham started the fall #7, despite skipping his 2011 XC post-season. In his biggest 2011 invites, though, he beat FL Finalist Jacob Thomson (twice), Fla. star Andres Arroyo, and Tenn. star Brock Baker. In the spring, Burcham was the NBNO mile champ, 2nd in the adidas Dream Mile (US#2 4:02.73), and basically soloed a 1:54.01/4:08.91/8:57.73 triple at state. He didn’t defend his Trinity/Valkyrie against Thomson, but his 15:04 in 2nd was still outstanding.
2012 races to date:
9/15-2nd Trinity/Valkyrie Inv 15:04.42 5k
9/1-1st GEICO Classic 16:11.18 5k

9. Sean McGorty (8)
Chantilly (Va.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 6th FO South, 10th FL Finals (#5 returnee)
Analysis: McGorty never lacked for competition as a junior in Va., seeming to race fellow FL Finalist Ahmed Bile every other week. That steeled him for a top-ten finish in San Diego and he carried over his success to the track, where he ran 4:09.19 and 9:05.51 metric PRs in state, and for the imperial distances 4:11.95 and 9:05.27 (7th NBNO). After two nice invite wins in state, he’ll clash with Thomson, Josh Brickell and others at Great American.
2012 races to date:
9/22-1st Oatlands Invite 15:26 5k
9/8-1st Monroe Parker Inv 14:50 3M

10. Kai Wilmot (14)
North Central (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 8th NXN NW, 49th NXN Finals (#17 returnee)
Analysis: The latest star from the North Central powerhouse (and “American Rift Valley” region), Wilmot’s soph year trajectory paralleled Hardy’s: He was just behind his fellow soph with 8th and 49th in his two NXN races. His monster 3,200 breakout in the spring was an 8:57.66 at the Shoreline Invite. He ran 9:01.83 for 3rd at state, then tackled the US Junior 5,000 with an impressive 6th in US#6 14:44.58. A strong second to Hardy at Firman to highlight 2012, so far. He was nursing an injury, reportedly, in the first GSL meet, which Gardner won.
2012 races to date:
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. Josh Brickell (9)
Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL South, 8th FL Finals (#4 returnee)
Analysis: One of the biggest surprises of the 2011 Foot Locker season was Brickell, who really broke out nationally with his win at the flrunners.com meet, then took 4th in FL South and 8th at Balboa. He didn’t really have that monster performance in track, but still clocked nice PRs of 14:46.35 (6th NBNO), 9:12.91y (16th NBNO) and 4:12.37y (2nd Golden South). Has three in-state invite wins to start season. He’ll face Thomson, McGorty and others at Great American.
2012 races to date:
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

12. Sam Wharton (15)
Tippecanoe (Tipp City, Ohio), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th NXN MW, 21st NXN Finals (#5 returnee)
Analysis: Wharton is the man to beat in Ohio, after emerging as arguably the state’s second best long-distance runner as a junior. He was 2nd to now-graduated Tsefaye Hiluf in both the D1 state XC meet and the D1 state 3,200 (9:01.24). Nationally in XC, he ran 5th in NXN MW, then 21st at NXN Finals. In track, he was an off-form 10th in the MW Distance Festival 2M, but then a strong 5th in the NBNO 5,000 with a US#7 14:46.31. Has started the fall with two strong invite victories.
2012 races to date:
9/22-1st Culver Acad. Invite 15:14.40 5k
9/15-1st Alliance Invite 15:15 5k

13. Ben Saarel (21)
Park City (Utah), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st 3A State, 11th FL West
Analysis: After winning his 3A state meet last fall, Saarel narrowly missed Foot Locker Finals with an 11th in the West region race at Mt. SAC. In the spring, he showed range that only a few in the country could top, clocking 9:01.46 for 3,200 at Arcadia and winning his state meet 800 with 1:52.93 (part of a 3A triple). After two in-state wins to start 2012 XC, took a very strong 3rd at Bob Firman Invite behind WA stars Hardy and Wilmot.
2012 races to date:
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

