MS50 XC Ind. Boys Rankings 2018

Rank Athlete/Team Last Result Comments
1
Anderson started the year off as the pre-season No. 1 and he ends the year at No. 1 after his win at NXN. After winning the CIF Division 3 title in 14:55.30 -- the fastest time at CIF -- he set a course record at Glendoveer, becoming the first high school athlete to break 15 minutes in 14:57.60.
2
Hocker had one of the most impressive seasons of 2018. He was one of the most consistent runners in the entire nation, with nine sub-15:30 performances and six of those being 15:06:40 or faster. He won both NXR Midwest and Foot Locker Midwest and placed second overall at NXN. Then he won Foot Locker Nationals. His only head-to-head loss came at NXN, and his time was also under the old course record time of 15:03.20, which was last set by Casey Clinger in 2015.
3
Sprout was undefeated during the regular season, where he set a meet record time at the Colorado State Championships of 15:16.10. He also won NXR Southwest in 14:39.02 and placed third at NXN in 15:02.70.
4
Young capped off his season in a big way. He won CIF Division 2 in 14:59.20--the second fastest time at CIF, only behind Anderson. He then followed that up with a fourth-place finish at NXN, with the eighth-fastest time in meet history with his 15:04.70.
5
Allred had to run in jayvee races for most of the season due to transfer rules in Colorado, but the junior made the most of it every time he stepped on the course. After finishing second at the NXR Southwest to Sprout, he capped off his season with a fifth-place finish at NXN.
6
Renfree had only one loss during the entire regular season and it was the first meet of the year. Two of his major wins were at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational (HS) and the TSSAA Cross Country Championships. After a seventh-place finish at Foot Locker South, the Knoxville Catholic senior placed second at Foot Locker Nationals in the biggest race of his career.
7
Morris took home wins at the Marcus I Invitational and went on to win the UIL Texas Class 5A state title. The junior also used his two years of Foot Locker Nationals experience to once again earn a podium finish, placing third.
8
Vancil no doubt had a very strong season. For most of the year he was battling for the No. 1 spot on his team with Connor Ohlson. But his only losses during the regular season came from Ohlson, Cole Sprout, or Easton Allred. At NXN, he led the Dakota Ridge boys to a third-place podium finish, placing sixth.
9
Bosley had one of the strongest seasons in Wisconsin history, winning the Arrowhead Invitational, the Midwest Invitational, and the WIAA State Cross Country title, his second overall. He won NXR Heartland and placed second at Foot Locker Midwest to Cole Hocker. At NXN, was 23rd and then bounced back at Foot Locker Nationals to place fifth.
10
Matt Strangio wasn't ranked heading into regions meets due to reports of an early season injury, but he overcame that struggle and finished the season with a string of very strong performances. He won the CIF Division 1 Championships, and then followed it up with an eighth-place finish at NXN.
11
Methner made a jump into the national rankings after a string of big races heading into the MileSplit50 update on November 20. He won the IHSA Class 3A Championship and placed second at the NXR Midwest. He went on to place seventh at Foot Locker Midwest, was 15th at NXN and sixth at Foot Locker.
12
Carter Solomon was fourth at Foot Locker Midwest and fourth at Foot Locker Nationals
13
Jack Stanley had one of the strongest postseasons of anyone in the country. After placing second to Devin Hart at the Meet of Champions in New Jersey, he went on to claim a win at Foot Locker Northeast, was granted an at-large berth to NXN, and then finished 19th. He went on to place seventh at Foot Locker Nationals.
14
Colin Baker was third at Great American and then finished off his regular season with a win at the SCHSL Championships. He was fourth at Foot Locker South and then eighth at Foot Locker Nationals.
15
TX
The Flower Mound senior won the UIL Texas Class 6A title, was given at-large individual bid to NXN and then was seventh overall with his best time on the Glendoveer course with a 15:10.30.
16
Corey Gorgas had the second-best finish at NXN for a Midwest athlete, placing ninth in 15:10.7. That finish earned him All-American honor. He was also the MHSAA Division 4 Champion in 15:33.80 and was third at NXR Midwest.
17
Moss finished third at the Idaho State Cross Country Championships, was third at NXR Northwest and 11th at NXN, good for his second straight All-American performance.
18
Oosting ran conservatively throughout the season, racing just a few times. He won NXR Northeast and was 12th at NXN for All-American honors.
19
Foster won the MHSAA Division I Championships in 15:13.00 and was 13th at Foot Locker Midwest. Based on his season accomplishments, Foster was awarded an at-large bid to NXN, and the University of Michigan signed ran up to expectation, finishing 13th overall.
20
Gardner didn't race any of the post season meets, but he beat several guys who ran well in postseason meets during the regular season and was the Utah Class 5A State Champion.
21
Hicks was the FHSAA Class 2A Champion, the NXR Southeast Champion and finished his season placing 14th at NXN.
22
Holland was undefeated up until NXN. He won the OSAA Class 5A boys race, the Border Clash Invitational and NXR Northwest. The junior capped off his season in 16th at NXN with a time of 15:17.60.
23
After placing second to Alex Comerford at the MHSAA Division 2 Championships, Bishop was third at Foot Locker Midwest and eighth at the NXR Midwest Regional. He was 20th at NXN and ninth at Foot Locker, earning him All-American at both meets.
24
TX
Cheeseman's biggest regular season win was at the Great American Cross Country Festival. But his biggest challenges were at NXR South and Foot Locker South, where he placed fourth and second, respectively. At NXN and Foot Locker he capped off his season with 27th and 10th-place finishes, respectively.
25
Reading wasn't ranked during the regular season, but emerged as one of Colorado's top guys in the post season. He finished 17th at NXN and 19th at Foot Locker.

Editor's Comments

Big changes finished off the national rankings, with heavy emphasis put on finishes at national meets such as NXN and Foot Locker. Other factors used as a subjective measuring tool included head-to-head-to-head matchups, strength of season, season-best speed rating, and other major wins and losses during the regular season.

Off The Top 25: (Honorable Mentions)

Conant Smith (Previously No. 8) - 21st, Foot Locker Midwest 16:46.40

Shea Weilbaker (Previously No. 9) - 25th, NXN 15:27.7

Tyler Berg (Previously No. 10) - 32nd, NXN 15:33.6

Camren Fischer (Previously No. 13) - 55th, NXN -- 25th, FL 16:07.1

Devin Hart (Previously No. 18) - 24th, FL 16:06.30

Kevin Ramos (Previously No. 19) - 42nd, NXN 15:40.5

Sam Affolder (Previously No. 20) - 31st, NXN 15:33.2

Alex Comerford (Previously No. 21) - 23rd, FL Midwest 16:48.70

Nathan Green (Previously No. 24) -18th, NXN 15:20.0

Jarrett Kirk (Previously No. 25) - 91st, NXN 16:08.8

Other Honorable Mentions:

Connor Ohlson (CO)

Kashon Harrison (NM)

Nathan Green (ID)