New Jersey-based writer releases his preseason Top 25s!

---

BOYS RANKINGS
1. Columbus North HS, Columbus, IN (’09 20th)
Four key runners from record-breaking state championship team that placed 4th in super-deep Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) Midwest Regional return after excellent track season. 
Coach: Rick Weinheimer.

2. Arcadia HS, Arcadia, CA (’09 22nd)
State Div. I champion and 8:58 3200 runner Ammar Moussa leads solid top 5 featuring a trio of 3 9:26-9:27 3200 men. 
Coach: Jim O’Brien.

3. Trabuco Hills HS, Mission Viejo CA (’09 NR)
Former triathlete Jantzen Oshier, a 4:10 miler, leads deep squad with 5 more sub-4:30/sub-9:40 1600/3200 runners headed for state showdown with Arcadia.
Coach: Liam Clemons

4. American Fork HS, American Fork, UT (’09 8th)
State 5A record-breakers who won NXN Southwest and placed 8th at nationals return 5 of top 7 led by state champ Austin West and fast-improving junior Clayton Young.
Coach: Timo Mostert

5. York HS, Elmhurst, IL (’09 13th)
Led by 4:08 miler Jack Driggs, the Dukes seek a 27th state 3A title and re-play of ’04 NXN title run with twins Ron and Tom Hedman in the 2-3 spots.
Coach: Joe Newton

6. Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, NJ (’09 NR)
All key runners return led by 9:02 3200 man Mike Mazzaccaro with next 4 at 9:18, 9:29, 9:41, 9:43 as Colts are favored to capture their 16th state Meet of Champions title.
Coach: Tom Heath

7. Alhambra HS, Phoenix, AZ (’09 NR)
This season’s dark horse has everyone back from last year’s state 5A-I champions including individual champ Jorge Martinez but return after missing spring track amid a coaching change.
Coach: Carlos Borja

8. The Woodlands HS, The Woodlands, TX (’09 3rd)
While losing key men from its NXN 3rd-place team, the long-time national power has re-grouped with a deep roster of talent but will face a likely state 5A challenge from Marcus.
Coach: Juris Green

9. Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, NM (’09 5th)
The Southwest Regional runner-up on a tie-breaker returns an experienced line-up including Neil Longenbaugh, who ran NXN last year after donating bone marrow to his ailing brother.
Coach: Adam Kedge

10. Marcus HS, Flower Mound, TX (’09 NR)
NXN individual champion Craig Lutz spearheads a state 5A 4th-placer with 5 of its top 7 back and renewed power amid the pace-setting of its team leader.
Coach: Steve Telaneus

11. North Central HS, Spokane, WA (’09 7th)
A team with plenty of NXN street cred—winners in 2007, 7th last year—returns a hot front 4 and with a 5th in the wings for league, state and regional contention.
Coach: Jonathan Knight

12. Warwick Valley HS, Warwick, NY (’09 NR)
State federation 3rd-placer returns its top 5 runners led by 9:05 3200 man Tim Luthin and will face tough competition plus the demons of its 10th-place showing in the NY Regional.
Coach: Mike Potter

13. Mead HS, Spokane, WA (’09 NR)
Soph sensation Andrew Gardner, one of 12 children (9 adopted), leads a revitalized Panther team seeking to re-gain pride after not making last year’s state 4A finals.
Coach: Steve Kiesel

14. Loyola HS, Los Angeles, CA (’09 NR)
State Div II champion and 4:08 mile star Elias Gedyon leads a team returning 9 of its top 10 with younger runners gaining ground to tighten its pack.
Coach: Lalo Diaz

15. Wayzata HS, Plymouth, MN (’09 16th)
The state 2A and Heartland Regional runner-up has a team comparable to its 16th-place squad at NXN in ’09 and goes 7-deep in accomplished runners.
Coach: Bill Miles

16. Crater HS, Crown Point, OR (’09 NR)
Dominant state 5A champion (moving to 6A) loses its top two but returns the rest of its line-up including four state top-15 finishers.
Coach: Justin Loftus

17. West Windsor Plainsboro HS North, Plainsboro, NJ (’09 NR)
The unstoppable twins Joe and Jim Rosa, 1-2 in the national outdoor 2-mile, lead a team with a solid #3 man and others moving up with more Rosa records possible this fall.
Coach: Brian Gould

18. Oak Park River Forest HS, Oak Park, IL (’09 NR)
State 3A 9th-place team has its top 5 back and could be a force against established state and national powers like York and Neuqua Valley.
Coach: Jose Sosa

19. Fayetteville-Manlius HS, Manlius, NY (’09 9th)
New York Regional titlist and 9th-place NXN team returns 4 of top 7 with excellent experience plus developing talent moving up.
Coaches: Bill Aris and John Aris

20. Eden Prairie HS, Eden Prairie, MN (’09 14th)
State 2A and Heartland Regional champ Aaron Bartnik leads a trio of returning 9:20s 3200 runners but the state and regional defenders lack depth after losing 4 key seniors.
Coach: Jeff Lindlief

21. Dana Hills HS, Dana Point, CA (’09 6th)
State Div I champ and 6th-place NXN squad returns two stellar performers while losing 4 of its next 5 and will face a tough challenge defending its state title.
Coach: Tim Butler

22. Eisenhower HS, Yakima, WA (’09 NR)
Fourth-place state 4A team returns 6 of top 7 include two all-state performers and should duel the Spokane powers for state supremacy.
Coach: Phil English

23. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, NJ (’09 24th)
After losing 3 key seniors, the defending state champion re-loads with 8 sub-10-minute 3200 runners but may need more experience to handle big-meet competition.
Coach: Kevin Kilduff

24. Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, IL (’09 12th)
State 3A champion and NXN 12th-place team that won NXN in 2008 has a solid top 5 and many more to draw upon with 180 boys in its summer training program.
Coach: Paul Vandersteen

25. Blacksburg HS, Blacksburg, VA (’09 NR)
State Div. II defender by 80 points returns a trio of top-15 harriers and should be a state and regional threat to follow its girls’ team success of last year.
Coach: James DeMarco