Legend made a jump in the rankings this week.
While most teams ran abbreviated squads this past week, we didn't see much movement on top of the rankings.
We've got a laundry list of big comes brewing this weekend, which will likely force these polls to rumble once more. But even off a low-key weekend, there was some rumbling...
The story coming out of 5A this week is not that Mountain Vista remains on top, it's that Dakota Ridge and Heritage received the same amount of votes. Heritage has been inching up for weeks now, and they've finally pulled even with Dakota Ridge.
Outside of these top three, we did see some musical chairs...
Speaking of inching up or climbing, Rock Canyon has made their way back up to the No. 4 spot, leaping over Fort Collins. And perhaps the biggest leap came from Legend, who won the Rock Canyon XC Invitational by 23 points. Previously unranked, now they're sitting No. 7.
Like 5A, the story wasn't who remained on top - Niwot. It was Centaurus moving into the No. 2 spot. Last year they were the fastest squad in Colorado, and now they're making gains to prove it once more.
Another big story-line is coming from the defending state champs - Palmer Ridge. After dropping to No. 5 a week ago they came storming back to a tie at No. 3 this week. Led by Brandon Hippe's 14:42 3-mile at the Woodbridge Classic in California, Palmer Ridge is making a case for their title defense.
New to the rankings this week are Eagle Valley, Pine Creek, and Battle Mountain.
If the polls hint at anything, it's how close of a race we'll be seeing in another month. While Salida made noise last week by storming to the No. 1 spot, this week they share it with Peak to Peak, who tallied the same amount of votes.
And that wasn't the only close tally...
Frontier and The Classical Academy came in at No. 3 this week, while Alamosa dropped to No. 5, but not by much. One thing is very, very clear, and it's the top five schools in 3A will each have their shot at the title in another month, because the 3A race is that close.
Back in the rankings this week was Gunnison, who sat out a week, then returned to the No. 8 spot.
The top five spots in 2A so absolutely no movement. Heritage Christian gave no reason to doubt their ranking, and likewise, neither did Lyons, Peyton, Ouray, or Buena Vista.
Movement did come from the backside of the rankings, however, with Paonia making a leap from unranked to No. 6 this week.