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.

This season the clippers return five of their top seven from last fall after winning the Division 3A race. Freshmen Katherine Murray won that race and was third at the Meet of Champions and boasts a 18:26 5K PR.

After winning the Meet of Champions Division 2 race and graduating their top three runners, one would think Longmeadow was poised for a down year. Maybe they thought they were two, but the ascension of some of their younger runners may get them back on the podium.

Last year the Generals won Division 3 at the Meet of Champions with a team that was almost entirely underclassmen. Last fall they featured one of the state’s best duos in Grace Rich and Asa Labell.

Newton North is another strong team built on depth. With four runners coming back under 17 and another two just over, they have a lot of upside heading into the fall. If someone can make a big jump this season at their number one spot, they could climb the rankings as well.