Ever since The Stride Report launched three and half months ago, there has been a tab in the rankings section labeled XC Top 25 Teams with a simple caption that says "Coming This July". Now July is finally here and we can finally begin our rankings! Sort of. Due to certain teams not yet having published rosters for 2017, we have decided to switch our dates for the Rankings. Instead of the XC Top 25 Teams, we will be doing the XC Top 50 Individuals starting this Sunday! The rankings will come out in groups of 10, leaving us with five total days of our rankings. Commonly Asked Questions About The Rankings "What do you base these rankings on?" These rankings are based on a variety of factors such as experience, consistency, performances at big meets, past performances, improvement, and potential. Occasionally, track times do play a role when ranking certain individuals. However, I typically try to emphasize that track and cross country are two very different sports. Great track times do not always equal great cross country performances. "Will you be updating these rankings throughout the season? If so, how often?" I will be updating these rankings every week based on new results. There are some weeks where there are very few significant cross country meets happening. These weeks typically result in no change to the rankings. If you include the weeks without change, as well as the preseason rankings, there are approximately 11 to 12 weekly rankings. "Why is Person A ranked ahead of Person B, even though Person B beat Person A in a race?" As I mentioned in the first question, these rankings are based on multiple races and a variety of different factors. Collectively, we look at the entire season and base our rankings off of recent trends shown by an individual. Just because someone had one bad race does not mean they should kicked off the list entirely. There is (almost) always a chance at redemption. "My favorite runner (didn't compete / had a great race) this past weekend, but he moved backwards in the rankings. Why is that?" Most of the time, I try to reward athletes in the rankings for having a great race. Unfortunately for them, there are a lot of great athletes that are constantly improving. In this scenario, if someone has moved back in the rankings, it is simply because there isn't enough room at the top. Not all regressions in the rankings are intended to be negative. JUST MISS / HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no order) Andrew Marston / Villanova / Rs. Sophomore In 2016, Marston raced seven times and placed outside of the top 10 only twice. Once at the Penn State Open (13th) and once at NCAA's (146th). Marston has clearly learned how to navigate a smaller field of competitors. If he can show improvement at larger venues like the ones mentioned above, then don't be surprised to see him make it on to the Top 50 this season... Colby Gilbert / Washington / Rs. Senior It's tough to exactly gauge what Gilbert is capable of doing in cross country. As a sophomore in 2015, Gilbert became an All-American after not racing in a regular season invitational for the entirety of the season. Unfortunately, 2016 did not show the same success. After two early wins and a top five finish at the Washington Invite, Gilbert struggled at big meets like Wisconsin, PAC 12's, and West Regionals. He failed to qualify for Nationals at both the individual and team levels. Which Colby Gilbert will we see in 2017? He had great success this past indoor track season, but then disappeared during outdoor track. The inconsistency leaves too many questions for him to be on the list at the moment. Iliass Aouani / Syracuse / Junior If there was a #51 on the list, it would most likely go to Iliass Aouani. Before arriving to Syracuse in 2016, Aouani had great success at Lamar as he became a southern distance running star. Although he still saw success at Syracuse with a 6th place finish at ACC's and a 7th place finish at Northeast Regionals, Aouani struggled with consistency. He finished 86th at Wisconsin and 126th at NCAA's. Lachlan Cook / Virginia / Sophomore The ACC freshman of the year was a key reason why the Virginia Cavaliers were able to stay competitive in 2016 despite losing Henry Wynne. Cook had his first breakout performance at the Penn State Open where he was 7th overall. An 11th and 12th place finish at ACC's and Southeast regionals showed just how good this kid could be in the future. Cook was awfully close to making the list, but finishing 103rd at NCAA's shows that he still needs to gain experience on the big stage. In addition to NCAA's, the ACC and Southeast region weren't quite as strong as they have been in the past. I would like to see if he can replicate his performances at those meets in 2017. Grant Fischer / Colorado State / Rs. Senior It's tough to exactly pin-point a specific breakout performance for Fischer last fall. Overall he was very consistent and had respectable finishes at the biggest meets around the country (he placed 30th at Wisconsin). His steady improvement throughout the past two track seasons has led me to believe that this will be a guy capable of breaking into the Top 50. Michael Ward / Bradley / Rs. Senior One of the most under-appreciated programs in NCAA D1 XC is Bradley University. The Braves have been on the rise for the past two years and they have been led by their ace, Michael Ward. Ward and