Getting to the top is hard enough, but staying on top can be even harder, and that's what makes the Green Hope girls special.
Marvin Ridge has great depth and young talent, a potent combination for success this year and beyond.
Megan Vaughn's 6th-place finish in 2013 was a harbinger of an amazing spring, and she will be key to the Crusaders this fall.
Can the 5-time defending champions be defeated in 2014? It's a tall order, especially considering the top 4A contender is at #4.
Two of the best individuals in the state lead two of the best teams in the state, and they're back to back in the rankings. Which is on top?
3 teams from the same region in the top 6? No surprise - it's happened at the 4A state meet the last 2 years. But what order?
Two teams in this photo are gearing up to challenge for the 3A throne; which one falls at spot seven?
How many teams could rank in the top 6 in the state for 1600 and 3200, without including arguably the best 8th-grader in the state, and despite an injury to their star?
We're into single digits now! The best programs in the state include a Mideast 4A team that often doesn't get the respect it deserves.
The 4A West is loaded with talent, with 4 teams in the top 10 of these rankings. Which of these teams is at #10?
The Mideast 4A may not be the strongest region in the state this fall, but it still has teams at #11 and #9 - which ones?
Either of these teams could be ranked in the top 10 in 4A and still not get out of the 4A West. Which one is at #12?
One of these 3A programs has been amazingly consistent, placing between 4th and 7th at the state meet for 5 straight years.
Graduation eventually takes its toll on all programs; will the departure of these two leaders mark the end of a dynasty?
The competition for the top 5 spots in the 3A state meet will be fierce; which of these teams starts the season in this spot?
We've reached the first NCISAA team in the rankings, but which of these two is at #16?
One of these Mideast 4A programs has not gotten enough recognition for consistent success - but that could change over the next 2 years.
One of these is a dynasty trying to stay on top, the other an upstart that shocked everyone. Which one is 19th in the rankings, though?
The top team from the Midwest 4A is only 19th - and which team it is might come as a surprise to some.
Which of these girls posted track times of 5:08 and 2:16 and leads an up-and-coming cross country squad?
Arden Vessie and Emme Fisher (back) will likely have an epic duel in the 3A East this fall, but only one of them has a team capabale of being top 5 in 3A behind her.
Do you know this runner, or even which team she's on? If you pay attention this fall, I'm betting you'll find out.
One of these 4A Mideast teams will have to stay home on November 1st, and summer training could determine which.
One of these 4A East teams is young and rising into the rankings, and the other lost 3 of their top 4 to graduation.
Which school from the loaded Mideast 4A made the bottom of the rankings, but will struggle to make the state meet?
Track improvement pushed one of these two teams all the way into the top 25, and another into the honorable mention category.