(Full 2013 Cross Country Preseason Poll -- Click here)

The fall sports season is upon us and the first set of preseason rankings have started to roll out across the state. In the sport of cross country the 2013 Kansas preseason rankings have seven teams ranked in and three more receiving votes to start the season.

After a stellar 2012 cross country season that saw three individual State champions from the Kanzaland area and seven top 10 teams finishes it looks to be another great season of cross country action across Northeast Kansas.

In Class 1A, it’s the Axtell Eagles who lead the charge as the area ranked teams checking in third in the girls poll after a second place team finish at State last year and coming in at seventh on the boys side in the preseason poll, after finishig eighth at state last year. The Eagles should be flying high again this year with many returners. On the girls side, State champ, Audrey Schmitz is gone and running at K-State now but the Eagles return senior, Tricia Schmitz, junior, Susan Peschal and sophomore, Alexis Werner to anchor their team; all three girls competed at state last year placing 22nd, 23rd and 52nd, respectively. On the boys side Axtell is stacked with five returners including last year’s fifth place finisher in senior, Tracy Schmitz. Schmitz will be joined by senior, Shane Torrey, juniors, Jack Song and Till Schoeliter and sophomore, Khristian Schelbe, who all competed at state last year.

Frankfort Wildcat boys come back with a stacked cross country roster this year, as well and find themselves ranked fourth to start the year. Wildcats are led by senior, Adam Koch who finished fourth last year at State, while he will be joined by fellow senior, Trent Kennedy and Ben Studer, juniors, Alex Roeder and Marshall Ruetti and sophomore, Sheldon Parthemer.

In Class 2A, it’s the Jefferson County North Chargers leading the way for the area teams in the preseason rankings as the lady chargers start the cross country season preseason ranked seventh, after placing seventh as a team at state last year. The Chargers will be lead this year by a trio of seniors, in Mallory Kramer, Laramie Leakey and Abbie Weishaar who all competed at State last year finishing all in the top 50; Mallory returns as the Chargers top return taking 27th at State last year. Sophomore, Carissa McAfee joins the three Charger seniors as a return that competed at State; she also place in the top 50.

Class 3A, might perhaps have the biggest amount of returning cross country talent from the area as three teams are preseason ranked.

Sabetha Bluejays boys and girls cross country teams after ninth and seventh place finishes at State last year, respectively find themselves preseason ranked fifth and seventh, respectively to start the year off. On the boys side they loss there top runner from last year but return five guys who competed at State last year in seniors, Noah Krehbeil and Darrin Wenger, juniors, Corbin Cox and Kellen Russell and sophomore, Tyler Huber. Corbin returns as the top runner for Sabetha finishing 27th at state last year. Just like the boys the Bluejay girls bring back five runners who competed at State last year led by sophomore, Taryn Schuette who finished 19th place last year at state. She is joined by senior, Brianna Gruber and a trio of juniors in Miranda Heuttner, Maggie Clary and Lindsey Aberle.

Pleasant Ridge Ram girls squad is the other area team that will start the season preseason ranked, checking in at number three in Class 3A, after placing fourth at State last year. The Rams bring back three top 30 state finishers from last year in senior, Rachel Hottok and juniors, Hailey Worthington and Kristina Silvers. A pair of sophomore's joins them in returning for the Rams, as Grace McKinney and Peyton Gould both competed at State last year.

The ACCHS girls received one vote for the Class 3A poll, while Hiawatha could be a team to watch out for too with the Class 3A state champ, Jordan Puvogel returning. On the boys side Hiawatha boys received four votes, just one short of being ranked to start the season.

In Class 4A, only one area team received any votes to start the season and that was Santa Fe Trail boys, receiving three votes to be other teams to watch.

The cross country season gears up for many area teams next week with meets starting soon.