his teammates have entered some of the toughest meets that the nation has to offer and Ward has stepped up every time without fail. Ward placed 21st at Norte Dame, 16th at Pre Nats, was runner-up to Reed Fischer at his conference championship, and finished 9th in an underrated Midwest Region. He eventually capped off his season by placing 71st in his first-ever National Championship. It doesn't matter where he's running, he will show up and contend. If it's not already obvious, I am a big fan of Michael Ward. He represents all of the underdogs who deserve some recognition. However, if Ward wants to get into our Top 50, he'll need to lower some of those finishes and defeat some of the better-known names in the NCAA. Jonathan Harper / BYU / Senior With an 18th place finish at Wisconsin, Harper should be in the Top 50 conversation. However, aside from Wisconsin, BYU didn't face any truly difficult competition until Regionals and Nationals. After a solid, but average 20th place finish in the Mountain Region, Harper placed 101st at NCAA's leaving fans like myself looking for more. Chase Weaverling / Virginia / Senior In 2015, Chase Weaverling steadily improved, became a competitive name in a very strong ACC field, and was just a few spots shy of All-American in his first National Championship performance. In 2016, he was not able to improve upon those performances. He also struggled at the NCAA meet where he placed 181st overall. It's difficult to know which way Weaverling is trending and whether or not we should expect an improvement out of him this season. I need to see some consistent performances as well as some improvement before I can put him in the Top 50. Zach Perrin / Colorado / Senior After a runner-up performance at the Rocky Mountain Shootout and an odd pack-running exercise at Pre Nats, Perrin threw down the best performance of his cross country career by placing 4th overall at PAC 12's and helping Colorado secure the conference title (where they were underdogs). Yet, as so many do, Perrin struggled to run well at Nationals with a sub-par finish of 125th overall. It may have been a fluke, but without a truly significant performance at Pre Nats or Regionals, I'm still looking for Perrin to do more. Thomas Ratcliffe / Stanford / Rs. Freshman In his first cross country race ever, Ratcliffe ran 23:17 at the Stanford Invite, making him the 5th fastest individual in meet history. The four others ahead of him? Sean McGorty, Chris Derrick, Joe Rosa, and Maksim Korolev. That is some good company to be in. Ratcliffe also put up an excellent 8th place finish at PAC 12's which continued to excite fans about this potential. Despite two great performances, Ratcliffe is not shown in the results for Regionals nor Nationals. Why did Coach Milt not run him? Did he get hurt? I may not be a big fan of using track times to gauge cross country fitness, but Ratcliffe's 7:53 3k this past winter (unattached) tells me that he's right on track to follow in Grant Fisher's footsteps. It's easy to get excited about Ratcliffe when you hear about all that he has done. However, this is a guy who has yet to race at Regionals and Nationals. He could very easily make the Top 50 this season (and I think he will), but I'm going to hold out on doing so until I see his name at the top of the results. *EDITORS NOTE: The initial publishing of this article incorrectly stated that Thomas Ratcliffe did not run attached last cross country season. That has since been edited. Thank you to the reader who corrected our mistake! #rankings #ncaa #Top50 #gzatlin #preview

1. Stanford Cardinal 2017 Recruits: - DJ Principe (1:53 / 2:27 / 4:00 / 8:14 / 8:47 / 14:32) - Callum Bolger (1:54 / 4:05 / 8:22 / 8:45 / 14:54) - Connor Lane (4:08 / 8:24 / 8:47 / 14:17) -Michael Vernau (4:09 / 8:23 / 8:49 / 14:47) - Brandon McGorty (48 / 1:48 / 2:24 / 4:08) Analysis: I believe that the word "dynasty" is used much too often in sports. Just because a team wins two championships or makes multiple post-season appearances, doesn't mean that they are a "dynasty". The 2002 - 2005 New England Patriots were a dynasty after they won three Super Bowl titles in four years. The Chicago Blackhawks were a dynasty from 2010 to 2015 after they secured three Stanley Cups in four seasons. Even the Colorado men are in the dynasty argument after winning NCAA cross country team titles in 2001, 2004, and 2006. Personally, I need to see at least three titles in six years or less, with very little drop off in the "non-title" seasons before I can declare any team a dynasty. So please understand that when I say Stanford could potentially be a dynasty, the expectations I have for them are above and beyond many others. The incoming Cardinal freshmen listed above may be the greatest American recruiting class ever assembled. All five of these recruits have 1600/mile PR's under 4:10. Four of the recruits have 3200/2 mile PR's under 8:50 all while also boasting 5k PR's under 14:55. There are multiple Power Five programs that can't even develop that kind of talent on their entire team, much less one recruiting class. Listing the accomplishments for all five of these athletes would be near impossible. The accolades they have achieved during their four years of high school is difficult to truly appreciate. Collectively, between cross country and track, this group had 202 total career wins and 26 state titles. Those 202 wins