Pre-season Statewide Boys Cross-Country Coaches Polls
OSAAtoday is thrilled to present its pre-season statewide Boys Cross-Country Coaches Polls in all classifications. Thanks to all the coaches who took the time and had the expertise to contribute their opinions to this first-time endeavor.
Look for the polls at least every other week during the fall season.
Boys Cross-Country
6A
1. Jesuit (12), 163
2. Central Catholic (3), 139
3. Franklin (1), 109
4. Sunset, 103
5. West Linn (1), 85
6. Wilson, 53
7. Summit, 41
8. (tie) Sherwood, 31
8. (tie) South Eugene, 31
10. Aloha, 25
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Tualatin (20), Lakeridge (18), Bend (15), Grants Pass (13)
Notes: Jesuit dominated the state meet last year, outscoring runner-up Central Catholic 35-127, and returns four of its top seven runners, led by senior Will Sheaffer (sixth). The Crusaders should get a boost from talented freshman John Schuler, the USATF Region 13 Junior Olympic champion last year. … Senior Ben Brown (16th) is Central Catholic’s top returning state placer.
5A
1. Crater (5), 103
2. Ashland (5), 102
3. Crescent Valley, 66
4. Dallas, 60
5. Hood River Valley, 44
6. (tie) Crook County (1), 37
6. (tie) The Dalles, 37
8. Wilsonville, 25
9. Parkrose, 20
10. (tie) Churchill, 15
10. (tie) Silverton, 15
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Corvallis (11), La Salle Prep (11)
Notes: Two-time reigning champion Crater graduated Andy Monroe (first) and Derek Tripp (third), but among those eligible to return are three runners who finished in the top 19. … Ashland’s Evan Holland finished in a near dead-heat with Monroe as a sophomore at state last year. Holland won both distance races at the state track meet.
4A
1. Marist Catholic (8), 87
2. Stayton (2), 78
3. Tillamook (1), 68
4. Valley Catholic, 60
5. Newport, 57
6. Sisters, 36
7. Siuslaw, 32
8. Philomath, 26
9. Cottage Grove, 25
10. Phoenix, 18
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Marshfield (17), Klamath Union (13)
Notes: Crook County, last year’s champion, has moved up to 5A. … Marist Catholic moves down from 5A, where it placed third last year. … Stayton senior Matthew Frazeur (fourth) is the top returning placer.
3A
No poll possible. Only one ballot submitted!
2A/1A
1. Union / Cove (5), 59
2. Bandon (1), 50
3. East Linn Christian Acad., 38
4. Southwest Christian (1), 34
5. Chemawa, 25
6. Lakeview, 24
7. Enterprise, 23
8. Heppner / Ione (1), 22
9. (tie) Kennedy, 16
9. (tie) Regis, 16
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Veritas (14), Central Linn (12), Columbia Christian (11)
Notes: Class 3A breaks from 2A/1A into its own classification this year. Union, which won five of the last 11 small-school championships, is a heavy favorite, despite graduating champion Alex Graffunder, who will run at Oregon. Senior Tim Stevens, last year’s runner-up, is back to lead the way. … Bandon was runner-up to Union last year and should be strong again despite graduating two top-seven finishers.
