Now that we've looked at the top teams and where they stand coming into the season (whether you agree with my assesment or not), let's look at the individual runners. All of these rankings are based on all-time cross country PR's, with most consideration given to 2010 results. This is not a purely statistical list; consideration has been given to course length and difficulty, competition at major meets, and demonstrated potential for improvement (including spring track performance, especially at 3200m or 5000m).
Overall Top 30:
Tier 1: "Elite at the National Level"
1. Thomas Graham (Cary Academy)
Tier 2: "Elite at the State Level"
2. Bakri Abushouk (Cary)
3. Cole Rains (TC Roberson)
4. Jimmy Hollingsworth (Northern Guilford)
5. Mitch McLeod (Chapel Hill)
6. Trevor Sleight (Carolina Day)
7. Craig Engels (Reagan)
8. Sam Roberson (Broughton)
Tier 3: "Approaching Elite"
9. Jonathan Bivens (Weddington)
10. Josh Crawford (South View)
11. Chris Reeder (Chapel Hill)
12. Jordan Marsh (Reagan)
13. Tim Gruber (Cannon School)
14. Jacob Sears (Panther Creek)
15. Colin Godwin (Cary Academy)
16. Peter Vandenburg (Watauga)
17. Thomas McLean (Ardrey Kell)
18. Bradley Viles (Chapel Hill)
19. Steven Phillips (Cardinal Gibbons)
20. Jack Matkins (Myers Park)
21. Jeremy Gower (West Johnston)
Tier 4: "Ready to Move Up the List"
22. Josh Copus (Mount Tabor)
23. Tommy Schotzinger (Cardinal Gibbons)
24. Mason Boyles (Ashley, formerly of Hoggard)
25. Sam Miner (East Chapel Hill)
26. Drew Buckley (Marvin Ridge)
27. Ben Fiedler (Asheville School)
28. George Oliver (Mount Tabor)
29. Cole Honeycutt (East Rowan)
30. Robert Baraldi (NC School of Science & Math)
Once again, let's break the state into grades and classifications and see what shakes out. The following lists were generated straight from the NCRunners database, using only 2010 results. They do not consider course length or difficulty, or any other factors; they are purely statistical. Subscribers can generate these lists, and many more, by going to the Cross Country Stats section.
Top 10 Returning Seniors:
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1. | 15:06.00 | Thomas Graham | NC Cary Academy | 2012 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
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2. | 15:46.00 | Josh Crawford | NC South View | 2012 | 10/20/2010 | Mid-South Conference Championships |
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3. | 15:47.00 | Cole Rains | NC T.C. Roberson | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A West Regional |
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4. | 15:51.00 | Xiomar Ruckel | NC South View | 2012 | 10/20/2010 | Mid-South Conference Championships |
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5. | 15:52.00 | Jonathan Bivens | NC Weddington High School | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 3A Midwest Regional |
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6. | 15:54.00 | Mitch McLeod | NC Chapel Hill | 2012 | 10/02/2010 | Wendy's Invitational |
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7. | 15:56.00 | Mason Boyles | NC Hoggard High School | 2012 | 09/04/2010 | 9th Annual Jungle Run |
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8. | 15:58.00 | Thomas McLean | NC Ardrey Kell HS | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A West Regional |
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9. | 16:01.50 | Craig Engels | NC Ronald W. Reagan | 2012 | 10/01/2010 | Great American Cross Country Festival |
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10. | 16:01.55 | Sam Roberson | NC Broughton | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional |
Top 10 Returning Juniors:
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1. | 15:36.09 | Bakri Abushouk | NC Cary | 2013 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional |
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2. | 15:45.70 | Jimmy Hollingsworth | NC Northern Guilford | 2013 | 10/02/2010 | Hagan Stone XC Classic |
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3. | 15:49.00 | Trevor Sleight | NC Carolina Day School | 2013 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