don't even include the 10 wins that McGorty accumulated in the field events (high jump, long jump, and shot put). With a recruiting class of this caliber, the questions change from "if" to "when" in regards to Stanford's future. When will Stanford win an NCAA cross country title? How many can they get before this class graduates? How many DMR titles are possible? Could they become the next Oregon and win the outdoor title with almost nothing but distance runners? These are fair questions, but they aren't that easy to answer. Sean McGorty no longer has eligibility in cross country and a key scorer in Garrett Sweatt has now graduated. It is also unclear as to whether or not Sam Wharton and Jack Keelan will return to Palo Alto to finish out their eligibility. They have been vital to the success of the Cardinal for years now. Despite an aging roster, underclassmen like Grant Fisher, Thomas Ratcliffe, and Alex Ostberg have begun to lay the foundation for a successful future. With the addition of this superstar recruiting class, the pressure will be on Coach Milt to produce a NCAA XC title after a 13-year drought. Luckily, Stanford isn't too far off from getting there. In the past three years, the Cardinal has been runner-up twice at the NCAA XC championships. Adding, four high school cross country All-Americans and the NXN Northeast course record holder (Principe) puts Stanford way ahead of it's competition. The future is bright for Stanford. They have the low-sticks, the depth, and plenty of time to develop what NBA fans would call a "super team". Whether they win a national title or not, one thing is for sure. Stanford will be one of the most exciting teams to watch for years to come. #rankings #recruits #ncaa #gzatlin

2. BYU Cougars 2017 Recruits: - Casey Clinger (50 / 1:52 / 4:02 / 8:21 / 8:44 / 14:42) - Patrick Parker (50 / 1:50 / 4:03 / 9:04 / 15:12) - Mckay Johns (1:53 / 4:06 / 8:51 / 15:07) - Haden Penrod (48 / 1:50 / 4:10) - Brigham Cardon (50 / 1:50 / 4:16) Analysis: There are very few programs in the NCAA that are as team oriented as BYU is. It shows in the way they conduct their interviews, in the way that they train, and in the way that they race. The team culture, from an outsider's perspective, is contagious and head coach Ed Eyestone seems to be the common denominator behind that. Maybe that team culture is why the boys from American Fork have opted to stay together and join the Cougars in the quest for their first NCAA cross country title. The trio of Clinger, Parker, and Johns were distance running stars in their final year of high school competition as they dominated the state of Utah in cross country and entered the conversation of the greatest high school cross country teams of the decade (and maybe of all-time). Of course, the major upset loss to Bozeman at NXN raised some debate as to whether or not the best team really won the national championship. Flotrack published an article arguing that not enough entries were accepted into NXN, which statistically lessened the impact American Fork's top three would have had at a regular sized invitational. Nonetheless, the American Fork boys kept their focus and eventually went on to eviscerate the 4xMile high school national record with a relay time of 16:41 which bested the previous national record by 11 seconds. On an individual level, we still saw grand success these Utah natives. Clinger became the first ever two-time NXN champion while also gathering 10 Utah state titles between cross country and track. Patrick Parker may be the greatest individual to never win a high school title, all because his teammate was one of the best ever. But Parker's win at the Adidas Boost Boost Games with a time of 4:03 validated his legacy in the Utah running community. As for John Mckays, he may be the next guy behind Parker in the "best to never win a state title" discussion. He may "only" have 11 wins throughout his high school career, but keep in mind that a heavy majority of those races were against Parker and Clinger. Obviously, this recruiting class isn't just about three guys from the same high school. Brigham Cardon and Haden Penrod are scary good half-milers who were ranked US #17 and #18 time this past spring with personal bests of 1:50. The addition of Cardon and Penrod will provide a huge boost to BYU in the mid-distances which have been responsible for developing 800 studs like Marcus Dickson, Connor Ross, and Abraham Alvarado. The emergence of BYU's middle distance program is very real and they are only getting better. When was the last time BYU had a recruiting class that was this good coming out of high school? It's hard to say for sure, but what we do know is that the Cougars have even more weapons for coach Ed Eyestone to develop. With Rory Linkletter, Clayton Young, a huge group of talented underclassmen, and now these incoming recruits, BYU is a team that could very realistically win the cross country national title in the next few years. #gzatlin #ncaa #recruits #rankings

