By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Here is a sneak-peak look at preseason cross country rankings, based on the number of returners from last year's top-finishing teams and strong distance performances during the track season. 

Keep an eye out for the region-by-region preseason rankings roll-out on DyeStat in early September. 

Top 10  

1 - Union Catholic NJ - Six of seven back from last year's third-place team

2 - Lone Peak UT - The 3-4-5-6 runners return from last year's fourth-place team

3 - Niwot CO - 2025 runner-up brings back 3-4-5-7 runners to build upon

4 - American Fork UT - Everybody returns from last year's seventh-place team

5 - Sehome WA - Everybody returns from last year's 10th-place team

6 - Flower Mound TX - The 2-3-4-6-7 finishers from last year's ninth-place team return

7 - Barrington IL - Mia Sirois returns with talented group of teammates

8 - Ann Arbor Pioneer MI - Returning individual champion Natasza Dudek returns with a strong group

9 - Buchanan CA - Six are back from last year's 17th-place team

10 - J Serra Catholic CA - Six coming back from last year's 21st-place team