By Michael Newman

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Each week during the 2017 Cross Country season, we will be publishing an updated list of who we see are in the top 25 for both the Boys and the Girls nationally. Top 5 Regional lists will be published every week up to the Nike Cross Nationals in December.

You can find updated lists each week on ILXCTF.com.

Top 25 Girls National Lists | Girls Regional Rankings

1 – Fayetteville-Manlius NY

The Hornets did not run their best race of the season last week at the Wayne Central Invitational. Then again, it is only September. The defending national champions looked strong on September 9 at the VVS Invitational placing three runners in the first four led by the individual win by Claire Waters. At Wayne, Sophie Ryan led three runners in the top ten as they scored 44 points to win ahead of Liverpool. Freshman Grace Kaercher stepped into the top five as Rebecca Walters finished 27^th as the team’s sixth-runner. Kaercher is someone to keep an eye on over the next couple of months.

2 – Clovis Buchanan CA

The Bears looked strong in winning the Sweepstakes race at the Woodbridge Classic behind the 1-2 finish by Corie Smith and Meagan Lowe. Both runners were under 16-minutes on the fast Woodbridge 3-mile course. The split on their top five was 92 seconds. The split on their first three runners was 41 seconds.

3 – Highlands Ranch Mountain Vista

They looked good in their own 2-mile meet on August 25. The Golden Eagles looked better on September 9 when they scored only 35 points to win at the Liberty Bell Invitational ahead of state rival Broomfield. Jenna Fitzsimmons led three runners in the first six to help the team to the win. With 5 runners in the top 14 and only a 48 second split on that group, this Colorado team is a squad to watch this season.

4 – Naperville North IL

The defending Illinois 3A state champions have looked strong in their first two meets winning both convincingly. The Huskies won the Pleasant Valley (IA) Invitational ahead of nationally ranked Edina (MN). They won the following week (September 9) at the First to the Finish Invitational without their #3 runner Hannah Ricci. Sarah Schmitt and Alex Morris, along with Ricci, give this Illinois team a strong presence in the front.

5 – Keller TX

Their only race of the season was on September 2 when the Indians won the Marcus I Invitational ahead of Southlake Carroll and Lewisville Hebron. Julia Black and Isabel Van Camp led Keller with top ten finishes within an overall split of 80 seconds on the top five. The addition of transfer Cambria Clark from Comal Smithson will be a big addition to this team.

6 – Edina MN

Edina will again face Naperville North this Saturday at the Roy Griak Invitational. The Hornets finished second behind the Illinois team at the Pleasant Valley (IA) Invitational on September 2. Emily Kompelien finished second behind Naperville North’s Sarah Schmitt while leading three Edina runners in the top 10. Their top five split was 95 seconds with a spread of 53 seconds on their second through fifth runners.

7 – Temecula Great Oak

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Great Oak. No one told this team that after an impressive second-place finish behind Buchanan at the Woodbridge Invitational. 3 runners placed in the top 20 led by the seventh-place finish from Tori Gaitan. They look strong through four with a 60 second split off Gaitan. There is another 47 second split from four to five. It is something to watch as the season progresses.

8 – Bozeman MT

The Hawks have looked strong in their first two races heading to this weekend’s Bob Firman Invitational. Camilla Noe won the individual race last week at Great Falls as their top five split was 84 seconds on their top five.

9 – Portland Sunset OR

We have not seen their full top seven in a meet this fall. That could happen at the Nike Portland XC Festival on September 30.

10 – Portland Jesuit OR

Kelsey Gripekoven was the individual leader and led three of her teammates in the first four as Jesuit won the Ash Creek (OR) Invitational on September 9. Their split on five in that race was 90 seconds with only seven seconds separating their top three.

11 – Dunlap IL

This could be the national surprise team this season. The Eagles second in the Illinois 2A State meet last November. They have looked strong this fall including a win over defending 2A state champion Belvidere North at the first to the Finish Invitational on September 9. The addition of Freshman Campbell Petersen gives the team more strength up front. She finished second in the Peoria race. They had a split of 62 seconds on the top five but only a 34 second spread on their next fur led by Franny Verville.

12 – Thiells North Rockland NY

We have not seen this team at full strength yet this fall. We did see Katelyn Tuohy run 16:24 for 3-miles in flats at the Red River Run on September 9.

13 – American Fork UT

Their impressive race at the BYU Autumn (UT) Classic last Saturday puts American Fork in the top 25 with their win ahead of Lone Peak (UT) and Mountain View (UT). Lexi Wright led a five-runner pack of 56 seconds between the five.

14 – Centerville OH

Centerville continues to look strong with early season wins at the OHSAA Pre-State Meet in August and the Hot Summer Bash on September 2. They narrowly finished ahead of Carmel (IN) to win the Trinity Valkyre Invitational last Saturday in Louisville. The team had a 69 second split on their top five led by the ninth-place finish from Emma Bucher.

15 – Meridian Mountain View ID

The Mavericks have looked good in their first two meets as they head to the Bob Firman Invitational this Saturday. Lexy Halladay won in 18:49 for 5k to lead four runners in the first nine as they won the Tiger/Grizz Invitational on September 9.

16 – Davis CA

We should see their team at full strength at the Capital Challenge on September 30.

17 – Yorkville IL

The Lady Foxes could be a team to watch this Saturday at the Roy Griak Invitational. They were impressive on September 9 as they finished behind Naperville North at the First to the Finish Invitational. In that race, only 19 seconds separated their top four led by the 12^th place finish from Emily Eberhart. The return of last year’s top runner Nicole Greyer could make this team even tougher.

18 – Carmel IN

A team to keep an eye on after finishing a close second behind Centerville (OH) at the Trinity/Valkyre Invitational. Sophomore Phoebe Bates has stepped up as the team’s top runner. She finished third last Saturday. Their split of 96 seconds on the top five is a concern. Their split from their third to fifth runners was 15 seconds in that race. The gap from two to three was 52 seconds.

19 – Broomfield CO

Broomfield had a good performance in finishing second behind Mountain Vista (CO) at the Liberty Bell Invitational on September 9. Ivy Gonzales and her fourth-place finish led the Eagles. Their split was 60 seconds on their top five scorers.

20 – Saratoga Springs NY

Have not yet started their varsity season.

21 – Lone Peak UT

A strong performance by finishing second at the BYU Autumn Classic moves this team into the top 25. Freshman Elisa Arrington has been a plus for this team. She led Lone Peak in this meet with a 13^th place finish.

22 – Southlake Carroll TX

The Dragons made the trip west to California and finished fourth in the Sweepstakes race at the Woodbridge Classic. Cate Tracht led her team with a 21^st place finish that had a 49 second split on their five scoring runners.

23 – Issaquah WA

The Eagles started their season last Saturday by winning the Fort Steilacoom Invitational placing three runners in the first four places. Freshman Julia David-Smith and Sami Corman took the top two places to lead this team.

24 – Glen Ellyn Glenbard West IL

Finished second on a sixth-runner tiebreaker last week at the Richard Springer Invitational in Peoria. The Hilltoppers have the power up front as Katelynne Hart, Lindsey Payne, and Katie Hohe have finished in the top five in their three races this fall. Working on their spread for the fourth and fifth runners could move this team up. Their next race will be at the Naperville Twilight Invitational on October 4.

25 – Phelan Serrano CA

A surprise after finishing in the top three at the Cool Breeze Invitational on September 8. The Diamondbacks came back to finish third at the Woodbridge Invitational last Saturday. The key was a 36 second split on their top five from 31^st place finisher Maribel Aguilar and the 65^th place from Elizabeth Martin.