3. Washington Huskies 2017 Recruits: - Talon Hull (1:53 / 4:08 / 8:46 / 15:07) - Isaac Green (1:52 / 4:05/ 9:22 / 14:55) -Tibebu Proctor (4:19 / 8:55 / 14:56) - Chase Equall (4:13 / 8:57 / 15:18) - Devan Kirk (49 / 1:51) Analysis: Washington is one of the more under appreciated programs in the NCAA. The Huskies have been able to stay competitive in nearly distance event and they have historically done very well during cross country in a loaded PAC 12 conference. In the span of just a few years, they have produced multiple NCAA stars such as Izaic Yorks, Colby Gilbert, Meron Simon, Aaron Nelson, and many others. Head coach Greg Metcalf has been with the Washington program for roughly 20 years now and he has certainly kept the program competitive (if not more). But what really separates him from previous Husky coaches is his ability to recruit. That's not to say those before him couldn't recruit young talent, but with these incoming freshmen, Metcalf has certainly raised the bar. Let's start the discussion with Talon Hull who has had some impressive performances at nearly every distance. This past fall, the Utah native won the Footlocker West Region and later followed that with a 4th place finish at the Footlocker National Championships to solidify himself as a legitimate cross country talent. Unfortunately, the boys from American Fork were the only obstacles in his way of becoming a state champion. Nonetheless, Hull still put up outstanding numbers this past spring with three personal bests of 1:53, 4:08, and 8:46. There is always plenty of concern about runners "peaking" too early in high school, but the drop in Hull's times during his senior year is a good indication that he still has plenty of upside. Tibebu Proctor is another long distance talent that will have a significant impact on this Washington program. He was runner-up to Hull in the Footlocker West Region and later finished 7th at Footlocker Nationals. With a personal best of 8:55 in the 3200, 39 career high school wins, and five Washington state titles between track and cross country, it's safe to say that Proctor will be a key addition for the Huskies. Chase Equall also has national championship experience after helping his Bozeman teammates upset American Fork and win the NXN team title. A sub-9 minute 3200 along with two Montana state titles makes Equall another big addition to a scary good recruiting class. And how about Isaac Green? Much like Talon Hull, the Colorado-native has shown off some incredible range. It's not everyday that you see an athlete who is capable of running a sub-15 minute 5k and a 1:52 half-mile. At the same time, this kid has proven himself to be a winner. Green has dominated the distance running scene in Colorado with an incredible total of 48 high school wins! That is the most number of wins we have counted for an individual in this national group of graduating high schoolers. Upon further investigation, we also found that Isaac Green is exactly what Washington is looking for...literally. Look up a picture of Isaac Green and then search for a picture of former Washington star Izaic Yorks. The resemblance is uncanny. Not only does Green look exactly like Yorks, but he essentially has the same name and they are both known for their incredible racing range. Essentially, Isaac Green is the next Izaic Yorks. Devan Kirk is the last name that deserves a mention when you take into consideration his wicked middle distance speed. The Huskies tend to focus on the longer races and lean on their ability to drop down in distance. However, with the addition of Kirk, that need to drop down in distance is not quite as profound as before. With enough development and training, Kirk may even be able to secure a PAC 12 title in what is now a wide-open conference in regards to the 800. The Huskies typically get the full value out of all of their recruits which is why we have seen them stay at such a competitive level despite being in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. After a difficult cross country season in 2016, it was huge that they recruited cross country specialists with national championship experience while still bringing in track oriented athletes like Green and Kirk. This Washington program is a team of the future in nearly every aspect of competitive distance running. Keep the Huskies on your radar and in your back pocket when it comes time for future prediction contests... #gzatlin #ncaa #rankings #recruits

4. Wisconsin Badgers 2017 Recruits: - Seth Hirsch (4:14 / 8:54 / 14:25) - Finn Gessner (4:12 / 8:47 / 14:39) - Tannor Wagner (4:10 / 8:57 / 15:05) - Benjamin Micallef (49 / 1:52) Analysis: Prior to 2015, the Wisconsin Badgers had the longest streak in the NCAA of qualifying for the cross country national championships for 43 straight years. Despite a hiccup in 2015 that ended the streak, the Badgers are still considered a distance running powerhouse with a legendary coach, top-notch low sticks, and a slew of depth. But like any other team, the Badgers are beginning to see their roster change. With the recent graduation of Malachy Schrobilgen and veterans like Morgan McDonald and Joe Hardy entering their final year, the men from Wisconsin will need to develop their younger talent in hopes that they can sustain a competitive program for the future. History says that the Badgers will be just fine regardless of who they bring in and with a recruiting class like this, it's hard not to get excited. One of those recruits is Seth Hirsch, the Nebraska state champion with multiple experiences on the national stage. As a junior, he placed 9th at both NXN and Footlocker Nationals. He later improved on those finishes in 2016 with a 4th place finish at NXN and a 3rd place finish at Footlocker making him a four time high school