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 The initial 2012 ranking, however, included unpublished preseason assessments (in parentheses, after each athlete’s name).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

Now, let’s look at some of this week’s storylines:

The Manhattan Invitational, highlighted by the Eastern States Championships, was obviously the huge meet last weekend, made all the more notable with the season debuts of 2011 Foot Locker Champion Edward Cheserek and top NXN Finals returnee (5th in 2011) Nick Ryan. As has already been well-documented, both ran as well as anyone could have reasonably hoped, battling for the victory until Ches pulled away to a near-course-record 11:58.7 win, with Ryan not far behind with an excellent 12:05.7.

Some analysis of Cheserek’s win is here, where other top storylines from Manhattan were discussed. Not as much was said about Ryan, but his coach, Bill Aris, was as happy with how he did as Cheserek’s coach Dr. Marty Hannon was pleased with his star’s effort. “I felt that Nick was prepared and ready to take a legitimate shot at 12 minutes, and he did just that in running 12:05,” said Aris. “Quite humbly and comically, Nick noted that he is the “fastest loser of all time at Manhattan!” Ryan shoots all the way back up to #4 on the list.

Aris, by the way, was just as pleased by the effort of sophomore Bryce Millar, the best 10th-grader of the meet with his 12:27 in seventh. Definitely someone to watch for the future.

A surprising third-place finish at Easterns (and third overall for Manhattan) came from TJ Hornberger, who had relatively modest creds coming in: He was 12th at Feds last fall, ran 4:19 and 9:22 for 1,600 and 3,200 in track, and had two invitational wins this fall so far (West Seneca, East Aurora). He was also second at McQuaid, trailing only Arlington’s Sibby Hanson, back on Sept. 29. And it’s the unbeaten Hanson who is actually the New Yorker who joins the rankings this week (at #25) after winning at Burnt Hills. There were no other ranked entries going into the Easterns besides Cheserek and Ryan.

Another stunning entry this week is Hardin Valley Academy (Knoxville, Tenn.) junior Aaron Templeton. Although his brother, Will, was a state champ last fall in the Volunteer state, and Aaron had finished a solid 24th as a soph at NXN Southeast last fall, the younger Templeton was pretty unheralded coming into the fall. Not yet a sub-4:20 or sub-9:20 runner in track, and with so many coming back this fall nationally with those creds, he was simply among those with potential. After a few decent wins in Tennessee, however, Templeton exploded into the national consciousness with his 14:54 5k at Wendy’s … or, at least, he should have. Templeton got his time in the Open division, while better-known Cary NC star Bakri Abushouck was winning the Invitational (with 15:05).

But gradually, it has become known beyond the Wendy’s scene that yes, there was something going on that was very impressive outside the main race at McAlpine that day. When Templeton backed it up less than a week later with another very fast time, he has to get some props. So he debuts at #15.

In Arkansas, senior Joe Sansone led a parade of Southlake Carroll Dragons to the finish line at the Chile Pepper Festival, running 15:06 for 5k. He didn’t get a lot competition outside of his teammates, but the race mean something because of how the Nike South meet went the previous week, as Carroll won a tough battle over The Woodlands and many other teams, but Sansone was just ninth. “I obviously did not have the best race last weekend, especially when I was still trying to get the last bit of my ear infection out of my system,” he said. “So I knew if I just kept pounding forward and trusting my training, I would come back around. I got a lot of support from people surrounding me. So I went out, stayed relaxed, and was able to hammer home a good last mile.”

Sansone moves into the #23 spot, right behind Nike South winner Brigham Hedges of The Woodlands. Who emerges at state and beyond as the best Lone Star State harrier will be interesting, as Sansone, Hedges, Hebron sr Robert Domanic and others are very close.

Read below for details on performances this past week from Sean McGorty, Andrew Gardner, Josh Brickell, Thomas Madden and others.

As for this week … well, arguably the nation’s two biggest invitationals – basically in the country’s two biggest cities, 3,000 miles apart – are typically on back-to-back weekends and this year is no exception. The Mount San Antonio College Invitational, better known as Mt. SAC, follows Manhattan by seven days … well, it’s actually six as action begins Friday in Walnut, Calif. The meet usually plays a big part in determining late October and early November rankings. Fans were hoping on the boys’ side that Cibola (Ariz.) senior Bernie Montoya would be on hand for what could be a big national statement race, but word on the street is that he’ll be on a recruiting visit. The D1 and D2 boys sweeps entries don’t list any out-of-state schools with ranked runners, so it’s likely that US#19 Dos Puebos CA sr Bryan Fernandez will be the top individual on hand.

