2017 Kansas Coaches Cross Country Jim Maska Poll (preseason) - click here

As the fall sports season has gotten underway area cross country teams await their opportunity for their first competition of the season and in anticipation of the season the preseason Coaches rankings have been released. 

Five area teams will open the cross country season ranked, while three others are receiving votes. 

The top area team in the rankings to open the cross country season is the Frankfort Wildcat boys who start the season ranked #2 in Class 1A coming off a second place team finish at State last year. Of the seven guys who competed at State last year the Wildcats had only one senior and expect to come into the season with a solid team for the 2017 year. On the girl’s side of the 1A rankings both Axtell and Centralia are just on the outside of the Top seven of the rankings. 

Class 3A features a trio of teams in the polls to open the cross country season with two teams ranked #3. The Hiawatha Red Hawk girls and Pleasant Ridge Ram boys both are ranked third to start the season, while Perry Lecompton girls are tied for #7 in the polls. Hiawatha girls are coming off a second place finish last year at State and only one of their seven runners at State last year was a senior setting up a strong team for 2017 led by State runner-up, Elizabeth Kettler who is a junior. Pleasant Ridge boys are coming off a third place performance at State last year and are set to bring back three runners from last year’s team including a Top 10 finisher in senior, Luke Oatney. The Perry Lecompton girls placed sixth as a team at State last year and while they lose their top runner to graduation the rest of last year’s State team is set to be back. 

Lone other area team in the rankings to open the season comes in Class 2A as the Jackson Heights Cobra boys are ranked #7 to open the season. The Cobra boys earned a seventh place finish at State last year and only lose two guys to graduation from last year’s State competitors. The Washington County boys are also receiving votes in Class 2A. 

The cross country season is set to open up for the area teams Thursday, August 31st or on Saturday, September 2nd.