All-American. Much like Hirsch, Finn Gessner is another cross country stud who attempted the NXN / Footlocker double in 2015. As a junior, Gessner was 8th at NXN and 11th at Footlocker. However, in his final year of competition, Gessner opted to race at only Footlocker and forgo NXN despite winning the NXN Heartland regional race three weeks earlier. Gessner's decision turned out to be the right one as he earned a runner-up finish at the 2016 Footlocker Nationals Championships. Hirsch and Gessner are the perfect fit for Wisconsin. Both recruits are clearly cross country oriented which is typically the focus of this Badger program. Not only will they add to the never ending depth of this roster, but they will most likely develop into a strong duo that Wisconsin is known to have (think McDonald/Schrobilgen & Snider/Hacker). The Badgers may thrive during cross country with Hirsch and Gessner, but they will get a solid boost on the track with mile specialist Tannor Wagner. Wagner may "only" have a personal best of 4:10, but this kid is a winner who hasn't been pushed to his full potential yet. The two-time Wisconsin state champion recorded an astonishing career total of 43 wins between track and cross country. For even the most elite high school athletes, that number of wins is incredibly high. For comparison, Gessner finished high school with 41 wins while Hirsch finished with 30. The Badgers have seen steady success in the 1500/mile distance with guys like Joe Hardy, Oliver Hoare, Austin Mudd, and Morgan McDonald making some noise on a national level. It will be no surprise to me if Wagner joins that list of star Wisconsin milers and ends up as a multi All-American. The last name to mention is Ben Micallef who will bring some much needed and appreciated middle distance speed to this Wisconsin program. With a personal best of 1:52, Micallef can expect to be one of the top half-milers in the program. Micallef is also in a great position in regards to development. Rising Wisconsin junior Eric Brown has shown some steady improvement in the 800 with a personal best of 1:48 this past spring track season. With Brown having two more years of eligibility left, Micallef will be able to learn from and train with one of the top half-milers in the BIG 10. Wisconsin is a program of excellence. They have always been at the top of the rankings and will continue to be at the top until they are no longer able to recruit elite talent like the guys above. When will that be? Based on these incoming freshmen, not any time soon... #rankings #recruits #gzatlin #ncaa

5. Oregon Ducks 2017 Recruits: - Reed Brown (1:51 / 3:59 / 8:50 / 14:37) - Cooper Teare (1:54 / 4:00 / 8:41 / 14:13) Analysis: The Oregon Ducks are going through a big change. They are no longer guaranteed to have a national champion in practically every long distance event now that Cheserek has graduated and departed from the program. However, even without Ches, the Ducks are still incredibly strong with national level talent in multiple distance events. There are also plenty of young guys on this team that are beginning to see some steady improvement. Underclassmen like Austin Tamagno, Mick Stanovsek, and Tanner Anderson all had excellent seasons this past spring and seem to be trending upwards. Yet, even with these talented young guys making consistent improvement, Oregon still needs to continue building their roster. The loss of Cheserek is a big one and scoring points will not come nearly as easy as they once did. That's why this recruiting class is a crucial one. But when one super star leaves, another is bound is join. In Oregon's case, they got two. The Ducks secured what may be the two best American high school recruits coming out of the high school system. Reed Brown just became the 10th American high schooler ever to break four minutes in the mile while Cooper Teare led the longer distances with mind-boggling times of 8:41 and 14:13 (both US #1). Could this be the best recruiting duo ever? The argument is certainly there. The addition of Reed Brown will allow the Oregon Ducks to build on their already deep group of milers which had five guys qualify for West Regionals this past spring in the 1500. Brown will also give Oregon some leg speed in the 800 with his 1:51 PR. The Ducks typically put their focus on the longer distances, so it will help to have a freshman that could potentially go under 1:50 in his first year. But Brown's success is not isolated to just the track. After a fourth place finish at the Texas Cross Country Championships, Brown went on to qualify for both Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) and Footlocker Nationals. The result? Brown placed 6th at NXN and emerged from Footlocker as the 2016 national champion. The last two individuals to run a sub-four minute mile and win Footlocker Nationals? Drew Hunter and Grant Fisher. Not bad company to be in... Brown's range makes him a dangerous opponent for anyone who toes the line next to him. He will almost definitely be a key contributor for Oregon in both cross country and track. However, if there is any other graduating high schooler that has the range that Brown does, it's almost definitely Cooper Teare. Teare has dominated the 2016-2017 high school scene with impressive performances against some of the most elite competition in the nation. The biggest win of his high school career came at the Texas