The state meet season really picks up this weekend, too, and with his third straight Utah 3A win on Wednesday, Park City sr Ben Saarel has already started things off with a bang. Look for big things from #7 Jake Leingang in North Dakota (probably unchallenged) and #20 Adam Peterman in Montana (challenged by Zach Perrin and possibly others). The Brown Invitational (R.I.), Baystate Invite (Mass.), and Coach Wood (Ga.) are three others that could produce performances that could impact the rankings.

The Rankings, through 10/13 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: Cheserek’s debut at Manhattan (see story above) was as good as anyone could have reasonably hoped: He ran a very good time, displayed good race strategy, and took a decisive win while at the same time making it appear like he can be much better in the weeks ahead.
2012 races to date:
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: Another fast time and major victory for McGorty: His 14:45 5k beating US#15 Thomas Madden by eight seconds at Glory Days Grill. But it’s tempting to say “enough already” after three fast races in three weeks. Guy would seem to need a break before tackling state series and post-season.
2012 races to date:
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 race for Thomson last week.
2012 races to date:
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 (9)
Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, N.Y.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN NY, 5th NXN Finals (#1 returnee)
Analysis: As was the case with Cheserek, you could have hardly asked for more out of Ryan in his season debut at Manhattan (see story above). This is a guy who’s ready to race (and in most cases, beat) anyone in the country – and he should only get better in the weeks ahead.
2012 races to date:
10/13-2nd Eastern States 12:05.7 4k

5. Bernie Montoya (4)
Cibola (Yuma, Ariz.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 10th NXN SW, 12th NXN Finals (#3 returnee)
Analysis: No race for Montoya last weekend: Will the superstar race Mt. SAC this weekend? And what will be his post-season plans?
2012 races to date:
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. Andrew Gardner (6)
Mead (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL West, 6th FL Finals (#3 returnee)
Analysis: Gardner picked up another impressive invitational victory last weekend in Portland, beating Oregon’s top harriers by 21 seconds and hitting a time that ranks high on that layout.
2012 races to date:
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

7. Jake Leingang (5)
Bismarck (N.D.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL Finals, 8th NXN Finals (#2 returnee in each)
Analysis: Another easy win for Leingang – his only test has been Griak – was his final preparation for this coming weekend’s state meet. Expect him to be fast and ready during the post-season and move up the list.
2012 races to date:
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

8. Kai Wilmot (7)
North Central (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 8th NXN NW, 49th NXN Finals (#17 returnee)
Analysis: Wilmot had no race last weekend and a league meet scheduled for Wednesday this week.
2012 races to date:
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

9. Joe Hardy (8)
Seattle Prep (Wash.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 5th NXN NW, 43rd NXN Finals (#13 returnee)
Analysis: Light competitive week for Hardy as he won his league meet by almost a minute.
2012 races to date:
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. Jacob Burcham (10)
Cabell Midland (Ona, W.V.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Skipped post-season; 1st Trinity Valkyrie, 2nd Great American
Analysis: Burcham won his league meet last week. With few major meets to this point, he should be fresher for the post-season.
2012 races to date:
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

11. Josh Brickell (11)
Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 4th FL South, 8th FL Finals (#4 returnee)
Analysis: Brickell followed his fine Great American run two weeks earlier with a sharp victory in Florida over Colonial (Orlando) standout Andres Arroyo.
2012 races to date:
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

12. Ben Saarel (13)
Park City (Utah), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st 3A State, 11th FL West
Analysis: These rankings include competition through last weekend, so Saarel’s state meet victory Wednesday (yesterday) will be accounted for next week.
2012 races to date:
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

13. Sam Wharton (12)
Tippecanoe (Tipp City, Ohio), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th NXN MW, 21st NXN Finals (#5 returnee)
Analysis: Wharton has continued a relatively modest (but unbeaten) regular season, aside from two fast September wins, that should leave him with plenty in the tank for the post-season.
2012 races to date:
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

14. Thomas Madden (15)
Skyline (Front Royal, Va.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 8th FL South, 23rd FL Finals (#9 returnee)
Analysis: Madden was beaten by 18 seconds last weekend, but there’s no shame in running 15:03 at Glory Days Grill and losing to the #2 runner in the country. He continues to run very well. Still, it will motivate the senior for better things ahead.
2012 races to date:
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

