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 The initial 2012 ranking, however, included unpublished preseason assessments (in parentheses, after each athlete’s name).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.

(this week’s “storylines” are incorporated into individual analysis)

The Rankings, through 10/13 races (previous ranking in parentheses):

1. Sarah Baxter (1)
Simi Valley (Calif.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 1st D2 state (1st overall), 1st NXN Finals
Analysis: Baxter’s only races since Woodbridge have been a few league meet romps, so here’s hoping she’s ready to rock at Mt. SAC this weekend.
2012 races to date:
10/11-1st Marmonte Lg 16:44 3M
9/20-1st Marmonte Lg Tri 17:46.63 3M
9/15-1st Woodbridge 16:12 3M
9/8-1st Fastback Shootout 11:00.2 1.9M

2. Amy-Eloise Neale (2)
Glacier Peak (Snohomish, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN NW, 5th NXN Finals
Analysis: Neale hasn’t raced since Oct. 6, but she had a conference championship scheduled this week.
2012 (major) races to date:
10/6-1st Hole in the Wall Inv 17:10.4 5k
9/29-1st Stanford Inv Seeded 16:52 5k
9/22-1st Bellvue Invite 17:04.5 5k
9/15-1st Sundodger Invite 16:31.12 4.92K
9/8-1st Sehome Invite 10:54.93 2M

3. Hagen Reedy (3)
Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st D1 state (4th overall), 7th NXN Finals
Analysis: Returning to her home (and the state meet) course for the second time in less than a week, Reedy became only the second girl (along with legendary Julia Stamps) to run 17:01 or faster on Woodward – according to Rich Gonzalez at prepcaltrack.com.
2012 races to date:
10/12-1st McD’s Rough Rider Inv 17:01 5k
10/6-1st Clovis Invite 16:59 5k
9/15-2nd Woodbridge Invite 16:17 3M
9/8-1st KHS Invite 10:36.79 2M

4. Mary Cain (5)
Bronxville (N.Y.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 3rd NXN NY, 6th NXN Finals
Analysis: With her stellar victory in the Manhattan “Varsity A” race, Cain notched the fastest clocking of the meet and improved by 28 seconds over last year.
2012 races to date:
10/13-1st Manhattan “Varsity A” 14:03.9 2.5M
10/6-1st St. Anthony’s Inv 18:45.3 5k
9/22-1st Warwick Wave 17:59.8 5k
9/15-1st Villa Bears Inv 14:42.2 4k

5. Julia Bos (4)
Grand Rapids Christian (Mich.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 2nd FL Midwest, 10th FL Finals
Analysis: Having roared through her major invitationals, Bos started her championship season with a county victory with her conference meet having been slated to go earlier this week.
2012 (major) races to date:
10/13-1st Kent Ottawa Champs 17:57.1 5k
10/6-1st Portage Invite 17:19.1 5k
9/29-1st Carson City Invite 17:37.3 5k
9/22-1st Cougar Falcon Invite 17:21.9 5k
9/14-1st MSU Spartan Invite 17:20 5k
9/8-1st Christian Schools Inv 17:59.92 5k
8/25-1st Benzie/Pete Moss Inv 17:26.7 5k

6. Ashley Erba (6)
Warsaw Comm. (Ind.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st state, 28th FL Midwest
Analysis: Returning yet again to Culver, Erba upped the ante with a new PR, surpassing her time from the Sept. 22 invite there. Semi-state is next for her.
2012 races to date:
10/13-1st Culver Regional Champs 17:12.5 5k
10/6-1st Culver Sectional 17:29.7 5k
9/29-1st Northern Lakes Conf. 17:17.14 5k
9/22-1st Culver Acad. Inv. 17:13.7 5k
9/15-2nd New Prairie Inv. 17:25.1 5k
9/8-1st Northrup Bruin Inv 17:43.2 5k
8/25-1st Dekalb Classic 18:12.32 5k
8/18-1st Huntington North Inv 17:30.4 5k