Distance Festival where he ran a 14:13 5k to defeat one of the best high school fields ever assembled outside of a national championship. The California native later dropped down in distance to the 3200 where he became the 2017 Arcadia Invite champion with a time of 8:41 (#4 3200 all-time). As if Teare hadn't accomplished enough, he later unleashed a mile time of 4:00.16 which ended the season as the 2nd fastest mile in the nation (behind only Reed Brown). Teare may not have broken four minutes, but his achievements are just as impressive as Brown's. Teare is talented enough to have an immediate impact as a freshman and eventually become a multi All-American...or even a national champion. At the collegiate level, not every high-profile recruit is promised success. But the duo of Reed Brown and Cooper Teare is the closest any program could get towards a guarantee. Of course, only time will tell if that is the case... #gzatlin #ncaa #recruits #rankings

6. Syracuse Orangemen 2017 Recruits: - Noah Affolder (4:07 / 8:16 / 9:06 [3kSt.] / 8:46 / 14:18) - Nate Henderson (4:11 / 8:24 / 9:01 / 14:59) - Steve Schulz (2:33 / 4:18 / 9:44 [3kSt.] / 9:03 / 15:23) - Matt Cavallaro (9:39 / 15:57) Analysis: There are very few programs in the NCAA that can develop young talent like Syracuse can. Justyn Knight, Colin Bennie, Philo Germano, and Aidan Tooker have all found great success during their first few seasons with the Orangemen and there are likely other talented individuals who are primed for a breakout season. The men in orange and blue will be very strong in 2017 as they are able to return five of their top seven from last year's NCAA XC championships. Of course, there are still crucial scorers that need to be replaced and these incoming recruits may be able to help with that. One of the biggest recruitment stories in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions was when New York distance star Noah Affolder verbally committed to Syracuse during his junior year of high school. The Great Edinburgh cross country champion has shown that he is one of the best distance runners the nation has to offer which will make him a perfect fit for the 2015 NCAA cross country team title winners. Affolder may have proven success on the grass, but his personal bests on the track rank among some of the best ever in high school history. His personal best time of 8:16 is the 16th fastest high school indoor 3k ever. For the 2 mile, if you include 3200 conversions, Affolder ranks 9th all-time. While his times are impressive, his ability to win is unlike any other. This past indoor season, we saw Noah attempt the rare DMR / mile / 800 / 4x800 quadruple at the Pennsylvania indoor state championships where he earned three golds and one silver. These weren't tactical races either. It took four honest efforts to get those wins. In case I haven't clarified enough, Noah Affolder is really good. But throughout his time in Pennsylvania, there was only one individual that could truly threaten Affolder's spot at the top. That individual is Nate Henderson who just so happens to be Affolder's future teammate. Henderson is a rare talent with strong PR's and has the ability to successfully execute different racing styles. He pushed for an aggressive pace at Penn Relays en route to an 8:24 PR and then threw down a wicked kick in the PA 3200 state title race to upset Noah's little brother Sam with a time of 9:01. The kid is incredibly consistent and has often run the 1600/3200 double with impressive end results. As someone who lives in PA and follows the high school running scene, I can't remember the last time Henderson had a "bad" race. Steve Shulz is just as impressive with strong PR's in a wide range of events. His experience in the steeplechase will make him and Affolder a dangerous duo that could grow alongside the rising Syracuse sophomore Aidan Tooker. Shulz's addition to the Syracuse roster will help grow the already unfathomable depth they have. Matt Cavallaro is the last name to mention of this group. I must admit that his PR's are considerably slower than his fellow recruits and I'm a bit surprised to see him with the rest of these names. However, times don't always tell the story. Cavallaro has helped lead a national-caliber high school distance program (CBA) for the past few seasons and has had some great performances at big-time meets like NXN Northeast (21st overall). Coach Fox has also been known to give walk-on opportunities to guys like Cavallaro. Just look at the success they've had with a borderline recruit in Philo Germano. The same logic could apply to Cavallaro and he could be the next great breakout star in the NCAA. Syracuse is going to need to develop another low-stick and find reliable individuals to secure the 6th and 7th spots on the varsity team. While other guys in the program might have a chance to earn a spot, the incoming recruits could certainly make some noise and have a significant impact on the future success of this team as just freshmen. #gzatlin #ncaa #recruits #rankings

