Boys XC Preseason Rankings: #15

<p> <span style="font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">NCRunners is counting down the top 25 boys teams heading into the fall season. &nbsp;The full rankings will be released on the first day of official practice: Friday, August 1st. &nbsp;These are subjective rankings (not computer generated); they take into account returning team rankings, returning team averages, team rankings in the 1600 and 3200 from indoor and outdoor track, and a school&#39;s &quot;Improvement Rating.&quot; &nbsp;Improvement Rating is a custom metric developed by researching the improvement in a team&#39;s 5-person average from year to year, in comparison to that same team&#39;s ranking. &nbsp;Improvement Rating numbers and methodology will be released on the weekend of August 2nd.</span></p>

Sanderson's boys followed one of the best paths to cross country success - not graduating any of your top 7 runners.

 

	Sanderson (NC)
	1) Jose Rosas		16:27.00	84
	2) Evan Welles		16:55.24	159
	3) Mike Stiegler		17:00.00	175
	4) Sawyer Keith		17:05.88	194
	5) Alex White		17:22.30	275
	Average Time: 16:58.08 Total Time: 1:24:50.42 1-5 Split: 55.30
	6) Blake Koch		17:46.00	397
	7) Will Smith		18:03.71	509

It looks like North Carolina has a new cross-regional rivalry in the 4A classification, as Sanderson and Pine Forest enter this season in a virtual dead heat in the rankings.  The Spartans get the nod here for two reasons: better Improvement Rating over the last 3 years, and a slightly better team 1600 result from the spring (averaging 4:46 over their top 5 outdoors).  Despite finishing 8th in the Mideast 4A in 2013, this team projects as third-best in that region for the upcoming season, giving them a very good chance to make it into the top 10 in the 4A state meet.  That's because Sanderson returns all 7 runners from last fall; this year, there will be 3 seniors and 4 juniors, giving the Spartans a veteran team that should be focused on this year's potential.  If everything goes well, then Sanderson and Pine Forest could open the season with a dual meet, and then close with a battle for the top 10 at the state meet, and that's a story line that's worth following.

Important Data:

• 2013 XC Returning Ranking: 17th

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 10th

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: 14th

• 5-Year Improvement Rating: 5.988 (18th)

• 3-Year Improvement Rating: 7.956 (12th)