7. Katie Knight (7)
North Central (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 2nd NXN NW, 3rd NXN Finals
Analysis: With her fourth (last week) and fifth (earlier this week) league meets the only competition on the schedule, Knight is getting ready for the championship part of the campaign.
2012 (major) races to date:
10/10-1st GSL #4 tri meet 18:10 3M
10/6-1st Richland Invite 17:16.53 3M
9/22-1st Firman Invite 17:59.46 5k
9/19-1st GSL #2 tri-meet 19:22.43 5k
9/12-1st GSL #1 tri-meet 18:18 5k
9/8-1st Tracy Walters Inv 17:47 3M

8. Alexa Efraimson (8)
Camas (Camas, Wash.), Class of 2015
2011 XC: 3rd NXN NW, 14th NXN Finals
Analysis: Efraimson, having made her mark in earlier major invites, is cruising through the end of the league season with the championships ahead.
2012 (major) races to date:
10/9-1st tri-meet 18:03 5k
10/6-2nd Richland Invite 17:22.87 3M
9/29-2nd Stanford Invite 17:04 5k
9/14-1st Pier Park Invite 18:01.5 5k
9/7-1st Hudson Bay Inv 18:00 5k

9. Maria Hauger (12)
Shakopee (Minn.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN HL, 5th FL MW, 24th NXN Finals, 21st FL Finals
Analysis: Hauger has built momentum from her major Griak win and continues to blaze sub-14 times over 4k, one coming in a mid-week local invite last week and her conference meet this week (included in next week’s rankings).
2012 races to date:
10/9-1st Shakopee Invite 13:44.1 4k
9/29-1st Roy Griak Invite 17:50 5k
9/22-1st Apple Valley Eagle Inv 13:58.4 4k
9/14-1st Lakeville Applejack Inv 13:37.6 4k
9/6-2nd Gerry Smith Invite 14:13.3 4k
8/31-1st St. Olaf Showcase 14:02.8 4k

10. Jordyn Colter (HM)
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.), Class of 2015
2011 XC: 1st Liberty Bell, 2nd Nike Pre Nats, 1st 5A state
Analysis: After a decisive league meet win, Colter prepared for her region meet late this week.
2012 races to date:
10/11-1st Centennial Lg 17:43 5k
9/29-3rd Stanford Invite 17:05 5k
9/14-1st Liberty Bell 17:00.60 5k
9/7-1st Cherry Creek Inv 17:31 5k
8/31-1st Cheyenne Mtn Stampede 19:17.6 5k

11. Alana Hadley (14)
Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, N.C.), Class of 2015
2011 XC: 10th FL South, 34th FL Finals
Analysis: Hadley racked up another impressive performance vs. collegiate/open runners last weekend at McAlpine Greenway, this time winning against a field that included runners from Duke, Florida State and other universities. For comparison’s sake, she ran 17:27 on the same course last November at FL South.
2012 races to date:
10/12-1st Royals Challenge 17:16.7 5k
9/28-12th UNC Charlotte Invite 21:52 6k
9/14-3rd adidas Challenge (college/open) 17:16 5k

12. Sophie Chase (11)
Lake Braddock (Burke, Va.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 2nd FL South, 11th FL Finals
Analysis: No meet for Chase last weekend after two straight major meet victories.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Nike South Inv 17:40.40 5k
9/29-1st Maymont Festival 17:54.38 5k
9/18-1st Lake Braddock Relays 8:14 1.5M leg

13. Jillian Fanning (9)
Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, N.Y.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN NY, 4th NXN Finals
Analysis: Unfortunately, no debut for Fanning last weekend in Easterns at Manhattan, but Coach Aris says she’s training and he expects her to debut as championship season unfolds soon.
2012 (major) races to date: None

