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High School Regional Rankings Boys XC - 9/19/19Published by
Boys Regional Rankings - 9/19/19 By Paul Schmitz of DyeStat Preseason projections are based on a year's worth of data. Given the first in-season regional rankings are based on a race or two -- and in some cases zero races -- preseason projections will still win out for most teams. However, new challengers have emerged and some top teams have been exposed as having holes to fill. This installment of the rankings sees eight of the nine preseason top teams remaining in those top spots with more potential movement with big races all around the country this weekend. In the Southwest, preseason regional No. 7 American Fork has made an early statement in 2019. American Fork has finished in the U.S. top eight in nine of the past 10 seasons. This looked like it might be a rebuilding year for the powerhouse from Utah, but this team is right back in the mix again. Breakout senior Ashton Hysell is leading the way and American Fork’s lineup was bolstered by sophomore Nate Jaster, a transfer from Weddington NC, the fifth-place finisher in the North Carolina 3A final last year. The Cavemen ran neck and neck with preseason regional No. 1 Corner Canyon at the BYU Autumn Classic and knocked off the early favorites 125 to 133.5. Corner Canyon will be without low-stick Easton Allred for most of the season and had another top runner not running to form. Nevertheless, American Fork has shown that it will once again be challenging for another NXN berth in the stacked Southwest. With the quick rise of American Fork and the strong early showing from Mountain View CO, Corner Canyon falls from the top spot for now. If this team is able to field a full and healthy lineup before the end of the year, it could return to role of favorite at NXR Southwest. St. Charles East IL looked in mid-season form at the Harvey Braus Invitational on Sept. 14 and knocked of regional No. 2 Wheaton Warrenville South. Both teams ran with a full roster of projected top runners. Those two teams switch spots in the Midwest rankings behind No. 1 York IL, which has been idle. Joining the Illinois teams in the Midwest top five is the team from Brighton MI, which won the MSU Spartan Invitational title by besting 39 teams in Michigan’s most competitive early season meet. Northwest regional No. 1 Jesuit OR pickup up a great early season win at the Ash Creek Preserve XC Festival over in-state rivals Franklin, Ashland and Central Catholic as well as California preseason No. 4 Dublin. Franklin’s second-place finish and win over Dublin moves the Quakers into the regional top five. Like 2018, the Northwest has very small separation between the top teams and Franklin moves into that group. On the outside, Ashland could be poised to make a move when Evan Holland joins the team. Severna Park MD took home a nice win at the 24-team Seahawk Invitational on Sept. 7. SP has emerged as a contender for the No. 2 spot in the Southeast region with this showing. However, Huntsville AL maintains the coveted place behind Loudoun Valley VA after the defending Alabama state champions scored just 40 points in their season opener, the 42-team City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic with a 15-second 1-5 split.
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NORTHEAST 2. Christian Brothers Academy NJ
NEW YORK 4. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake NY
MIDWEST 3. Wheaton Warrenville South IL
HEARTLAND
NORTHWEST
SOUTHWEST
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