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4. | 15:56.00 | Bradley Viles | NC Chapel Hill | 2013 | 10/02/2010 | Wendy's Invitational |
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5. | 15:58.00 | Peter Vandenberg | NC Watauga | 2013 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A West Regional |
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6. | 16:04.80 | Chris Reeder | NC Chapel Hill | 2013 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 3A Mideast Regional |
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7. | 16:11.00 | Nicholas Owens | NC South View | 2013 | 10/20/2010 | Mid-South Conference Championships |
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8. | 16:16.00 | Jack Matkins | NC Myers Park | 2013 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A West Regional |
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9. | 16:16.42 | Sam Miner | NC East Chapel Hill | 2013 | 09/08/2010 | Orange County XC Champs |
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10. | 16:23.00 | Colin Godwin | NC Cary Academy | 2013 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
Top 10 Returning Sophomores:
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1. | 16:20.00 | Patrick Arata | NC Terry Sanford | 2014 | 10/20/2010 | Mid-South Conference Championships |
| 2. | 16:40.00 | Ben Powell | NC Jack Britt | 2014 | 10/20/2010 | Mid-South Conference Championships | |
| 3. | 16:43.29 | Tom Nobles | NC Green Hope | 2014 | 11/06/2010 | NCHSAA 4A State Championships | |
| 4. | 16:45.67 | Dylan Perry | NC Orange High School | 2014 | 10/19/2010 | Carolina Conference Champs | |
| 5. | 16:53.29 | Ben Huffman | NC Providence Day School | 2014 | 08/28/2010 | WNC CC Carnival | |
| 6. | 16:56.00 | Cameron McMillan | NC Carolina Day School | 2014 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional | |
| 7. | 16:56.48 | Andrew Fea | NC North Lincoln | 2014 | 10/19/2010 | South Piedmont Conference Champs | |
| 8. | 17:00.00 | Dalton Lyons | NC Northwest Guilford | 2014 | 10/02/2010 | Wendy's Invitational | |
| 9. | 17:00.92 | Drew Navarro | NC Millbrook | 2014 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional | |
| 10. | 17:02.00 | Sam Dunson | NC Chapel Hill | 2014 | 10/02/2010 | Wendy's Invitational |
Top 10 Returning NCISAA Runners:
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1. | 15:06.00 | Thomas Graham | NC Cary Academy | 2012 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
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2. | 15:49.00 | Trevor Sleight | NC Carolina Day School | 2013 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
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3. | 16:06.24 | Tim Gruber | NC Cannon School | 2012 | 08/28/2010 | WNC CC Carnival |
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4. | 16:23.00 | Colin Godwin | NC Cary Academy | 2013 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
| 5. | 16:35.39 | Ben Fiedler | NC Asheville School | 2013 | 10/13/2010 | United Way Invitational | |
| 6. | 16:42.80 | Drew Thompson | NC Wesleyan Christian Academy | 2012 | 09/25/2010 | Greensboro Cross Country Invitational | |
| 7. |
16:43.37 |
Chase Shermer | NC North Raleigh Christian Academy | 2012 | 11/07/2010 | NC USATF State Championship | |
| 8. | 16:45.00 | Reed Payne | NC Providence Day School | 2012 | 10/22/2010 | CISAA Championships | |
| 9. | 16:45.27 | Josh Thornburg | NC Asheville Christian Academy | 2013 | 10/13/2010 | United Way Invitational | |
| 10. | 16:46.30 | Daniel Jezioranski | NC Cary Christian School | 2012 | 10/01/2010 | Great American Cross Country Festival |
Top 10 Returning NCHSAA 4A Runners:
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1. | 15:36.09 | Bakri Abushouk | NC Cary | 2014 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional |
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2. | 15:46.00 | Josh Crawford | NC South View | 2012 | 10/20/2010 | Mid-South Conference Championships |
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3. | 15:47.00 | Cole Rains | NC T.C. Roberson | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A West Regional |
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4. | 15:51.00 | Xiomar Ruckel | NC South View | 2012 | 10/20/2010 | Mid-South Conference Championships |