14. Erin Finn (13)
West Bloomfield (Mich.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 3rd FL Midwest, 2nd FL Finals
Analysis: Finn was diagnosed almost two weeks ago with iron deficiency, which certainly contributed to performances this fall that were good by most standards, but not quite Finn-worthy. She had a league jamboree scheduled Friday, the last meet before regional and state competition. It will be fascinating to see if she rises again to the super-elite level.
2012 (major) races to date:
10/6-1st Oakland County Champs 18:18 5k
9/28-1st Waterford Mott Classic 18:10.7 5k
9/14-2nd MSU Spartan Inv 17:35 5k
9/11-1st OAA White Jamboree 18:09.4 5k
9/8-1st West Bloom/Broth. Rice Inv 18:11.71 5k
8/28-1st Mustang Invite 17:39.0 5k

15. Alli Cash (15)
Shawnee Mission West (Kan.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th NXN HL, 40th NXN Finals
Analysis: Cash had her league meet Monday (posted next week), her first race since her runner-up finish at Griak. Regional and state competition is ahead.
2012 races to date:
9/29-2nd Roy Griak Invite 17:55.4 5k
9/22-1st Rim Rock Farms 13:59.22 4k
9/15-1st Baldwin Invite 13:16 4k
9/3-1st Greg Wilson Inv 13:46.7 4k

16. Anna Rohrer (16)
Mishawaka (Ind.), Class of 2015
2011 XC: DNQ for state, 19:14.1 best
Analysis: After a fast regional victory, Rohrer runs semi-states this weekend and is on a collision course for a third race next weekend at state vs. #6 Hoosier rival Ashley Erba (they have split two meetings).
2012 races to date:
10/13-1st Elkhart Cent. Regional 17:24 5k
10/6-1st South Bend Sectional 17:33.2 5k
9/29-1st Northern Indiana Conf. 17:38 5k
9/22-2nd Culver Acad. Inv. 17:32.1 5k
9/15-1st New Prairie Inv 17:14.1 5k
9/8-1st Northridge Inv 17:56.9 5k
8/18-1st Viking Stampede 17:46 5k

17. Taylor Werner (17)
Ste. Genevieve (Mo.), Class of 2016
2011 XC: None (freshman)
Analysis: The frosh Werner stayed unbeaten with another easy invite win, with the championship season beginning.
2012 races to date:
10/13-1st Borgia Invite 17:55.3 5k
10/6-1st Potosi Invite 17:30 5k
9/22-1st Hancock Invite 18:00.2 5k
9/15-1st Paul Enke Invite 18:28.7 5k
9/8-1st Forest Park Festival 16:59.3 5k
9/4-1st Jim Marshall Invite 12:29 2.2M

18. Maggie Drazba (18)
St. Mary’s (W.V.), Class of 2013
2011-12 XC: 1st State, 13th FL South, 2nd USATF Jrs
Analysis: Drazba cruised to a conference meet win and was slated for regional competition Friday. State will be next week and she likely won’t be pushed until the post-season..
2012 (major) races to date:
10/11-1st Little Kanawha Conf. 19:16.37 5k
10/6-1st Times Invite 19:05.69 5k
9/29-1st Great American ROC 17:27.9 5k
9/22-1st Bearcat Invite 19:47 5k
9/8-1st Chick Fil A Invite 18:01 5k
9/1-1st GEICO Classic 18:30.22 5k

19. Makena Morley (21)
Big Fork (Mont.), Class of 2015
2011 XC: 3rd FL West, 9th FL Finals
Analysis: Morley notched another blazing, near-solo sub-17 for three miles in her state qualifying race. With her state finals Saturday, she then faces a long block of training to prepare for a return trip to Foot Locker Finals (or an NXN bid, if she goes that route).
2012 races to date:
10/13-1st Western B Divisional 16:56 3M
10/6-1st Capital City 7 of 7 Inv 16:50 3M
9/29-1st Mountain West Inv 17:07 3M
9/22-1st Polson Invite 17:31 3M
9/15-1st Ronan Invite 17:14 3M
9/10-1st Flathead Invite 17:47.87 3M