7. NAU Lumberjacks 2017 Recruits: - Luis Grijalva (3:47 / 4:07 / 8:45 / 14:49) - Soren Knudsen (4:04 / 8:55) - Elliot Gindi (1:54 / 4:09 / 9:11 / 14:55) - Joseph Benson (9:11 / 14:54) - Joey DeFeo (4:18 / 9:14) - Jack Shea (4:19 / 9:19 / 15:26) Analysis: It may have taken some time, but NAU has become an NCAA cross country and distance running powerhouse. The team is consistently loaded with top-tier individuals and they always find a way to stay relevant on the national scene. It took a lot of patience and a lot development, but the results were well worth it after the Lumberjacks won their first national title in school history last year. However, all good things must come to an end. Futsum Zienasellassie has now graduated and former head coach Eric Heins has left the program for a job opportunity that his wife is currently pursuing. For most programs, losses like that would be crippling and very difficult to come back from. Of course, NAU isn't like "most programs". This is a team that simply reloads rather than rebuilds and their six incoming recruits are a pretty good example of that. The biggest additions to the squad will be Soren Knudsen, Luis Grijalva, and Elliot Gindi who have personal bests of 4:04, 4:07, and 4:09 in the mile...those are times that could instantly make an impact on a Northern Arizona team that needs more mile-oriented athletes. At the same time, this group of three will become a major asset in NAU's effort to continue their success in XC and the long distance events. The loss of Futsum and Weitz is significant and the team title race may not be as clear as it has been in the past. Knudsen, Grijalva, and Gindi don't need to be All-Americans, but if they can step into a scoring role then the Lumberjacks may be able to stay in the team title conversation for 2017. Joseph Benson is another name that could contribute to the success of this cross country program. With a PR of 14:54, it's clear that he can thrive in the longer distances. He will add to the never-ending depth of NAU which is what has made this program so good for so many years now. It's tough to say when he'll get his chance to breakout, but he will almost certainly be a key scorer on this team no later than his junior year. Joey DeFeo and Jack Shea may not have personal bests under 15 minutes in the 5k or sub 9 minutes in the two mile, but they have just as much upside as the four recruits mentioned above. Even if these two have to wait a few years to build mileage, they will still provide a great sense of security and insurance in case injuries plague the team or key runners begin to struggle. Maybe the most important aspect to point out is that NAU has outstanding mentors at their disposal. Experienced upperclassmen like Matthew Baxter, Tyler Day, Andy Trouard, and Cory Glines will be absolutely crucial (and helpful) in the development of these recruits. Having strong and diverse leadership that guilds you through the practices and races is a huge plus. It's certainly a lot easier than having an underclassman put the reputation and success of a program on their shoulders. There's really not a lot to dislike about this team when you look at the overall picture. NAU has recruits with elite-caliber potential, a talented pool of depth, and an experienced group that the younger guys can learn from. Where could you go wrong? In fact, I think you could make the argument that NAU got snubbed from a higher ranking. Nonetheless, rankings are meant to be disproven. If there's any team capable of doing that, it's this NAU recruiting class. #rankings #recruits #ncaa #gzatlin

8. Mississippi Rebels 2017 Recruits: - Waleed Suliman (49 / 1:51 / 2:27 / 4:04 / 14:49) - Cade Bethmann (1:50 / 4:10 / 9:09 / 15:34) -Everett Smulders (51 / 1:50 / 4:15 / 9:27) - John Rivera (48 / 1:50 / 4:20) - Ben Savino (4:15 / 9:10 / 15:31) Analysis: In less than five years, the Rebels have gone from just another average team in the south to one of the best distance running programs in the NCAA. A combination of star transfers and the appointment of Ryan Vanhoy to the position of head coach have been the keys to the recent achievements of this program. Success of this magnitude eventually garners attention from high-level recruits that were once impossible to win over. Naturally, that is what the Ole Miss program is currently seeing as they are about to bring in four top-tier talents. Of the four recruits, Waleed Suliman stands out as the biggest catch of them all. The 10x Virginia state champ has been overshadowed by Drew Hunter for the past few years, but was really able to shine in 2017 with four personal bests in the 800, 1000, mile, and 5k. Suliman not only has superstar times, but he has an uncanny ability to win races. What other high schooler do you know has 10 state titles in a state as strong as Virginia? I'm sure there are names that I'm missing, but it can't be that many. While he may not have the state titles Suliman has, Cade Bethmann is a winner who has the times to back it up. The Texas native has competed against some of the best middle distance runners in the nation and should fit in perfectly with this mid-distance oriented program. The addition of Bethmann to Mississippi's squad couldn't have come at a better time when you consider that 800 specialists and sub-four milers Craig Engels and Ryan Manahan just graduated. The same could be said about Florida state champion John Rivera and Georgia state champion Everett Smulders who each boast personal bests of 1:50 as well. The combination of Bethmann, Rivera, and Smulders is a scary thing to think about if you're an SEC team not named Ole Miss. Ben Savino may be the last recruit we mention, but he is arguably the most important. With Mississippi graduating four of