By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Top 30, 11/14

1 (1). Nico Young, senior, Newbury Park CA: He won the Marmonte League finals, but nationally right now anyone in the top six looks like a national championship contender. 

2 (11). Josh Methner, senior, Hersey IL: The rationale here is that Methner improved by more than 20 seconds on the Illinois state meet course. If he's 20 seconds better at NXN he runs faster than Liam Anderson's winning time last December.

3 (2). Leo Daschbach, senior, Highland AZ: The Arizona state meet is Saturday.

4 (3). Cole Sprout, senior, Valor Christian CO: Sprout will get a rematch Nov. 23 with Daschbach at NXR Southwest. It could be a fantastic race.

5 (4). Evan Holland, senior, Ashland OR: We know now that Holland can run with anyone after running 14:30 on a slightly easier course at Lane Community College. He gets a chance to repeat his NXR Northwest title on Saturday.

6 (13). Ryan Schoppe, senior, LaPorte TX: He ran 14:14 for one of the fastest prep 5Ks in history and has become a potential national champion.

7 (5). Graydon Morris, senior, Aledo TX: His third straight Texas 5A title shows that he's running as well, or better, than ever.

8 (7). Liam Murphy, senior, Allentown NJ: He won his Group 3 sectional race by 21 seconds.

9 (6). Matt Strangio, senior, Jesuit CA: He's cruising toward the CIF Division 1 Finals.

10 (9). Connor Ohlson, senior, Dakota Ridge CO: He was the second-fastest at the Colorado state meet.

11 (22). Patrick Anderson, senior, Mt Lebanon PA: He won the Pennsylvania state title by 25 seconds and broke the meet record.

12 (17). Gavin Sherry, sophomore, Conard CT: His wins at the Connecticut Open and New Englands showed impressive toughness. 

13 (10). Thomas Boyden, senior, Skyline UT: Training for a rebound at the Foot Locker West regional.

14 (12). Carter Solomon, senior, Plymouth MI: He won the Michigan LP Division 1 title.

15 (25) Graham Blanks, senior, Athens Academy GA: He broke the course record at Carrollton to win the Georgia 1A Private school title.

16 (14). Nathan Green, junior, Borah ID: He won the Idaho 5A title by 22 seconds.

17 (16). Daniel O'Brien, senior, Virginia Episcopal VA: He won the VISAA title by 40 seconds.

18 (21). Caleb Brown, senior, Shelby Senior OH: He won the Ohio Division 2 state title by eight seconds.

19 (8). Jonas Price, senior, Eisenhower WA: A rough final mile at the Washington state meet causes a drop here, but he has an opportunity at the NXR Northwest to get back up.

20 (19). Jace Aschbrenner, senior, Newbury Park CA: He finished second to Young at the Marmonte League finals.

21 (20). Cruz Culpepper, senior, Niwot CO: He's definitely a sleeper capable of big things in the postseason.

22 (NR). Wil Smith, senior, Lewis and Clark WA: He broke Price and won the Washington 4A state title. 

23 (NR). Michael Abeyta, senior, El Paso Hanks TX: He finished right behind Morris in the Texas 5A state final.

24 (18). Robbie Cozean, senior, Xavier CT: He was second to Sherry at the Connecticut State Open and at New Englands. 

25 (23). Matthew Farrell, senior, The Loomis Chaffee School CT: He won the Founders League title.

26 (NR). Tyler Cushing, senior, Bolingbrook IL: He finished second in the Illinois 3A final.

27 (26). Parker Wolfe, junior, Cherry Creek CO: He was third in the Colorado Class 5A final. 

28 (NR). Brendan Favazza, senior, Clarkston MI: He finished second in the Michigan LP D1 championship. 

29 (15). Evan Bishop, senior, East Grand Rapids MI: He won the Michigan LP D2 race.

30 (NR). Nicholas Scheller, senior, Chanhassen MN: He won the NXR Heartland championship race.

Watchlist - Silas Winders TN, Carlos Shultz VA, Anthony Grover CA, Justin Wachtel GA, Brett Gardner IL, Mason Norman CO, Judson Greer TX, Dalton Mortensen UT, Creed Thompson UT, Gabriel Sanchez IN, Mhalicki Bronson OH, Matt Duvall OH, Oliver Paleen MN, Sam Lawler NY, Luke Johnson NJ, Caleb Johnson UT, Peter Visser WY, Anthony Monte TX, Jack Jennings NJ, Easton Allred UT, Michael Mireles CA, Aidan Palmer OR, Ryan Kinnane KS, Kevin Antczak NJ, Peyton Geeher NY, Jarrett Kirk TX