Preseason Boys #7: Saint John’s Prep
Saint John’s Prep may not have the firepower up front as some of the other contenders on our list, but they make up for it with strength of pack. Top returner Liam Mahoney is the only runner with a sub 16 PR to his name, but from two to seven they have a spread of 16:18 to 16:47.
Preseason Girls #7: Westwood
Last we saw Westwood they were winning the 4x800m at the Meet of Champions in a blistering 9:17. Unfortunately for their competition, that entire squad returns and will be running this fall. They also return six of the seven runners that won the Division 2 race at the Meet of Champions last November. That quartet from the 4×800 along with incoming sophomore Ciara Chi will make up the top 5 for a strong Westwood team that should contend all season long.
Preseason Boys #8: Boston College High School
Last year’s runner up at the Meet of Champions Division 1 Race comes in at the eighth spot. Up front they’re led by Division 1’s top returner, and arguably, number one overall, Greg McGrath. After a strong indoor and outdoor season where he ran 9:06, McGrath will be fighting for the individual title at the front of the race.
Preseason Girls #8: Central Catholic
Central Catholic is perhaps the most interesting team on our rankings. They return a strong squad led by Lila Christy, 19:26, and Rachel Asasira, 19:36, up front. As a freshmen last season, Calista King was right there with them, running 20:06 at the Meet of Champions.
Preseason Boys #9: Groton-Dunstable
Groton-Dunstable returns five of their top seven from last season and managed to land in our top ten. They won the Division 2B race last season and are poised to do the same in 2025. Up front they have one of the strongest 1-2 punches in the state with Greyson Duane and Andrew Kosiba.
Preseason Girls #9: Wellesley
Perennial power Wellesley cracks out top ten to start the season. After narrowly winning the Bay State Conference in 2024, they’re led this year by star duo Emma and Madeline Tuxbury. Both ran under 19:00 minutes at the conference meet last season to help top Needham.
Preseason Boys #10: Parker Charter Essential
Parker Charter returns four of their top seven from a squad that scored 25 points at the Division 3C meet last year and 52 at the Meet of Champions. They won both and could be even better this year. They’ve got almost everything you need to be a top contender throughout the Bay State.
Preseason Girls #10: Cambridge Rindge and Latin
At ten we have the Cambridge Rindge and Latin girls, and they have a tough task if they want to stay near the top of the rankings. Up front they have one of the best, if not the best, top threes of any team in the state. Sophia Jaunes Seto, Fiona Litman, and Violet Smith will get the Falcons off to a great start.
Preseason Boys #11: Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames returns four of the top seven from a team that won the Hockomock League Meet in an impressive score of 33. Up front they’re anchored by one of the best runners in the state. Landon Sarney comes in with a PR of 16:07 but had a massive outdoor season where he ran 9:15 for the two-mile. Expect a low number up front.
Preseason Girls #11: Concord-Carlisle Regional
The third-place team from the Division 1B meet last year returns its top six from last fall. Not only that, but those six were all underclassmen last season making Concord Carlisle one of the top teams to watch this season.