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5. | 15:56.00 | Mason Boyles | NC Hoggard High School | 2012 | 09/04/2010 | 9th Annual Jungle Run |
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6. | 15:58.00 | Thomas McLean | NC Ardrey Kell HS | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A West Regional |
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7. | 15:58.00 | Peter Vandenberg | NC Watauga | 2013 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A West Regional |
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8. | 16:01.50 | Craig Engels | NC Ronald W. Reagan | 2012 | 10/01/2010 | Great American Cross Country Festival |
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9. | 16:01.55 | Sam Roberson | NC Broughton | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional |
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10. | 16:05.00 | Jordan Marsh | NC Ronald W. Reagan | 2012 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
Top 10 Returning NCHSAA 3A Runners:
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1. | 15:45.70 | Jimmy Hollingsworth | NC Northern Guilford | 2013 | 10/02/2010 | Hagan Stone XC Classic |
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2. | 15:52.00 | Jonathan Bivens | NC Weddington High School | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 3A Midwest Regional |
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3. | 15:54.00 | Mitch McLeod | NC Chapel Hill | 2012 | 10/02/2010 | Wendy's Invitational |
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4. | 15:56.00 | Bradley Viles | NC Chapel Hill | 2013 | 10/02/2010 | Wendy's Invitational |
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5. | 16:04.80 | Chris Reeder | NC Chapel Hill | 2013 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 3A Mideast Regional |
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6. | 16:10.60 | Steven Phillips | NC Cardinal Gibbons High School | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 3A Mideast Regional |
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7. | 16:12.00 | Cole Honeycutt | NC East Rowan | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 3A Midwest Regional |
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8. | 16:15.00 | Drew Buckley | NC Marvin Ridge | 2012 | 10/05/2010 | Union County Meet |
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9. | 16:17.00 | Tommy Schotzinger | NC Cardinal Gibbons High School | 2012 | 09/11/2010 | adidas Seahawk Invitational |
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10. | 16:23.80 | John Baranik | NC Western Alamance | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 3A Mideast Regional |
Top 10 Returning NCHSAA 2A Runners:
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1. | 16:13.16 | German Perez | NC North Lincoln | 2012 | 10/19/2010 | South Piedmont Conference Champs |
| 2. | 16:53.11 | Eduardo Salazar | NC Lincolnton | 2012 | 10/19/2010 | South Piedmont Conference Champs | |
| 3. | 16:55.00 | Rodney Wright | NC East Davidson | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 2A Midwest Regional | |
| 4. | 16:55.00 | Jason Barber | NC West Stokes | 2013 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 2A Midwest Regional | |
| 5. | 16:56.48 | Andrew Fea | NC North Lincoln | 2014 | 10/19/2010 | South Piedmont Conference Champs | |
| 6. | 16:59.18 | Chris Boyle | NC North Lincoln | 2012 | 10/19/2010 | South Piedmont Conference Champs | |
| 7. | 17:00.91 | Densel Jefferson | NC St. Pauls | 2012 | 11/06/2010 | NCHSAA 2A State Championships | |
| 8. | 17:03.16 | Aj Tucker | NC Cedar Ridge | 2013 | 11/06/2010 | NCHSAA 2A State Championships | |
| 9. | 17:04.42 | Michael Jushchuk | NC Carrboro | 2012 | 09/08/2010 | Orange County XC Champs | |
| 10. | 17:09.00 | Jesse Dellea | NC Carrboro | 2012 | 10/02/2010 | Wendy's Invitational |
Top 10 Returning NCHSAA 1A Runners:
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1. | 16:21.00 | Robert Baraldi | NC NC School of Science & Math | 2012 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
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2. | 16:29.89 | Levi Rolles | NC NC School of Science & Math | 2012 | 11/06/2010 | NCHSAA 1A State Championships |
