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.
Preseason Boys #12: Wellesley
Heading into next season, Wellesley has four runners at 16:52 or better and a fifth runner at 17:21. Sami Juma is their top returnee with a 16:19 PR from the Bay State Conference Meet where he was 13th and their top runner. He helped Wellesley finish in third place, behind two teams that will appear later on this list.
Preseason Girls #12: Norwell
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.
Preseason Boys #13: Longmeadow
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.
Preseason Girls #13: Hamilton-Wenham Regional
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.
Preseason Boys #14: Newton North
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.