14. Brock Baker (10)
Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 2nd Trinity Valkyre Inv., 24th FL South
Analysis: Baker looked like one of the region’s best early last fall with a 2nd behind Burcham at Trinity/Valkyrie (beating Thomson), but illness contributed to a DNF at state and 24th at FL South. But he showed his true colors on the track with 3rd at the NBNI 2M (US#3 9:02.44) and 5th in the NBNO deuce (US#6 9:00.22). He also ran an 8:58.51 3,200 at Arcadia and a 4:10.99 mile. Two easy wins so far in XC. He’ll also be in Great American field vs. Thomson, etc.
2012 races to date:
9/15-1st Tennessee Classic 15:51.25 5k
8/30-1st Voyles Classic 15:21.63 5k

15. Grant Nykaza (HM)
Beecher (Ill.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 9th NXN MW, 7th FL MW, 33rd FL Finals (#11 returnee)
Analysis: This small-school standout runs in Illinois’ smallest classification. After taking 2nd at state last fall and just missing earning a Portland ticket, he was a surprise at Foot Locker Midwest to qualify for his first national meet. His track times (4:17.36 1600, 9:49.03) were relatively modest, but with his big victory over big-school standout Jack Keelan at Palatine, he’s already shown he’s ready for the big stage again.
2012 races to date:
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

16. Joe Sansone (HM)
Carroll (Southlake, Texas), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th NXN South, 22nd NXN Finals (#6 returnee)
Analysis: Running for one of the nation’s three top harrier powerhouses, Sansone is part of a Dragon pack where any of several might lead on a given day. But the senior has proven the ability to step up on the biggest stage, as Carroll’s top man in both NXN races. He impressed in the spring with a Texas Relays 3,200 victory in a PR 9:09.24. And, in the one major race this fall, he won the Marcus I Invite and defeated 2011 FL Finalist Robert Domanic.
2012 races to date:
9/1-1st Marcus I Invite 15:14.8 5k

17. Luis Martinez (HM)
Cleveland (Rio Rancho, N.M.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN SW, 30th NXN Finals (#9 returnee)
Analysis: Martinez made a big splash on to the national radar last November when after his 5A state meet win, he scored a monster 15:08 victory in the NXN Southwest meet. As a soph, he’d been just 55th. After a solid race in Portland, his junior track season was limited to in-state action, though he scored a nice 4:17.50/9:13.16 double for 1,600 and 3,200 in the Richard Harper Invite. He hopes with three early victories for his NM powerhouse, that he can improve on 2011.
2012 races to date:
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 3M

18. Jack Keelan (16)
St. Ignatius (Chicago), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Did not qualify for state; 15th NXN MW
Analysis: After taking 12th as a soph, Keelan missed his 3A state XC meet as a junior with a bad regional meet (though he later was 15th at NXN Midwest). This was after a strong invitational season, though, and in track this past spring he exploded to an 8:55.86 3,200 PR at Arcadia, ran a strong second in the state 3,200, and was 3rd in the MW Distance Festival mile (4:11.77). A good start this fall with three wins and a very narrow defeat to fellow IL standout Grant Nykaza.
2012 races to date:
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

19. Wayde Hall (NR)
Stillwater (Minn.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 13th NXN HL, 51st NXN Finals
Analysis: Running for a team that is a strong contender for the state’s best and a return ticket to the NXN Finals (US#7 preseason by Marc Bloom), Hall is the leader and seems to be developing into a regional and national standout. He had solid runs at both NXN races as a junior, then ran 4:14.58 and 9:19.68 for 16/32 at state in the spring (3rd in both). This fall, he’s started fast with three wins in four races, beating 2011 Foot Locker Finalist Addison DeHaven at Faribault.
2012 races to date:
9/22-1st Milaca Mega Meet 15:25.3 5k
9/13-1st Mayo Invite 15:52.7 5k
9/7-1st Faribault Invite 15:14.7 5k
9/1-2nd Columbus Cath. Inv 15:35 5k

20. Andres Arroyo (HM)
Colonial (Orlando, Fla.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th Great American, 1st 4A State, 186th FL South
Analysis: This Sunshine State star is yet another who could eventually have sub-1:50/sub-9 chops and run very well in XC. In addition to Great Am 4th and state win, he took Little Everglades Pre-State, but his season ended with disaster at McAlpine. Arroyo’s track stats ranged from a Fla. Relays 800 win (1:51.04) to a FSU Relays 3,200 title (9:10.37), plus a 4A state 16/32 double and a Golden South mile win (4:11.70). He’s due for a big national success.
2012 races to date:
9/8-1st Spikes and Spurs Classic 15:44.1 5k
8/24-1st Benz XC Jamboree 16:04.2 5k