| 3. | 16:36.47 | Dylan Johnson | NC Hayesville High School | 2013 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 1A West Regional | |
| 4. | 16:57.79 | Zach Milsaps | NC Elkin High School | 2012 | 11/06/2010 | NCHSAA 1A State Championships | |
| 5. | 17:01.45 | Trent Tatham | NC Robbinsville High School | 2012 | 11/06/2010 | NCHSAA 1A State Championships | |
| 6. | 17:03.70 | Michael Westbay | NC Lake Norman Charter School HS | 2012 | 10/02/2010 | Hagan Stone XC Classic | |
| 7. | 17:04.00 | Chris Hack | NC Lake Norman Charter School HS | 2012 | 10/02/2010 | Hagan Stone XC Classic | |
| 8. | 17:05.00 | Jj Laplante | NC West Wilkes High School | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 1A Midwest Regional | |
| 9. | 17:06.00 | Daniel Jones | NC West Wilkes High School | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 1A Midwest Regional | |
| 10. | 17:14.00 | Blake Hollister | NC Pamlico | 2012 | 10/30/2010 | NCHSAA 1A East Regional |
Top 10 Returning NCISAA 3A Runners:
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1. | 15:06.00 | Thomas Graham | NC Cary Academy | 2012 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
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2. | 16:06.24 | Tim Gruber | NC Cannon School | 2012 | 08/28/2010 | WNC CC Carnival |
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3. | 16:23.00 | Colin Godwin | NC Cary Academy | 2013 | 11/27/2010 | Foot Locker South Regional |
| 4. | 16:35.39 | Ben Fiedler | NC Asheville School | 2013 | 10/13/2010 | United Way Invitational | |
| 5. | 16:42.80 | Drew Thompson | NC Wesleyan Christian Academy | 2012 | 09/25/2010 | Greensboro Cross Country Invitational | |
| 6. |
16:43.37 |
Chase Shermer | NC North Raleigh Christian Academy | 2012 | 11/07/2010 | NC USATF State Championship | |
| 7. | 16:45.00 | Reed Payne | NC Providence Day School | 2012 | 10/22/2010 | CISAA Championships | |
| 8. | 16:49.00 | John Good | NC Charlotte Christian | 2012 | 10/22/2010 | CISAA Championships | |
| 9. | 16:53.29 | Ben Huffman | NC Providence Day School | 2014 | 08/28/2010 | WNC CC Carnival | |
| 10. | 16:55.50 | Brian Gottwalt | NC Wesleyan Christian Academy | 2012 | 09/25/2010 | Greensboro Cross Country Invitational |
Top 10 Returning NCISAA 2A Runners:
Top 10 Returning NCISAA 1A Runners:
| 1. | 18:15.00 | Connor Jones | NC Wayne Christian School | 2014 | 10/29/2010 | NCISAA State Championships |
| 2. | 18:41.59 | Peter Hetzel | NC Grace Christian School (Sanford) | 2014 | 10/05/2010 | CISAA-GCMSAA #5 |
| 3. | 18:51.76 | Benjamin Lowry | NC Hickory Christian Academy | 2012 | 09/20/2010 | CVAC Meet #3 |
| 4. | 19:33.00 | David Warren | NC United Faith Christian Academy | 2012 | 09/07/2010 | CISAA-GCMSAA #2 |
| 5. | 20:04.00 | Mark Sawyer | NC Wayne Christian School | 2012 | 10/29/2010 | NCISAA State Championships |
| 6. | 20:17.91 | Andrew Tysinger | NC Hickory Christian Academy | 2014 | 10/02/2010 | 1st Annual Murrays Mill Cross Country Invitational |
| 7. | 20:24.00 | Justin Jacobs | NC Flora MacDonald Academy | 2014 | 10/29/2010 | NCISAA State Championships |
| 8. | 20:25.00 | Mckinley Gray | NC Epiphany School | 2014 | 10/29/2010 | NCISAA State Championships |
| 9. | 20:27.00 | Kenneth Gilliam | NC Cape Fear Christian | 2014 | 10/29/2010 | NCISAA State Championships |
| 10. | 20:35.00 | Ben Sawyer | NC Wayne Christian School | 2014 | 10/29/2010 | NCISAA State Championships |
Congratulations! If you made it down here, I know you're a true fan of the sport at all levels. And here's your reward: for one week, starting today, you can access the database for free! Simply go to the NCRunners Facebook page to get the login and password.
Now that we've looked at the top teams and where they stand coming into the season (whether you agree with my assesment or not), let's look at the individual runners. All of these rankings are based on all-time cross country PR's, with most consideration given to 2010 results. This is not a purely statistical list; consideration has been given to course length and difficulty, competition at major meets, and demonstrated potential for improvement (including spring track performance, especially at 3200m or 5000m).
Overall Top 30:
Tier 1: "Elite at the National Level"
1. Thomas Graham (Cary Academy)