20. Karis Jochen (19)
A&M Consolidated (College Station, Texas), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 2nd NXN South, 9th FL South, 31st NXN Finals, 12th FL Finals
Analysis: No race for Jochen last week following her big McNeil win.
2012 races to date
10/6-1st McNeil Invite 17:29.6 5k
9/22-1st Cedar Park Invite 17:28.11 5k

21. Hannah Long (20)
Eureka (Mo.), Class of 2015
2011 XC: 2nd Class 4 state, 11th FL Midwest
Analysis: Long had last weekend off from racing as she prepared for regional and state competition.
2012 races to date:
10/8-1st Suburb. West Conf. 18:08.57 5k
9/29-2nd Great American ROC 17:30.0 5k
9/13-1st Parkway Central Inv 18:34 5k
9/8-2nd Forest Pk Festival 17:07 5k
8/31-1st Fleet Feet Kickoff 11:34 2M

22. Kaylee Flanagan (22)
Lake Park (Roselle, Ill.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th NXN MW, 10th FL MW, 18th NXN Finals, 31st FL Finals
Analysis: Following an off day at the Falcon meet, Flanagan bounced back to dominate her conference meet and display her readiness for the championship season.
2012 races to date:
10/13-1st Upstate North Conf. 16:39.2 3M
9/29-12th WN Falcon Classic 17:22.7 3M
9/22-1st Palatine Invite 16:49 3M
9/15-1st Richard Spring Invite 16:20.3 3M
9/8-1st Lake Park Lancer Inv 16:27.7 3M
9/1-1st Fenton Earlybird Inv 16:56 3M

23. Caroline Alcorta (HM)
West Springfield (Va.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 8th 3A State, 23rd FL South
Analysis: With her three major wins and two runner-up finishes, Alcorta has established herself as arguably the second-best runner in Virginia behind Sophie Chase and a contender to make a national meet. She ran 4:56.23 for 1,600 last spring and 10:40.56 for two miles (14th NBNO).
2012 races to date:
10/13-1st Glory Days Grill 17:42 5k
10/6-1st Hagen Stone Classic 17:57.57 5k
9/29-2nd Maymont Festival 18:11.79 5k
9/15-1st Wm & Mary Invite 18:20 5k
9/8-2nd Monroe Parker Invite 17:46 3M

24. Megan Reilly (HM)
Warwick Valley (N.Y.), Class of 2016
Analysis: With her tremendous clocking last week behind superstar Mary Cain, Reilly went from one of New York’s rising frosh standouts to a national class performer. Her time was faster than anyone in the Eastern States race and second best overall for the meet. It was just her third invitational. She clocked 8th-grade times last spring of 4:44.74 for 1,500 meters and 10:15.85 for 3,000.
2012 races to date:
10/13-2nd Manhattan “Varsity A” 14:17.4 4k
9/29-5th Roy Griak Invite 18:38.7 5k
9/22-1st Warwick Wave Mania (D2) 18:15.0 5k

25. Reagan Anderson (HM)
Tatnall (Wilmington, Del.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 3rd NXN SE, 23rd NXN Finals
Analysis: Anderson has emerged as Tatnall’s new leader following the graduation of Haley Pierce, and last weekend’s Eastern States triumph is the undisputed highlight of her senior year thus far. Not all of her races have been to that level, but she certainly is that talented and will likely become more consistent. Has fine speed, with 2:09.85 800 and 4:54.13 mile (11th adidas Dream Mile) speed, and a ton of big meet experience already.
2012 races to date:
10/13-1st Manhattan Eastern States 14:21.2 4k
9/29-8th Great American ROC 17:58.5 5k
9/22-1st Bull Run Invite 18:58 3M
9/15-6th Cherokee Challenge 11:27 3,200m