15. Aaron Templeton (NR)
Hardin Valley Acad. (Knoxville, Tenn.), Class of 2014
2011 XC: 5th 3A State, 24th NXN SE
Analysis: Templeton had a solid season as a soph last fall, then ran 9:27.56y and 4:27.00yi in track – very good, but not epic. After a few decent early wins, he smoked an overlooked, but eyepopping 14:54 in the Open race at Wendy’s (acclaimed US #18 NC harrier Bakri Abushouck won the Invite race in 15:05). He followed up with another blazer in his conference meet and has to be considered a serious, rising talent. His older brother Will, Class of 2012, won state last fall in 3A.
2012 races to date:
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

16. Grant Nykaza (14)
Beecher (Ill.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 9th NXN MW, 7th FL MW, 33rd FL Finals (#11 returnee)
Analysis: Nykaza keeps winning as the state meet push begins. 1A state won’t be handed to him, but a great chance to improve his placings in the post-season is soon at hand.
2012 races to date:
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

17. Luis Martinez (16)
Cleveland (Rio Rancho, N.M.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 1st NXN SW, 30th NXN Finals (#9 returnee)
Analysis: Martinez has had little competition this fall so far, but he’s ramping it up now as state and his NXN SW title defense loom ahead.
2012 races to date:
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

18. Bakri Abushouk (17)
Cary (N.C.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th 4A State, 20th NXN SE
Analysis: Following two outstanding low-15:00 efforts in two weeks, Abushouck had a well-deserved break from major meets last weekend.
2012 races to date:
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

19. Bryan Fernandez (18)
Don Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 8th Woodbridge, 39th Southern Sect. Finals
Analysis: Fernandez cruised to a league victory last Wednesday. He has a chance for his third major win of the season with Mt. SAC coming up Saturday.
2012 races to date:
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

20. Adam Peterman (20)
Hellgate (Missoula, Mont.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 3rd AA State, 33rd NXN NW
Analysis: Up-and-coming star Peterman easily won his city meet as he gets ready for this weekend’s state finals.
2012 races to date:
10/11-1st Missoula City meet 15:11 3M
10/6-1st Capital 7-of-7 Invite 14:26.5 3M
9/29-2nd Mountain West Classic 14:33.0 3M
9/22-2nd Butte Invite 14:59.57 3M
9/15-2nd Ronan Invite 15:15 3M
9/8-2nd Flathead Invite 15:10.51 3M

21. Jack Keelan (19)
St. Ignatius (Chicago), Class of 2013
2011 XC: Did not qualify for state; 15th NXN MW
Analysis: Another decisive win for the talented Keelan. He has lost only to Nykaza (by a second) this fall as the championship season gets underway.
2012 races to date:
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. Brigham Hedges (23)
The Woodlands (Texas), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 16th NXN South, 81st NXN Finals
Analysis: No meet for Hedges last weekend after his big Nike South win.
2012 races to date:
10/6-1st Nike South Invite 15:18.2 5k
9/29-1st Cypress Woods Inv 16:01.88 5k
9/22-1st Kingwood/Andy Wells Inv 14:28.45 3M
9/15-1st Humble Reg. III Prev. 15:10.36 5k
8/31-3rd Friday Night Lights 12:38.08 4k

23. Joe Sansone (HM)
Carroll (Southlake, Texas), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 5th NXN South, 22nd NXN Finals (#6 returnee)
Analysis: Sansone returns to the rankings his disappointment at Nike South was followed by his fast Chile Pepper win (see story above).
2012 races to date:
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

24. Sumner Goodwin (25)
Lewis and Clark (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 7th 4A state, 18th NXN NW, 33rd FL West
Analysis: Goodwin had a league meet win last week and was to race another one this week.
2012 races to date:
10/10-1st GSC #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

25. Sibby Hanson (HM)
Arlington (Lagrangeville, N.Y.), Class of 2013
2011 XC: 17th NY Feds, 12th NXN NY
Analysis: Hanson had a decent junior year in XC, setting the state for a bigger senior year. But it was in February that he had a big breakthrough 9:06.30 3,200 that gave him attention beyond NY. He added 4:15.77 for 1,600 in the spring. This fall he’s moved to becoming one of the top 2-3 runners in the state and one of the region’s best, unbeaten through four major meets.
2012 races to date:
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