their top five scorers from the 2016 Cross Country National Championships, the need for help in the longer distances is at an all-time high. Of course, it is completely unfair to expect that Savino will immediately fill the roles of those exiting seniors. It is very possible (even likely) that Savino becomes a project for Vanhoy and his staff to develop over time. Even if he doesn't have an immediate impact, his addition to the roster is incredibly valuable. However, out of all of this, the biggest (and maybe most obvious) commonality among this group of recruits is the fact that they have absolutely incredible range. Just look at Suliman who can run a 49 second 400, but is also under 15 minutes in the 5k. That type of fitness is simply unheard of. The same goes for Cade Bethmann who can run 1:50 in the 800, but can also tick off a 9:09 3200. Rivera and Savino may not have quite the range that Suliman and Bethmann do, but they have shown that they are more than just "one event wonders" . The ability to extend your racing range is greatly undervalued in today's world of competitive racing. We are beginning to see more and more individuals focus on just one or two events rather than a wide array. Maybe that's why Mississippi has found so much success. Nearly every Rebel on that roster can stay very competitive in more than just one event, which includes cross country. Without Craig Engels stepping up and delivering a solid performance at Cross Country Nationals, the Rebels don't become a podium team. In fact, the backbone of this Ole Miss XC team has been primarily milers for the past few seasons. The culture-changing distance stars may have graduated, but with this incoming class of recruits, the future is only getting brighter in Oxford, Mississippi. #rankings #recruits #ncaa #gzatlin

9. Columbia Lions 2017 Recruits: - Owen Bishop (4:09 / 8:57 / 15:14) - Jonathan Lauer (4:20 / 9:14 [3kst.] / 9:17 / 15:08) - Soloman Fountain (4:10 / 9:19 / 15:20) - Joseph Storey (1:52 / 4:18) - Aaron Breene (1:53 / 2:31 / 4:18) Analysis: For the past five years or so, we have seen the Ivy League become one of the more competitive conferences in the NCAA. Heps individuals have taken their fitness to a new level, the coaching has improved, and cross country teams are becoming legitimate contenders to make NCAA's. This rise in competition has been led by teams like Columbia (as well as Penn) and some may argue that this ascent is due to consistently stronger recruiting classes. As we review the incoming Lions for 2017, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to say that this is one of the best overall groups Columbia has had in a very long time when you factor in their personal bests, range, and potential contribution to team depth. Out of these five individuals, Owen Bishop stands out as the star with personal bests that could make him a legitimate team contributor as just a freshman. With a slew of seniors now leaving (i.e. Jack Boyle, Max Norris, Rob Napoltiano), Columbia was left with a considerable gap in their longer distances. Although Napolitano will be succeeded by rising star Sam Ritz, it can't hurt to have another young talent like Bishop learning from an upperclassmen while also giving Columbia a weapon during cross country. Bishop may be the focal point of this class, but it's the four other guys that give Columbia depth as well as a bright future. The mid-distance duo of Joseph Storey and Aaron Breene will only add to a thriving 800 group that includes up-and-coming names like Alek Sauer, Josiah Langstaff, and Willie Hall. All three of those guys were underclassmen as of last season and all have personal bests of 1:50 or faster. Adding Storey and Breene to this group makes Columbia a mid-distance program of the future. Penn Relays 4x800 champions in 2019? You heard it here first... In the longer distances, Columbia gets a versatile and uber talented individual out of Jonathan Lauer who might be the biggest steal of the 2017 national recruiting class. Lauer's 9:14 steeplechase and proven ability to prosper on the cross country course makes him just as valuable as Bishop. Historically, the Lions haven't had too many standouts in the steeplechase with the exception of Casey Adams and Aubrey Myjer in 2015. The addition of Lauer gives Columbia four years to establish and develop a potential star in that very event. Joining Bishop and Lauer in the longer distances is Soloman Fountain who rocks some very underrated personal bests including a 1600 PR of 4:10. Just like I mentioned with Bishop, it can't hurt to have another name learning and developing under an experienced and proven miler like Sam Ritz. Not only will he help in the mid-distances, but Fountain's strength in the longer distances also gives Columbia some stability and depth in a spot that was expected to be weak. Max Norris, Jack Boyle, and Rob Napolitano all just graduated and were finishers for the Lions in last year's Northeast Regional meet. Trying to replace those shoes (or spikes) will be a large task to handle. This Columbia program is still young and it may take time to develop and mature these recruits before the Lions make a run for another Heps title and potentially qualify for NCAA's. That would not be a crazy idea to consider as a solid portion of Columbia's top runners would still have another year of eligibility in 2018. #recruits #ncaa #gzatlin #rankings